Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

Hampsfell

Walked on

Start point: Grange Fell road (SD 396 779)

Hampsfell (OF) from the Grange Fell road

Distance: 2 miles     Total Ascent: 200 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Warm and sunny, 11°C.

Lying between Grange-over-Sands and Cartmel, Hampsfell is an elevated ridge of Limestone overlooking the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay. It was an easy and pleasant stroll this morning in the sunshine from the Grange Fell road up to the crowning glory on the summit –  a tower called The Hospice.

Hampsfell is described in Wainwright’s Hampsfell chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 58.

 

Walney Island

Walked on

Weather: Overcast, warm with some sunny spells, 13oC.

Golden sands, mountain views, far from the madding crowds….sounds idyllic and it was on this remote northern tip of Walney Island, just off Barrow-in-Furness where we ventured for a relaxed family outing.

 

The Dunnerdale Fells

Walked on

Start point: Stonestar (SD 202 912)

Stonestar – Great Stickle (OF) – Stickle Pike – Tarn Hill   (OF)_- The Dunnerdale Fells – Stonestar

Distance: 4 miles     Total Ascent: 502 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 35 minutes

Weather: Warm, becoming sunny at the end of the walk, 13oC.

We had a walk around the Dunnerdale Fells starting from Stonestar on the Duddon Valley road this warm afternoon. This is a lovely and quiet area – hard to find on a Good Friday afternoon I think! It also took in Stickle Pike and Stickle Tarn, the area we walked on Wednesday from the Lickle Valley side.

The walk was a hybrid of two Wainwright Outlying Fell walks. Stickle Pike is described in Wainwright’s Stickle Pike chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 126 and The Dunnerdale Fells are described in the Dunnerdale Fells chapter on page 132.

Furness Abbey

Walked on

Weather: Sunny and bright, 15oC.

Not a fell walk on this warm and sunny afternoon but a lovely stroll around the ruins of Furness Abbey. Set in the Vale of Deadly Nightshade, the abbey was founded in 1123 by Stephen, Count of Blois, later King Stephen. It has long been perceived as a very romantic building, Wordsworth visited the abbey on several occasions and referred to it in his Prelude of 1805….

For any cautious man, a Structure famed
Beyond its neighbourhood, the antique Walls
Of that large Abbey which within the vale
Of Nightshade, to St. Mary’s honour built,
Stands yet, a mouldering Pile, with fractured Arch,
Belfry, and Images, and living Trees….

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: 50 minutes

Weather: Brighter than this morning, 14oC.

As it was a bit brighter this afternoon, we had another short walk up to Stickle Pike above Broughton Mills. We were joined by Connie after she was sprung from school for Easter at lunchtime – much better than sitting in a classroom I think!

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

Blawith Knott

Walked on

Start point: Woodland Fell road (SD 256 879)

Woodland Fell Road – Blawith Knott (OF) – Lang Tarn – Tottlebank Height (OF) – Woodland Fell Road

Distance: 2.4 miles     Total Ascent: 230 metres     Time Taken: 50 minutes

Weather: Grey and overcast with rain showers. 13oC.

Today’s walk visits the little frequented Woodland Valley which lies between the Duddon Estuary and Coniston. It was grey and overcast with no views to the high fells; at least the temperature is getting warmer – it felt like Spring today.

This walk follows the one described in Wainwright’s Blawith Knott chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 108.

Loughrigg Fell

Walked on

Start point: Rydal (NY 365 062)

Rydal – Loughrigg Terrace – Loughrigg Fell (319) – Loughrigg Quarry cave –  Rydal

Distance: 4.2 miles     Total Ascent: 420 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Grey and overcast with rain showers.

We had a walk following in Wordsworth’s footsteps today, up to that family favourite Loughrigg Fell. The clouds hung over the higher fells today whilst Loughrigg retained relative clarity. This walk was good for a swim (for some!) if not for views…

Holme Fell

Walked on

Start point: Hodge Close (NY 315 016)

Holme Fell from Hodge Close

Distance: 1.8 miles     Total Ascent: 203 metres     Time Taken: 40 minutes

Weather: Overcast with hail and rain showers.

