Striding Edge

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Illgill Head

Walked on 11/01/2006

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Irton Fell – Whin Rigg (445) – Illgill Head (446) – Burnmoor Tarn – Miterdale – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 11 miles     Total Ascent: 900 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Grey to start, ever brightening. 7°C

It started off a bit grey and murky this morning, but at least it wasn’t raining after the downpour yesterday which left many places waterlogged and boggy. These fells overlooking Wast Water are perhaps better known from the side as ‘The Screes’, where the steep and treacherous western face looks almost insurmountable. The contrasting eastern side falling to Miterdale is quite gentle and grassy and this is the route I took for the return leg after the ridge walk above Wast Waster.

01 Illgill-Head

11.01.06-005

The sun shines on Sellafield and the West Cumbrian coast from Irton Pike.

11.01.06-009

Wast Water and Wasdale from Irton Pike. The way ahead is the ridge running to the right above Wast Water.

11.01.06-011

The path to Whin Rigg from Irton Fell.

11.01.06-027

Greathall Gill - a great slice cut out of the fellside.

11.01.06-030

Looking back along the path, over Greathall Gill to Irton Fell and a sunlit Irton Pike.

11.01.06-037

Contemplation on Whin Rigg for Angus.

11.01.06-041

Middle Fell over Wast Water from Whin Rigg.

11.01.06-042

A glimpse of Wast Water down Great Gully.

11.01.06-046

Something has caught his eye.

11.01.06-061

Illgill Head in mist over the tarns.

11.01.06-063

Mountain tarns - they are a great place...

11.01.06-070

...for a swim.

11.01.06-073

There are plenty up here.

11.01.06-078

Looking over to Yewbarrow.

11.01.06-079

Scary scree slopes.

11.01.06-081

Middle Fell and Yewbarrow over Wast Water.

11.01.06-109

The jagged edge of Whin Rigg.

11.01.06-116

A dull looking Wasdale Head with Kirk Fell and Great Gable in the mist.

11.01.06-135

Burnmoor Tarn - note the isolated Burnmoor Lodge to the right of the photo.

11.01.06-136

The sunrays burst out over Miterdale.

11.01.06-138

A nice place to live.

11.01.06-149

Sunshine and blue skies now on Whin Rigg.

11.01.06-152

Great Grain Gill.

11.01.06-156

Cascades on the River Mite.

11.01.06-164

Further along the river.

11.01.06-169

You need to think in the local dialect to translate this sign.

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