Start point: Wanthwaite (NY 316 232)
Wanthwaite – Wanthwaite Bank – Buck Castle – Jim’s Fold – Clough Head – Old Coach Road – Wanthwaite
Distance: 4.4 miles Total Ascent: 595 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:50
Weather: Changeable but dry. 12°C
The Business Meeting? Well today was a bit of that, taking a walk with Clive Hutchby to discuss various things up to Clough Head. There were some good sunny spells but it was really quite cold on the top with a strong breeze blowing.
Clough Head from Wanthwaite, the route of ascent is from left to right.
Looks promising over Skiddaw.
Leaving the Old Coach Road to climb through the old quarries.
Through the quarries looking to Clough Head.
Wanthwaite Bank.
Skiddaw and Blencathra.
Getting into the groove.
Looking back down.
Bright and sunny towards Skiddaw.
St John's in the Vale and High Rigg.
The light makes it look like a painting.
Climbing higher.
I took Wainwright's intermediate 'sporting' route (Buck Castle on the OS map), the line of the path can be seen in this photo. Clive took the easier and more usual grass slope route to the top.
Looking beyond Threlkeld Knotts from the climb to Gategill Fell, Hall's Fell and Doddick Fell on Blencathra.
On Buck Castle looking to Wainwright's amphitheatre.
A long way down from the top of the rock tower of Buck Castle.
The sheep show the path across Wanthwaite Crags.
The view towards Keswick from high above Wanthwaite.
High Rigg summit in the sunshine, layers of fells beyond.
Looking down from Wanthwaite Crags.
Across Derwent Water to the Coledale fells.
Sunshine and a cold wind on the climb to Clough Head summit.
A Blencathra panoramic...and Dougal.
The Vale of Keswick from Clough Head.
Clive, propping up the trig column.
The Coiled Springs.
Looking for a way down.
Threlkeld Knotts and beyond from the descent.
Looking back to Clough Head from the Old Coach Road.