Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

Dow Crag

Walked on

Start point: Torver (SD 285 945)

Torver – Bleaberry Haws – High Pike Haw – White Maiden – White Pike – Walna Scar (OF) – Walna Scar Road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike on Seathwaite Fell – Dow Crag – Goat’s  Haws – Tranearth – Torver

Distance: 8.9 miles     Total Ascent: 992 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 20 minutes

Weather: Sunny and hazy. 17°C.

The sun was shining again today, with temperatures up to a pleasant 17°C at valley level, although at times it was quite chilly in the cold breeze on the tops. I had a walk up to the Coniston fells from Torver, using the gradual ascent up to Walna Scar via the ‘ignored by Wainwright’ south western fells. The view becomes increasingly better using this route with unrivalled views of the southern Coniston fells and great views along the Duddon Valley to Harter Fell and the Sca Fells beyond.

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: 153 metres     Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny and hazy. 14°C.

I had a much shorter walk today than my previous excursion to Ennerdale, with a visit to a pleasantly sunny Stickle Pike which lies between the Lickle and Duddon valley’s. Angus, fresh from the barbers, certainly enjoyed his new non-hairy freedom!

Stickle Pike is described in Wainwright’s Stickle Pike chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 126.

Ennerdale Circuit

Walked on

Start point: Bleach Green, Ennerdale (NY 085 153)

Bleach Green – Bowness – Brown How (Ennerdale) – Herdus – Great Borne – Gale Fell – Starling Dodd – Little Dodd (Ennerdale) –  Red Pike (Buttermere) (357) – High Stile (358) – High Crag (359) – Haystacks (360) –  Looking Stead – High Level Traverse – Shamrock Traverse – Pillar – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Haycock – Little Gowder Crag – Caw Fell – Ennerdale Fell – Crag Fell – Bleach Green

Distance: 23.6 miles     Total Ascent: 2864 metres     Time Taken: 10 hour 20 minutes

Weather: Mainly sunny with lots of snow (!) showers. 7-11°C, valley level – much colder on the tops.

Today’s walk is a long, high level circuit of the beautiful Ennerdale Valley with virtually the whole route being completed at an elevation in excess of 500m. I have had this one on my list of ‘to do’ walks for a while so it was satisfying to complete the walk on a mainly clear day. The photo’s here actually belie the conditions somewhat as the clouds came in when I was crossing from Haystacks to Pillar and there was an icy blizzard. The snow showers continued to come and go throughout the rest of the walk and conditions remained very cold.

Harter Fell

Walked on

Start point: Birks Bridge, Duddon Valley (SD 235 992)

Harter Fell from Birks Bridge

Distance: 3.25 miles     Total Ascent: 534 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Dull and overcast. 10°C.

This morning’s short walk was from the Duddon Valley up to Harter Fell, a sometimes boggy and pathless climb. The south eastern face of Harter Fell has been transformed over the last year or two with the deforestation of this part of the Dunnerdale Forest – Wainwright said there was no access to Harter Fell from the Duddon Valley, but of course that has all changed now.

Grasmoor

Walked on

Start point: Lanthwaite Green (NY 159 208)

Lanthwaite Green – Whin Ben – Whiteside (349) – Gasgale Crags (350) – East Top of Whiteside (351) –  Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Grasmoor (352) – Wandope (353) – Thirdgill Head Man (354) – Whiteless Pike (355) – Whiteless Breast – Low Bank – Rannerdale Knotts (356) – Rannerdale – Lanthwaite Green

Distance: 10.1 miles     Total Ascent: 1943 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 55 minutes

Weather: Dull and overcast, rain later. 10oC.

The cloud was lying heavily on the higher tops today, so I knew there wouldn’t be any views from my round of Grasmoor. The wind was howling and quite cold, there was a great moment descending to Whiteless Pike when the mist cleared all of a sudden and I was rewarded with great views; five minutes later the mist and drizzle closed back in. I descended Rannerdale Knotts into Rannerdale to see the famous Bluebells, now in bloom and well worth a visit.

Hugill Fell

Walked on

Start point: Barley Bridge, Staveley (SD 470 987)

Hugill Fell (OF) from Staveley

Distance: 1.6 miles     Total Ascent: 160 metres     Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny and warm. 15°C.

I was in Kendal at lunchtime, the sun was shining so I took the opportunity to try and dry out after yesterdays damp affair and headed up to the Wainwright Outlying fell, Hugill Fell from Staveley. A nice and easy one this with some great views, especially when the sun shines.

Today’s short walk follows Wainwright’s Hugill Fell chapters in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 22.

