Start point: Chapel Bridge, Little Town (NY 232 194)
Little Town – Skelgill Bank – Catbells – Maiden Moor – High Spy on Scawdel Fell – Dale Head – Hindscarth – High Crags – Red Knott – Scope End – Little Town
Distance: 9.3 miles Total Ascent: 1000 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 40 minutes
Weather: Wind and rain. 12oC.
Today I met up with Andy Lang for an early start to complete a circuit of Dale Head. After looking a bit grim at the start of the walk, it did seem as though it was going to brighten up before the weather took a turn for the worse during the climb to Maiden Moor. From there, across High Spy, Dale Head and Hindscarth, the weather was pretty horrendous with very strong wind and rain and of course, views (and photos) were non-existent on this portion of the walk. Miraculously, at the end of the walk the sun shone and, at valley level at least, all was calm.
The view from Little Town - Hindscarth and Scope End to the left with the path to be used in descent clearly visible through the bracken. To the right is Robinson.
Causey Pike and Rowling End across the Newlands Valley from the same vantage point.
Still in the valley looking across to Ard Crags and Causey Pike.
It looks like the cloud is clearing from Hindscarth and Robinson now.
A steep, steep climb took us directly to Skelgill Bank, a subsidiary summit of Cat Bells with a view of Derwent Water and Keswick with Skiddaw and Blencathra under apparently lifting cloud.
Heading for Cat Bells.
There is a bit of a scramble to reach the top of Cat Bells.
Casper on the summit. I reckoned Cat Bells to be the only fell I hadn't been on the top on my own previously, but I made that one today too.
Derwent Water and Keswick from Cat Bells.
The way to go - Maiden Moor with Hindscarth beyond.
Autumn colours in Manesty Park and across Borrowdale.
Maiden Moor from Hause Gate.
A final view of Cat Bells before the weather really came in behind us. Even in this shot, the wind was very strong and with it came lashings of rain. We were absolutely sodden and even had a 'what on earth are we doing here?' moment on High Spy (although we did think it was preferable to many other things we could have been doing!). It didn't look like the weather would improve at all for the rest of the walk...
...but, descending from Hindscarth the light suddenly improved as we came through the cloud layer. In this photo, the wind was whipping across the ridge from left to right and made walking difficult, along with the treacherous wet and slippery rocks.
Completely clear of the murk now.
It's clearing out over High Spy and Dale Head.
Robinson from High Crags.
It can't be true, can it? Sunshine and blue sky over Robinson now, a real turn up for the books.
Even Hindscarth is clear on the summit now looking back along the High Crags ridge.
Sunshine in Newlands.
Cat Bells (complete with figure on the summit) over Knott End with Blencathra beyond.
The aftermath - Casper looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards after walking in all that wind and rain. I dread to think what I looked like!
Looking back to Scope End and Robinson from Chapel Bridge, all in glorious sunshine now of course.