Today we had a low level walk along part of the Cumbria Way from Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater village and back. This is an easy going walk with great views to the Langdale Pikes and Skelwith Force waterfall; perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
We had a short walk up to Hoad Hill today, a small hill (133m) which stands over the small market town of Ulverston, just outside the southern fringe of the Lake District National Park. Atop the hill is a monument which is a local landmark, The Hoad, officially named The Sir John Barrow Monument. It celebrates the famous Ulverston son who was a Naval administrator and traveller and is built in the style of The Eddystone Lighthouse.
It was very still and warm this morning for our walk up to the popular Gummer’s How. The high fells were mainly in cloud today but we had great views along the length of Windermere. The top was populated not with people today, but irritating flies – thousands of them! This meant we didn’t hang around for too long…
Connie had better things to do today so it was up to Coniston for me and Angus. The weather was variable with the odd spot of rain but there were generally good views, especially when we got to Swirl How. It was really busy up there today so we went the quietest way we could – straight up the nose of the Old Man and returning via Boulder Valley. Both are much quieter than the popular routes.
It was grey and overcast yet again this afternoon for our short walk over Wainwright Outlying fell Blawith Knott. The heavy clouds threatened rain which thankfully didn’t materialise and we had an enjoyable walk with David and Daniel, who are holidaying in the area this week.
It was grey and overcast yet again this morning but very still and warm, the peacefulness shattered by many RAF jets screaming overhead today. We had a walk up to Irton Pike above Eskdale, the easy walk was made harder by the amount of trees still lying across the paths around the afforested base of Irton Fell.
Okay, so it’s not a fell walk today, but it was a big day for Angus and Connie as she entered him into the under 16’s pet category at the local agricultural show. They were up against some stiff opposition today; hamsters, guinea pigs and the like – could he overcome it and triumph?
It was another overcast day today with a thick band of low lying cloud over the fells. We just managed to stay below it but the views were totally obliterated from Rough Crag on the northern side of Devoke Water.
It was quite grey and overcast this morning with the odd shower, so we went for a low level walk around a couple of Lake District beauty spots, Little Langdale Tarn and Blea Tarn. They are in close proximity and make a great walk for a day like today.
It is the first day of the school summer holidays today so Connie and I had a day out on the Ullswater Steamers starting from Glenridding and riding up to Pooley Bridge. From there we climbed the Wainwright Outlying Fell, Dunmallet (named as Dunmallard Hill on the O.S map and shown as the site of a settlement, probably a fort given its position). The hill is no more than a gentle stroll and the amount of trees ensures there is no view from the top – we still had a nice day out though.
This walk follows Wainwright’s Dunmallet chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 214.
Bowscale – Bowscale Tarn – East Top on Bowscale Fell (387) – Bowscale Fell (388) – The Tongue (389) – Bannerdale Crags (390) – Blencathra – Mungrisdale Common – Cloven Stone – Lonscale Pike (391) – Lonscale Fell (392) – Jenkin Hill (393) – Skiddaw Lesser Man (394) – Skiddaw Little Man (395) – Skiddaw – Bakestall – Whitewater Dash – Little Calva (396) – Knott – Coomb Height (397) – Little Lingy Hill (398) – Great Lingy Hill (399) – Hare Stones (400) – High Pike (401) – Miton Hill (402) – Round Knott (403) – Carrock Fell (404) – Mungrisdale – Bowscale [25.8 miles, 2447m ascent]
After a short break, it was nice to get back home and back to even hotter weather here than abroad! Of course, there were lots of things to do today but I managed to escape for an hour for a quick walk up to Stickle Pike with Angus who was glad to be free again and to have a nice cooling swim.
Today’s walk was a round of remote Fusedale on the eastern side of Ullswater. It was a steep pull onto the High Street ridge from Steel Knotts, but once on the top, the going is easy and I followed the old Roman Road for part of the route. Although it was warm today, it remained overcast virtually throughout with the odd sunny moment and a heavy shower towards the end.
Stonethwaite – Eagle Crag (374) – Sergeant’s Crag (375) – High Raise – Low White Stones (376) – Lining Crag (377) – Stonethwaite [7.9 miles, 837m ascent]
Sleepy Arnside lies just outside the south-eastern boundary of the Lake District National Park (think Grange-over-Sands on Mogadon) so I thought I would pay a visit as I was over that way this morning. Arnside Knott has come to prominence since May this year when it was promoted to Marilyn status (Marilyn’s are a list of hills which have a relative height of 150m, regardless of absolute height or other merit. The name is a pun from the Scottish Munroe’s) and is indeed the lowest summit in England at 159.1 metres.
Today’s walk takes place in ‘the loveliest square mile in Lakeland’ according to Wainwright, in Borrowdale up to Grange Fell and across the valley to Castle Crag (incidentally the lowest Wainwright and the only one less than 1000′). It certainly was lovely today as the sun shone and it was very warm with the merest breeze; a real English summer’s day.
Today’s walk is over little known and little frequented Woodland Fell which lies between Torver and Broughton. It is a lovely secluded place, very quiet, with great views to the Coniston fells in clear weather. Today, the weather was not kind with constant drizzle and grey skies – it felt like November, not June! Here is a snippet of how A.Wainwright described Woodland Fell ‘….the walk here described is a connoisseurs piece, every step an uninhibited joy, every corner a delight. No footmarks, no litter…’. I must say I agree with him.
This walk follows Wainwright’s Woodland Fell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 102.
Today’s walk was a visit to some of the far eastern fells that I haven’t visited for a good while, starting from Longsleddale. Longsleddale is a lovely valley which is very quiet and Sadgill seems very remote at the end of the long valley road. The weather promised much but failed to deliver any sunshine although it was warm. Indeed, there were more than a few spots of rain towards the end.
This afternoon I had a short and slow walk on Birker Moor, completing a circuit of the Devoke Water shoreline. It was warm today with a slight breeze; the conditions were hazy so it wasn’t so good for views until the end of the walk. Nice to see a little bit of summer though!
