Skiddaw
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 [7.9 miles, 1229m ascent]
Walks
Wast Water
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 classic view along Wast Water. Buckbarrow. Panoramic image of Wast Water and The Screes. Click to see a full size version. Great
The Circuit of Devoke Water
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
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
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.
The Bannisdale Horseshoe
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
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
Catbells
Today we had a walk up to Cat Bells (the setting for Beatrix Potter’s ‘The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’, Connie’s favourite – of course!), getting there and back using the Derwent Water launch from Keswick. It was a warm day and Connie did brilliantly completing this climb, her hardest yet I think and she absolutely loved it on the launch.
Claife Heights
This morning’s short walk starts at Sawrey, the home of Beatrix Potter, and is a round of the high ground known as Claife Heights which lies between the western shore of Windermere and Esthwaite Water. The walk follows Wainwright’s Claife Heights chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 80.
Sallows
Today’s walk is a short round from Troutbeck to two tops on Applethwaite Common, namely Sour Howes and Sallows. The weather started clearing almost as soon as I set off after initially being rather overcast…hooray! There are superb views along almost the whole length of Windermere and along Troutbeck Park throughout the walk.
Fellbarrow
A visit to the north western fells above Loweswater today – not much luck with the weather though as the clag stubbornly clung to the fells all day despite their relatively low stature.
Striding Edge
As it is StridingEdge ‘s first birthday on Monday, what could be a more fitting walk than an ascent of Helvellyn across Striding Edge. The day promised to be clear but by the time I reached Helvellyn across a deserted Striding Edge, the cloud and cold wind arrived. Still, it was a very enjoyable round…
Irton Pike
I’m under doctor’s orders today but exercise was recommended so it had to be an easy walk taken at a gentle pace. The Irton Pike/Irton Fell route was ideal as it gives great views of the high fells without being too strenuous. There were still many trees lying around in the Miterdale Forest and the surrounding woods having been blown over by the recent high winds.
Tilberthwaite Fells
Today’s walk is a round of the Tilberthwaite Fells. Nestling between Coniston and Langdale and bearing the scars of an industrial past, this route with fells of small stature offers some excellent and surprising views.
Yewbarrow
Today’s walk is a walk over shapely Yewbarrow, a fell that often missed when walking from Wasdale as it doesn’t fit neatly with other rounds. Whilst the weather wasn’t great today it was still worth the walk up – the moment when Great Door appeared after a hard scramble was certainly the highlight.
Carron Crag
Today’s walk is a fairly short walk from Dodgson Wood on the eastern shore of Coniston Water. Due to the bad weather and gale force winds last week Grizedale Forest is shut from the visitor centre due to the amount of trees felled, however it is still accessible from the Coniston side. There was plenty of evidence of the wind damage with trees down in the old woods at the beginning of the walk and quite extensive damage in the forest itself.
Bow Fell
Today’s walk was a l o n g walk from Cockley Beck to Esk Pike and Bow Fell. The long, boggy run in along Moasdale was helped by the spectacular views (the best?) of Bow Fell, Esk Pike and the Crinkle Crags. The Sca Fells were in cloud all day so I didn’t get to see to much of them , unfortunately. I really rated this walk – thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Pike O’ Blisco
Blea Tarn – Blea Moss – Blake Rigg (Little Langdale) (252) – Long Crag on Wrynose Fell (253) – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Wrynose Bridge – Blea Moss Blea Tarn