Wednesday 4th March 2009

Start point: Kirkstone Pass (NY 401 080)

Kirkstone Pass - St. Raven's Edge - Caudale Moor (Stony Cove Pike) - Hartsop Dodd - John Bell's Banner - St. Raven's Edge - Kirkstone Pass

Distance: 6.2 miles     Total Ascent: 610 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Mixed. 0oC.

Route Map

This certainly wasn't a route I had in mind today but when I got over Kirkstone Pass this morning, the descent was littered with stuck cars on the icy road. I certainly had a hairy moment or two going down there but managed to avoid a collision and hastily turned round and went back the way I came. The fells to the east of Kirkstone Pass looked quite clear so I thought I would walk over Caudale Moor but I guess the walk was always going to be a strange route, there being no other obvious route of return. Those who know the Lake District know how changeable the weather can be and today was no exception with it changing seemingly by the minute.

St Raven's Edge from Kirkstone Pass.

Beautiful blue sky to the north with a distant Place Fell ahead, Caudale Moor to the right.

The climb to St Raven's Edge.

Once up there, the cloud rolled in from the south making it distinctly cold up here. The way to Caudale Moor is along the line of the wall.

A wintry looking Woundale.

"Punctured (b)icicle on a hillside desolate" (song anyone?)

Climbing to Pike How.

A break in the clouds over Park Fell.

Casper gets snowed in.

An eerie light with the sun shining through the clouds on Stony Cove Pike, the summit of Caudale Moor.

It's brought a smile to Casper's face anyway!

Suddenly - into the clear sky after a walk of no more than 10 metres north from the cairn. It was crossing a weather line, so marked was the difference.

You can see the line of cloud ahead in this photo.

The clouds certainly were dramatic, looking southwards.

Plenty of snow in them still, I reckon.

It is a lot clearer to the north.

The Helvellyn fells are getting a bit of sunshine as well.

Watch out Casper or you might be engulfed!

Looking across to John Bell's Banner from the descent towards Hartsop Dodd.

The descent to Hartsop Dodd, following the wall once more with Ullswater directly ahead.. There is less snow over on Place Fell to the right.

High Street and the far eastern fells.

Distant Helvellyn and Striding Edge.

That's quite a big descent to get to Hartsop Dodd, once more continuing along the line of the wall.

The clouds are brooding over Caudale Moor and Rough Edge with Red Screes now in view.

Hartsop Dodd.

Ullswater.

Dovedale.

Casper finds the post that marks the Wainwright summit of Hartsop Dodd. 

Catstycam across the summit cairn.

If you look closely you can see the snow coming in now on the return leg to Caudale Moor, looking into Dovedale.

Now that I've left the summit, the sun is shining on Hartsop Dodd once more. The two sets of footsteps are both mine - inward and outward.

Caudale Head and John Bell's Banner.

Further along Caudale head.

It is all looking very dark to the south looking to Red Screes from the cairn that marks John Bell's Banner.

Ill Bell and Froswick.

St Raven's Edge from Mark Atkinson's Memorial. The rest of the return leg was walked in a very heavy snow shower.

Red Screes from St Raven's Edge.

Fell ponies brave the elements.

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