Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

Mosedale Horseshoe

Walked on

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 187 088)

Wasdale Head – Black Sails Pass – Looking Stead – Pillar – Wind Gap – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Red Pike – Dore Head Screes – Wasdale Head

Distance: 8 miles     Total Ascent: 1130 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours 45 minutes

Weather: Cold and clear. 2°C.

Everywhere else in the country has lots of snow according to the news but locally there is not a great deal at valley level. The high ground is well covered and today defied the expected conditions and was lovely and clear over Mosedale almost throughout the walk. I have had this one on the list of ‘to do’s’ for a while as I really wanted to get to Pillar, my favourite of all fells, in superb winter conditions such as today.

 

Helvellyn

Walked on

Start point: Lay by opposite Swirls Car Park (NY 315 170)

Swirls – Browncove Crags – Helvellyn – Helvellyn Lower Man – White Side – Raise – Swirls

Distance: 6.3 miles     Total Ascent: 920 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Cold and clear with temperature inversion. 5°C

It ended up being a day of two halves with the weather, but I really couldn’t have expected anything better than the cold and clear weather complete with a temperature inversion that covered the whole of the south Lakes that I managed to see from the summit of Helvellyn. Later the inversion lifted and completely enveloped me making it a completely different walk during the latter stages.

Brock Barrow

Walked on

Brock Barrow (OF) from High Nibthwaite

I had a quick walk late this afternoon in the setting sun up on the east side of Coniston Water. It was so late on it ended up as more of a sprint than a walk to catch the last of the light.

Stickle Pike

Walked on

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile     Total Ascent: 105 metres     Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Cold wind, snow. 4°C

The rain was heavy throughout last night which of course fell as snow above 300m. I walked Stickle Pike but the view to the high fells was mostly obliterated by the angry looking snow clouds today. Just because Stickle Pike is small in stature, it doesn’t make the climb or descent any easier when there is wet, slippery snow around – as I found out to my cost!

Torver Common

Walked on

Torver Common

I took Casper for a quick walk around Torver Common today. We managed to dodge the worst of the showers but the wind was very strong and certainly had an icy feel to it. ‘Bracing’ is the word to describe today’s walk I think.

A Newlands Round

Walked on

Start point: Hawes End (NY 247 212)

Hawes End – Skelgill Bank – Catbells – Maiden Moor – High Spy – Dale Head –  Hindscarth – High Crags – Red Knott – Scope End – Little Town – Skelgill – Hawes End

Distance: 10 miles     Total Ascent: 1066 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Cold, clear at first but later in mist. 5°C

I could not believe the difference between the south Lakes and the north today. Travelling over Dunmail Raise is was as if I was transported from the dull and dreary south to the bright and frosty north on a different day. The day promised much when I set off for Catbells from Hause End but a lot of the high fells ended up being covered in cloud after the sun rose. The views from Catbells, though, made getting out of bed that bit earlier today well worth it.

The Dodds

Walked on

Start point: Stanah (NY 318 189)

Stanah – Sticks Pass – Stybarrow Dodd – Watson’s Dodd – Great Dodd – Calfhow Pike – Fornside – Stanah

Distance: 6.8 miles     Total Ascent: 795 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Mainly in mist, cold wind. 3°C

I think me and Casper were both chomping at the bit to get back on the fells today even though the weather seemed a bit murky. The climb to Sticks Pass gave a fleeting hope of a temperature inversion but the wind higher up ended that notion and the higher tops were walked coldly in the freezing fog.

Tarn Hows

Walked on

Tarn Hows

We have been away on a short break over the New Year – and so have the dogs. We ‘sprung’ them this morning and took them to a deserted Tarn Hows via the east of Coniston where they had a chilly dip in the lake, the hardy souls (or is that fools?)!

Around Coniston

Walked on

Around Coniston

This morning I took a circuitous route to the shop in Bowness by way of Coniston along the east side of the lake and up to Tarn Hows to give Casper a run. I was fortunate enough to be greeted with a great sunrise over the Coniston fells giving that lovely golden hue with some great reflections in the calm waters too.

Hard Knott

Walked on

Start point: Hardknott Pass summit (NY 230 014)

Hardknott Pass – Border End – Eskdale Needle – Hard Knott – Hardknott Pass

Distance: 1.6 miles     Total Ascent: 188 metres     Time Taken: 45 minutes

Weather: Cold and clear. 2ºC.

The blue skies returned today and once again there was fabulous winter clarity for a short walk up to Hard Knott from the top of the pass, taking in Border End and Eskdale Needle. The hardest part once more was actually the road journey up to the pass as the road was icy and one or two cars had failed in their mission to get to the top. Not to worry, we managed it and were rewarded with some of the finest views the Lake District has to offer.

Orrest Head

Walked on

Start point: Windermere (SD 414 987)

Orrest Head (OF) from Windermere

Distance: 1 mile     Total Ascent: 120 metres    Time Taken: 40 minutes

Weather: Misty. 5ºC.

We had a quick walk this morning up to Orrest Head, mainly to break up the day for the very excited Connie! Nearly as exciting as Christmas was the sight of two deer on the walk, as we spotted them before they spotted us and that is always a treat as we managed to watch them for a little while.