Caudale Moor

Walked on

Start point: Kirkstone Pass road (NY 412 063)

Kirkstone Pass – Woundale – St. Raven’s Edge (345) – John Bell’s Banner (346) – Caudale Moor (Stony Cove Pike) (347) – Threshwaite Mouth – Park Fell Head – Troutbeck Park – Troutbeck Tongue (348) – Kirkstone Pass

Distance: 10.1 miles     Total Ascent: 929 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 20 minutes

Weather: Rain, heavy at times, clearing by the end. 12-15°C.

The heavens had opened when I set off this morning for the climb up to Caudale Moor on the eastern side of Kirkstone Pass. There were no views and it was quite miserable until I descended to Troutbeck where the sun came out – and of course shone on the places I had just been! This was a boggy affair due to the amount of rain and coupled with one or two tricky river crossings, it made for a very damp day.

 

Wetherlam

Walked on

Start point: Tilberthwaite car park (NY 306 010)

Tilberthwaite – High Fell – Blake Rigg – Wetherlam Edge – Wetherlam – Steel Edge – Tilberthwaite Gill – Tilberthwaite

Distance: 4.6 miles     Total Ascent: 918 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 5 minutes

Weather: Sunny with broken cloud. 12-14oC.

The sun was shining at times again this morning but many of the higher fells still had cloud lingering on their tops, fortunately for me Wetherlam remained relatively clear. This is a great little route from Tilberthwaite – it was almost reminiscent of a mini-Helvellyn ascent via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge – using Wetherlam Edge for the steep climb up and Steel Edge for the drop back down into Tilberthwaite.

Mellbreak

Walked on

Start point: Loweswater (NY 147 214)

Loweswater – North Top of Mellbreak (340) – South Top of Mellbreak (341) – Scale Knott (342) – Mosedale – Hen Comb(343) – Little Dodd (Loweswater) (344) – Loweswater

Distance: 8.7 miles     Total Ascent: 857 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Mild, overcast. 12-14oC.

The blue skies of yesterday had gone again by this morning to be replaced by the more usual leaden, grey variety. I think I picked the brightest place in the whole Lake District for a walk today from Loweswater up to Mellbreak and back along the other side of Mosedale along the Hen Comb ridge.

I called in on Roger and Ann Hiley at Oak Cottage, Loweswater who joined me for the initial stage of the walk up to Mellbreak with their two dogs Harry and Bethan.

Glaramara

Walked on

Start point: The head of Seathwaite valley (NY 236 123)

Seathwaite – Stockley Bridge – Seathwaite Fell (333) – Great Slack on Seathwaite Fell (334) – Sprinkling Tarn – Allen Crags (335) – High House on Allen Crags (336) – Lincomb Head on Glaramara (337) – Looking Stead on Glaramara(338) –  Glaramara (339) –  Seathwaite

Distance: 7.5 miles     Total Ascent: 1092 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes

Weather: Warm and hazy, 13-20oC.

Today’s walk is another great one along that undulating, rocky ridge of Glaramara. The walk started and finished steeply with a harsh climb up to Seathwaite Fell and a straight down descent from Glaramara.

The sun shone brightly today with temperature reaching a heady 20oC with only a slightly cool breeze reminding me that it is still early on. However, this was the first airing of the year for my Lily-white, winter conditioned legs in shorts – a nice feeling – and the whole walk was completed in shorts and tee shirt only.

Cold Pike

Walked on

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 500 metres     Time Taken: 1 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Cool, slightly hazy, 6oC.

Today’s walk is a relatively easy ascent of Cold Pike and Pike O’ Blisco from the Three Shire Stone at the top of Wrynose Pass between Coniston and Langdale. Unfortunately, the sunshine and clarity of yesterday are gone again today but there were still great views over to the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell and across Wrynose to the Coniston fells; the snow is still lingering on the higher tops.

Upper Eskdale Round

Walked on

Start point: Hardknott Pass summit (NY 230 014)

Hardknott Pass – Border End (326) – Hard Knott (327) – Eskdale Needle – Yew Bank (328) – Throstlehow Crag (329) –Scar Lathing (330) – High Scarth (331) – Silverybield (332) – Scale Bridge – Taw House – Brotherilkeld – Hardknott Castle Roman Fort – Hardknott Pass

Distance: 9.7 miles     Total Ascent: 1940 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 35 minutes

Weather: Snow, rain, sleet, wind! 5oC.

Today’s walk is a round of Upper Eskdale, one of the wildest and best valleys in the Lake District. At the head of Eskdale lie the ‘heads of state’ of English mountains, namely Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Esk Pike and Bow Fell and this area offers some of the finest views anywhere.

Once again, it seems winter has returned with snow showers present throughout the walk and fresh snow on top of the high fells.

Muncaster Fell

Walked on

Start point: Muncaster Castle car park (SD 097 967)

Muncaster Fell (Hooker Crag) (OF) from Muncaster Castle

Distance: 7.25 miles     Total Ascent: 388 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 25 minutes

Weather: Rain, 7oC.

