It was a beautiful early morning – the sun was shining, the birds were singing and it was shaping up to be a lovely day. The higher tops had a dusting of snow, giving an indication of how cold it could be up there.
There were a lot of deforested areas and forestry work being carried out in many places. I did wonder if I would get the round completed without a diversion. I took the easily missed path through the trees (look out for an ancient iron trough marking the foot of the path) and climbed steeply through the forest to climb Whinlatter.
Phew, made it! The top of the steep climb and out of the forest gloom into the sunlight. I walked beyond the top to find a dog friendly place to cross the fence and climb up to the top (which was further away than I thought!).
Broom fell and Lord’s Seat from Whinlatter.
On Brown How, the summit of Whinlatter (Wainwright summit) there was a really cold, icy wind so it was time to layer up after the previous exertion.Whinlatter was Wainwright #27 for Finlay.The way ahead through some boggy sections and heather to the eastern summit of Whinlatter marked as Whinlatter Top on the map.…and looking back from Whinlatter Top along the path walked, Brown How wind shelter and summit cairn visible on the horizon.Whinlatter Top looking to Grisedale Pike.A distant view of Derwent Water.Finlay checks out the route to the next target, the top of Tarbarrel Moss which is the corner of the trees directly ahead. As it turned out we chose the wrong (direct) path which ended up being a boggy mess. A smarter move would be to head directly east to the fence and then follow the one of the fence right to left in this photo.This is it! There is no distinct top but this is the highest point of Tarbarrel Moss. From here there was a descent through a short forested section and out onto the forest road. Walking along the forest road, we encountered a Roe Deer – it was quite bold really even though Finlay was going through himself when he caught sight of it (he was on a lead) and it nonchalantly strutted off into the forest to disappear once more.Popping up from a boggy track through the trees we made it to the top of Ulster Hill. My memory told me there were no trees between it and Lord’s Seat last time I was here, but that was years ago! The direct descent was another boggy affair (an expected hazard in a forested areas I guess). Rather than climb directly to Lord’s Seat, I contoured around the eastern slopes of it to pick up the path that descended to Barf.Barf below with Skiddaw beyond. This is where it started to get busy as it was the Easter holidays still and there were plenty of family’s in the Barf/Lord’s Seat area.Barf summit.Finlay on the Fells checks out the goings on below around Bassenthwaite Lake and over to Skiddaw. Wainwright #28 for him. It is a fine and airy view from Barf above Thornthwaite and across to Bass Lake and the Skiddaw fells.Bassenthwaite Lake.Another memory – I’m sure the path between Barf and Lord’s Seat was a boggy mess from start to finish last time I walked but it has now been surfaced, and a fine job they have made of it too.A quick walk through and around the crowds of people brought me to the top of Lord’s Seat and time a quick photo with no-one in it……apart from this one with Finlay (he now seems to be turning into a poser and instantly knows the drill!). Wainwright #29 for him.It was not as cold now as earlier on Whinlatter and dare I say it was relatively warm. The high clouds stoped the sun from shining but it as bright and the views were fine.Broom Fell, Wainwright #30 for Finlay. To my left as someone on their phone talking loudly about how fantastic it was up there today. She interrupted her call to ask me where she was!The view across Wythop to Sale fell and Ling Fell. As we walked along this grassy path, a giant transporter plane flew along this view and seemed to be below us (A400M maybe?).Widow Hause ahead with Graystones beyond. My abiding memory of this section is walking it when there was a strong wind and Angus being spooked by the tall trees swaying in it. All have sadly now gone.The view from Widow Hause, Whinlatter with the forested section on it in the centre ground.A portrait of FinlayThe (Birkett) north top of Graystones – there are a few lumps and bumps of similar height in this area (marked 456m contour on the map) so I visited them all for completeness but this one was cairned so that will do as the top!Further north and across the wall is the wainwright summit of Graystones.Finlay displaying how breezy it was up there and how boggy some parts of the walk had been – Wainwright #31 for him.Looking down to Cockermouth.This small pile of stones to the west of Graystones marks the Birkett summit of Kirk Fell (Lorton).The Vale of Lorton. From here I contoured round the fell side and crossed Sware Gill before stopping for lunch. I had intended to stop at Broom Fell but waited until it was much quieter. I did think I could just have it in the car but seeing as I had carried it all this way it seemed a shame not to enjoy it al fresco. It was a lovely place to stop and relatively warm sheltered out of the wind.I knew what was coming – the steeper than steep descent alongside the wall of Darling How Plantation.