A short walk up to Holme Fell from Hodge Close today; there are great views of The Langdale Pikes and Coniston Water from here. The skies were murky and threatening ‘weather’ but we managed to get down before the worst. Hodge Close is an intriguing place; it is a disused quarry that warrants closer inspection and its deep chasm holds relics of an industrial past.

The Langdale Pikes

Walked on

Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)

New Dungeon Ghyll – Thorn Crag – Loft Crag – Pike O’Stickle – Thunacar Knott – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Pavey Ark – Harrison Stickle – New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 8.2 miles     Total Ascent: 1017 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 50 minutes

Weather: Warmer than of late with the tops in and out of mist all day.

A return visit to old favourites The Langdale Pikes today – it’s a little while since I’ve done them so this round made a nice change today. With it being Easter soon, this area becomes very busy so I thought I’d better get out while the place was virtually deserted…

The Kentmere Horseshoe

Walked on

Start point: Kentmere (NY 176 011)

Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke (313) – Ill Bell (314) – Froswick (315) – Thornthwaite Beacon – Mardale Ill Bell – Nan Bield Pass – Harter Fell – Kentmere Pike (316) – Goat Scar (317) – Shipman Knotts (318) – Kentmere

Distance: 13.7 miles     Total Ascent: 1436 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours

The day started off brightly for today’s long Kentmere Horseshoe walk with the grey clouds gathering by lunchtime and taking the edge off the fine views. There is still plenty of snow on the tops although it was warmer than of late. This is a fine round with great views in all directions.

Boat How

Walked on

Start point: Boot (NY 176 011)

Boot – Burnmoor Tarn – Boat How (312) (OF) – Boot

Distance: 4.5 miles     Total Ascent: 393 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Cold, some sunny and snow showers

There was a mixed bag of weather this morning for the gentle walk from Boot in Eskdale, out to Burnmoor Tarn for a view of the high fells, and back to Boot via Boat How. There were frequent snow showers with plenty of snow in evidence above 500m.

This walk follows the one described in Wainwright’s Boat How chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 178.

The Old Man of Coniston

Walked on

Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)

Walna Scar car park – Low Water – The Old Man of Coniston – Goat’s Hawse – Goat’s Water – Walna Scar car park

Distance: 5.6 miles     Total Ascent: 562 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Cold, some sunny spells.

The sun was shining on the Coniston fells this morning so I couldn’t resist another snowy walk up to The Old Man. We were the first up that way this morning and blazed a trail through the newly fallen snow; a great feeling.

Skiddaw

Walked on

Start point: Orthwaite Road, near Bassenthwaite (NY 237 311)

Bassenthwaite – Watches (300) – The Edge – Ullock Pike (301) – Longside Edge – Long Side (302) – Carl Side (303) –Skiddaw (304-308) – Broad End (309) – Bakestall (310) –  Cockup (311)– Bassenthwaite

Distance: 7.9 miles     Total Ascent: 1229 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes

Weather: Cold, many snow showers with blizzard conditions on Skiddaw.

Today’s walk is to Skiddaw via The Edge and Longside Edge – a really great route of ascent. The weather worsened throughout the walk and crampons were required for the steep ascent to Skiddaw. Once on the top, the blizzard whipped up and there was a complete white-out.

Wast Water

Walked on

Not a fell walk today but a visit to picturesque Wasdale with stunning views to the high fells. The sun shone when we arrived and the snowy tops made a lovely scene.

The Circuit of Devoke Water

Walked on

Start point: Birker Fell road (SD 171 977)

Birker Fell Road –  Rough Crag (Birker Moor) (OF) – Water Crag (OF) – White Pike on Birkby Fell (OF) – Yoadcastle (OF)– Woodend Height (OF) –  Seat How (Birker Moor)  (OF)  – Birker Fell Road

Distance: 5.4 miles     Total Ascent: 686 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Freezing temperatures, clear sunny spells and snow showers.

