Friday 29th January 2010

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross - Park Head Road -  Brock Barrow - Long Mire - Caw (OF) - Park Head Road - Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 300 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Cold and clear. 2oC

Route Map

It was almost unexpected today for the weather to turn so good so suddenly. The sun came out when I was booting up (footwear, not PC!) and stayed throughout the walk. The wind though was a really cold northerly - an icy blast. We bumped into Oscar the Beardie at the start, a regular on these fells and one we have seen a good few times before. As you can imagine, there was fur and wagging tails everywhere! By the end of the walk it was snowing really heavily and the high fells certainly had a good fall of new snow on them. Is this the resurgence of winter?

"...look at the mighty Caw, this pyramid, this mountain, this fell of fells. From the vale of the Duddon the Bearded fellows will unite with the fell-ninja, rise to the top and cast asunder all ye below..." extract from The Legend of Beenson Toste

As soon as I arrived at Kiln Bank Cross, the sun came out and the sky was blue. This is looking up to Stickle Pike from the road, but we headed the other way towards Caw this morning.

Harter Fell flanked by Scafell and Esk Pike.

Stickle Pike and Black Combe from a frozen pool on Brock Barrow.

Caw - our path is along Long Mire, up to the right.

The Duddon Valley from Brock Barrow - those poles are aerials for the valley below.

A bit windy up here Dougal?

Fox Haw and the track just followed from Brock Barrow over to the right.

Caw and the route up - the McMahon direct route.

Looking across to Black Combe from  the climb. to the right is Brock Barrow (a different one to the one I have just been on!) with Stickle Pike the nearer fell.

Hurry up dad! They are much quicker than me up here with 4 leg drive.

Caw summit.

Looking across to the Coniston fells.

Fresh snow on the high fells at the head of the Duddon Valley.

Looking into the sun to the south.

The Duddon Estuary.

The Duddon Valley from the descent.

Esk Pike and Bowfell.

Dow Crag and the Seathwaite Fells surrounding The Cove.

Snowy Scafell and Scafell Pike, Harter Fell in the foreground.

A greener looking Whitfell and The Pike across the Duddon Valley.

A final view of the Duddon Valley before heading back to Kiln Bank Cross.

Some of the famous Lake District Herdwick sheep.

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