Thursday 7th May 2009

Start point: Darling How (NY 181 255)

Darling How - Brown How on Whinlatter - Whinlatter Top - Tarbarrel Moss - Ullister Hill - Lord's Seat - Barf - Broom Fell - Graystones - Spout Force - Darling How

Distance: 8.6 miles     Total Ascent: 786 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes

Weather: Sunny spells, strong winds. 9oC.

Route Map

I finally made it back to Whinlatter - I have lost count of the number of times that I have been on my way to do this walk and then been swayed by something else on the way for one reason or another. The most recent example was last week when I was enticed by Blencathra even though I was all set to do this round. The last time I was here was 2004 BC (Before Casper) and I kept thinking back to Angus being with me on this walk, back in those early website days...

Broom Fell ahead following the forest road from Darling How.

Early morning sunburst over Lord's Seat.

Climbing up the faint path alongside the wall. This section has all been deforested since last time I was here but there are already signs of regrowth.

Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor are the main fells in this photo looking from the wind shelter on Brown How, the Wainwright summit of Whinlatter.

Grisedale Pike and Hobcarton Head from the east top of Whinlatter.

The sun tries to break through the clouds to the east from Whinlatter Top, the higher of the two tops on Whinlatter.

Whinlatter from Tarbarrel Moss, one of the most disappointing of all the Birkett 'summits'.

Blue sky over the north western fells from Ullister Hill.

Skiddaw from Lord's Seat, Barf in the foreground - that's where we are off to next.

Looking back over Whinlatter to Grisedale Pike from Lord's Seat.

Bassenthwaite Lake and Binsey.

The view over the southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake towards Keswick and Derwent Water.

Skiddaw and Dodd.

Looking back to Lord's Seat from Barf.

Mucky pup on the throne of Barf.

After a boggy traverse back to Lord's Seat, this is the view to Broom Fell with the clouds fleeting across the sky now in a strong - and cold - wind.

Whinlatter from Todd Fell. The route I used in the ascent of Whinlatter is the wall line up the deforested area to the edge of the trees.

The fine cairn on Broom Fell looking back to Lord's Seat.

Heading for Graystones and no wonder Casper is running for it, it was blowing a gale along here. It was a blessed relief to get down to Widow Hause and take shelter from the wind behind the trees.

The Wainwright summit of Graystones lies just to the west of the broken wall although it is lower than other areas on the map. This view is into Lorton Vale with Mellbreak and Low Fell in the middle distance.

This is a steep way down Casper!

Hopegill Head and Ladyside Pike from the descent.

Scawgill Bridge.

Spout Force.

Graystones from Darling How.

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