Devoke Water lies between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley and is hidden just off the Birker Fell road. The Circuit of Devoke Water gives fine views of the fells at the head of Wasdale, Eskdale and out to the Irish Sea. There was a cold, cold wind blowing from the high fells today bringing with it snow flurries, but when the clouds cleared there were some great views.

This round is described in Wainwright’s The Circuit of Devoke Water chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 144.

Latterbarrow

Walked on

Start point: Colthouse (SD 360 988)

Latterbarrow (OF) from Colthouse

Distance: 1.5 miles     Total Ascent: 143 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Sunny and bright, gradually getting overcast with snow flurries.

It was a lovely clear morning this morning so we had a family trek up to another great viewpoint with small stature, Latterbarrow which is situated just outside Hawkshead. The large obelisk on the summit of Latterbarrow is clearly visible from Hawkshead and it makes an inviting target. As we walked, the snow clouds gathered overhead and gave us a few flurries.

Latterbarrow is described in Wainwright’s Latterbarrow chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 84.

Black Combe

Walked on

Start point: Beckside (SD 153 847)

Beckside – White Hall Knott – White Combe (OF) – Whitecombe Moss – Stoupdale Head (OF) – Black Combe (OF) –South Top of Black Combe – Whicham Mill – Beckside

Distance: 6.25 miles     Total Ascent: 657 metres     Time Taken: 2hours 20 minutes

Weather: Sunny and bright.

Black Combe lies in the extreme south-west of the Lake District and its remoteness from other fells means that it is rarely visited and its detachment from the main fells means that it is easily identifiable from a distance.

The sun shone more than could have been expected this morning with the thick covering of cloud over the top of Black Combe lifting by the time I reached the summit. Black Combe is described in Wainwright’s Black Combe chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 176.

Orrest Head

Walked on

Start point: Windermere (SD 414 987)

Orrest Head (OF) from Windermere

Weather: Cold, fine with sunny spells.

This week is the school half-term, so today’s short walk is a child friendly one to Orrest Head, famous for being Wainwright’s first ascent of a Lake District fell and the one that changed his life forever. It is easy to see why with an easy stroll from Windermere rewarded with magnificent views of the high fells. Orrest Head is described in Wainwright’s Orrest Head chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 26.

 

 

The Bannisdale Horseshoe

Walked on

Start point: Dryhowe Bridge (NY 531 017)

Dryhowe Bridge, Bannisdale – Whiteside Pike (292) (OF) – Todd Fell (293) (OF) – Capplebarrow (294) (OF) – Ancrow Brow (295) – Long Crag on Bannisdale Fell (296) (OF) – White How (Bannisdale) (297) (OF) – Borrowdale Head (298) –Lamb Pasture (299) (OF) – Dryhowe Bridge, Bannisdale

Weather: Fine with sunny spells.

Today’s walk is a round of Bannisdale, a remote and virtually uninhabited (and unvisited) valley to the north east of Kendal. The walk basically follows Wainwright’s The Bannisdale Horseshoe chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 260, this being the longest round in the book. Ancrow Brow and Borrowdale Head are tagged ‘un-named’ by Wainwright and confusingly Birkett’s Ancrow Brow is different to the one marked on the O.S map.This walk was harder than it appears on the map due to the nature of the grassy hills which are boggy and tussocky and make hard going.

 

 

Ullscarf

Walked on

Start point: Dobgill (NY 316 140)

Dobgill – Brown Rigg (285) – Blea Tarn Fell (286) – Standing Crag (287) –  High Saddle of Coldbarrow Fell (288) – Low Saddle of Coldbarrow Fell (289) – Ullscarf (290) – Wythburn Fell (291) – Dobgill

Weather: Grey and overcast.

Today’s walk is a round of Ullscarf – a remote and mainly pathless area which is mainly grassland. The weather was brighter than could have been expected with the sun making the odd appearance and no rain; cloud was prevalent above 500m.