Brant Fell

Walked on

Start point: Love the Lakes, Ash Street, Bowness on Windermere

Love the Lakes, Bowness-on-Windermere – Post Knott – Brant Fell (OF) – Love the Lakes, Bowness-on-Windermere

Distance: 1.6 miles     Total Ascent: 145 metres     Time Taken: 40 minutes

Weather: Cold and misty. 1ºC.

I could see there would be a temperature inversion over Windermere this morning so after checking out conditions at the south on the Gummer’s How road, I headed for the shop and from there took a short walk up to Brant Fell. It is easy to forget about the places on your doorstep sometimes and today was a good day to explore Brant Fell a little with the added bonus of being above the cloud.

Red Screes

Walked on

Start point: Kirkstone Pass (NY 401 080)

Kirkstone Pass – Red Screes – Smallthwaite Band – Middle Dodd – Kirkstone Pass

Distance: 2.4 miles     Total Ascent: 480 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny spells, icy wind. 3ºC.

It is four years since I have been up Red Screes so I thought it was high time I paid a visit again, similarly with Middle Dodd. Of course, I should really have come here a week or two ago when I went to Hart Crag but the weather was ferocious and put me off that day. What a day today though, fantastic clarity and views.

Striding Edge

Walked on

Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)

Patterdale – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Hause Gap – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Patterdale

Distance: 11 miles     Total Ascent: 1410 metres     Time Taken: 7 hours

Weather: Sunny spells, icy wind. 3ºC.

The snow has begun to thaw and it was all a bit dull and overcast when I set off from Patterdale this morning. Once up to the Hole-in-the-Wall though, there were regular sunny spells and the crossing of Striding Edge is a s fantastic as ever in winter conditions. I lengthened the walk by climbing to Fairfield after the Helvellyn ridge but the wind was mighty strong and cold up there and it made walking quite difficult at times. The days are pretty short at the moment and the descent was mirrored by the setting of the sun.

NOTE: This walk was done in winter conditions and it can be extremely hazardous up on Striding Edge in this weather. Just because I did it with my dog doesn’t mean to say you can. Please make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions.

Holme Fell

Walked on

Start point: Hodge Close (NY 315 016)

 

Holme Fell from Hodge Close

Distance: 1.7 miles     Total Ascent: 165 metres     Time Taken: 40 minutes

Weather: Clear and bright. 4ºC.

Weather like this is just too good to miss! It was lovely and clear today with the snow clad fells sparkling in the sunshine and I managed to fit in a quick walk up to Holme Fell. The snow was crunchy today and for some reason this seemed to send Casper berserk with him constantly doing his ‘Bouncing Beardie’ party piece – I think this meant he enjoyed the walk!

Dovedale

Walked on

Start point: Bottom of Kirkstone Pass (NY 402 113)

Kirkstone Pass – Hartsop Hall – Dovedale – Dove Crag – Bakestones Moss – Little Hart Crag – High Hartsop Dodd – Kirkstone Pass

Distance: 6.4 miles     Total Ascent: 730 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Strong wind, snow flurries. -2ºC.

It was really cold this morning again but the blue sky and crisp clearness of the weekend was gone to be replaced by strong winter weather. All was icy and frozen around Kirkstone Pass with heavy snow flurries at first. Once on the climb to Dovedale the wind really picked up and on the Dove Crag ridge it was severe and walking was difficult at times. When I got back to valley level I felt like I had taken a real pounding up there.

Gummer’s How

Walked on

Start point: Gummer’s How Car Park (SD 390 877)

Gummer’s How Car Park – Gummer’s How (OF) – Gummer’s How Car Park

Distance: 1.2 miles     Total Ascent: 150 metres     Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny and bright. -4oC.

There was time for a quick sprint up to Gummer’s How for a look at the predictable (given the weather conditions) inversion over Windermere. The weather did not disappoint and there were fabulous views from there once more in the early morning sunshine.

Winter Walk

Walked on

Red Tarn from Three Shire Stone then Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Weather: Sunny above the cloud, cold with snow. 0C.

We were under cloud at home this morning but I knew those conditions were likely to lead to clear skies once above it and we had some great views today with blue skies and snow and a big temperature inversion over the South Lakes.

Lingmoor Fell

Walked on

Start point: Blea Tarn Car Park (NY 296 043)

Blea Tarn – Bleatarn House – Lingmoor Fell – Lingmoor Tarn – Blea Tarn

Distance: 2.5 miles     Total Ascent: 300 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Constant drizzle. 8oC.

It was wet and drizzly for a walk up to Lingmoor Fell this morning and the clouds were down in the valleys below. This is a surprisingly quick way to the top with the ascent being directly to the summit cairn. I decided to miss the normally easy to get to Side Pike as the weather was worsening. Instead I took a short cut and descended back to the road at the depression between Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike.

High Pike

Walked on

Start point: Stone Ends (NY 354 338)

Stone Ends – Rake Trod – Carrock Fell – Round Knott – Miton Hill – High Pike – West Fell – Carrock Beck – Stone Ends

Distance: 6 miles     Total Ascent: 530 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Frequent snow showers and an icy cold wind. 5oC.

It started off bright enough this morning but once on Rake Trod, the wind really picked up and almost immediately it started snowing. The arctic conditions were predicted this weekend but it came as a shock to the system nevertheless. I normally run warm when I am out but I was chilled to the bone today, so I wonder what the wind chill factor was?