At the bottom of the descent, I walked the short extra section to climb to the viewpoint for Spout Force, taking advantage of the trees being bare of foliage.
A super walk and a great set of photos. Blimey, at this rate Finlay will have completed all 214 tops by the end of the year!
Thanks for the info about the surfaced path between Barf and Lord’s Seat, good to know that the path isn’t boggy any more.
Did you encounter any forestry work around Barf?
We haven’t set foot on Barf since 2014 and were planning to go recently, but we found out from the Forestry England site that lots of thinning out was taking place from 16th March and some paths leading to Barf were closed with no indication about when they would be open again.
Hi John & Brenda, thanks for your comments – finishing the Wainwright’s this year would be a tall order! I think it was clear around Barf, the family groups I encountered seemed to be coming from that direction. Hopefully it will be okay, I look forward to seeing your walk up there. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean,
Posting your walk was very timely and your photos and captions thoroughly enjoyable. All being well I’ll be walking your route this Saturday with David Hall & Paul Sharkey (http://www.sharkeysdream.co.uk/) . Similar weather to that which you enjoyed would be great but I fear we’ll have showers, at least early on. At least we’ll be able to enjoy the ‘new’ path between Lord’s Seat & Barf, the last time I was there it was indeed a boggy mess.
ATB
Rod H
Hi Rod, thanks for that – I hope you get some decent weather and you can keep your waterproofs in the bag! That new path is a lot better than the old one and dare I say they have done a great job on it, a lot better than in some areas. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean. A great walk and photos too. I have done these fells a couple of times in the past before the path between Barf and Broom Fell was surfaced. The path by the wall between Graystones and Scawdale Bridge must be about the steepest in the district. Great those Findley enjoying the views
Hi Mike, thanks for your comments, that descent is a real knee buster so need (or knee’d ) to take it easy down there. Finlay seems to be enjoying getting out, here’s to a few more good outings. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean,
A super walk and a great set of photos. Blimey, at this rate Finlay will have completed all 214 tops by the end of the year!
Thanks for the info about the surfaced path between Barf and Lord’s Seat, good to know that the path isn’t boggy any more.
Did you encounter any forestry work around Barf?
We haven’t set foot on Barf since 2014 and were planning to go recently, but we found out from the Forestry England site that lots of thinning out was taking place from 16th March and some paths leading to Barf were closed with no indication about when they would be open again.
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John & Brenda, thanks for your comments – finishing the Wainwright’s this year would be a tall order! I think it was clear around Barf, the family groups I encountered seemed to be coming from that direction. Hopefully it will be okay, I look forward to seeing your walk up there. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean,
Posting your walk was very timely and your photos and captions thoroughly enjoyable. All being well I’ll be walking your route this Saturday with David Hall & Paul Sharkey (http://www.sharkeysdream.co.uk/) . Similar weather to that which you enjoyed would be great but I fear we’ll have showers, at least early on. At least we’ll be able to enjoy the ‘new’ path between Lord’s Seat & Barf, the last time I was there it was indeed a boggy mess.
ATB
Rod H
Hi Rod, thanks for that – I hope you get some decent weather and you can keep your waterproofs in the bag! That new path is a lot better than the old one and dare I say they have done a great job on it, a lot better than in some areas. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean. A great walk and photos too. I have done these fells a couple of times in the past before the path between Barf and Broom Fell was surfaced. The path by the wall between Graystones and Scawdale Bridge must be about the steepest in the district. Great those Findley enjoying the views
Hi Mike, thanks for your comments, that descent is a real knee buster so need (or knee’d ) to take it easy down there. Finlay seems to be enjoying getting out, here’s to a few more good outings. Best Wishes, Sean