This morning’s walk was up to Muncaster Fell, a long fell with a lowly height which lies between Miterdale and Eskdale. It made a pleasant, if boggy, traverse and also marked the return to fell walking of Calston Midnight Serenade (better known as Angus!).

This walk follows Wainwright’s Muncaster Fell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 186.

Fairfield

Walked on

Start point: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (NY 403 134)

Cow Bridge – Gale Crag (322) – Hartsop Above How (323) – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag –Gavel Pike – Birks (324) – Arnison Crag (325) – Cow Bridge

Distance: 9.7 miles     Total Ascent: 1385 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Sunny with a strong breeze. 8oC in the valley rising to 12oC. Icy cold on the tops.

I had a great high level ridge walk today along the Hartsop above How ridge, up to Hart Crag and Fairfield and then back down along the Saint Sunday ridge. It was a pleasant surprise to see the sunshine, but it was deceptively cold on the tops with a bitter wind blowing. With hindsight I would have been better off starting and finishing at Deepdale Bridge and walking the full Hartsop above How ridge.

Latrigg

Walked on

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Latrigg (321) from Gale Road

Distance: 1 mile     Total Ascent: 90 metres     Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Overcast, but brightening 12oC.

Another easy walk this lunchtime for me and Connie up to another family favourite, Latrigg. It was quite warm but there was a strong, cool breeze on the top.

Great Mell Fell

Walked on

Start point: Brownrigg Farm  (NY 407 247)

Great Mell Fell (320) from Brownrigg Farm

Distance: 2 miles     Total Ascent: 250 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: A mixed bag, sunny with a fierce hailstorm at the end. The temperature was 8oC when we set off, 4oC when we got back to the car dropping to 2oC and then back up to 11oC on the way home!

The sun started shining by the time we reached Ullswater at lunchtime. We stopped off near Glencoyne Bridge to see Wordsworth’s daffodils before ascending Great Mell Fell, that great pudding basin, in the sunshine. We had good views from the top with plenty of snow visible on the higher fells. On the way down we could see a band of hailstones coming from the east which caught us just before we got to the car. Great Mell Fell and all views were completely obliterated when the storm reached us.

Black Fell

Walked on

Start point: Glen Mary Bridge, Yewdale  (NY 321 999)

Glen Mary Bridge – Tarn Hows – Black Crag on Black Fell – Tarn Hows – Glen Mary Bridge

Distance: 4 miles     Total Ascent: 300 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Cloudy with showers, 9oC.

It was a bit grim this morning, so we decided on an outing to the popular tourist destination of Tarn Hows. Connie was in good spirits so we extended it to take in Black Fell, a great achievement for a 4 year old. Back at the ranch, Angus continues his recuperation and looked longingly as we left..

Beacon Fell

Walked on

Start point: Brown Howe car park on the Torver – Greenodd road. (SD 290 910)

Beacon Fell (OF) from Brown Howe

Distance: 3.75 miles     Total Ascent: 382 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 20 minutes

Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells, 12oC.

As the sun was shining this afternoon, I thought it worth a visit up to Beacon Fell at the Southern end of Coniston Water. Angus is out of action for a little while as he had an operation on his leg today.

There are unrivalled views of the Coniston Fells from here and as Wainwright said, ‘Beacon Fell ranks amongst the most delectable of the lesser heights of Lakeland.’

This walk follows Wainwright’s Beacon Fell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 98.

Brant Fell

Walked on

Start point: Brantfell Road, Bowness-on-Windermere (SD 406 967)

Bowness-on-Windermere – Post Knott – Brant Fell (OF) – Bowness-on-Windermere

Distance: 1.2 miles     Total Ascent: 110 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Grey with drizzle, 11oC.

It was a damp and dreary day today, but still nice to get away from the crowds in Bowness up to Brant Fell after a half-term visit to ‘The World of Beatrix Potter’; the fresh air more than made up for the lack of views.

This walk follows Wainwright’s Brant Fell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 34.

Hesk Fell

Walked on

Start point: Woodend Bridge on the Birker Fell road. (SD 179 963)

Woodend Bridge, Birker Fell road – Hesk Fell (OF) – The Pike (OF) – Woodend Bridge, Birker Fell road

Distance: 4.5 miles     Total Ascent: 392 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Hazy and overcast, 11oC.

Now that is BST, I had a  late evening walk up to Hesk Fell, which is a featureless pudding basin between the Duddon and Esk valleys, and then to The Pike which is more interesting due to the views of the Duddon Valley lying steeply below.

This walk is the one described in Wainwright’s Hesk Fell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 140 with the addition of lots of electric fences!