Coniston (again!)
The same fells on a different day…
Walks
Coniston
The predicted weather forecast turned out to be correct today – the low lying fog was due to stay put whilst up above there would be sunshine…
Blawith Knott
There was a chance of a quick walk with the boys to Blawith Knott on this Good Friday afternoon…
Gummer’s How
It was pretty windy today even at valley level, of course this was even worse higher up (which I was expecting) but I took the dogs up to Gummer’s How which is an easy walk at any time. Of course it turned into a quick sprint complete with snatched photos – at least the fresh air was refreshing!
Kirk Fell
Today I ended up on a fell I hadn’t set out to climb – I had in mind to climb Great Gable but when I climbed to Beck Head I remembered that Kirk Fell was one of the ones that Dougal hasn’t yet done (there aren’t many!) so as it was so near I decided to go for it…
Tarn Crag
Today I had a meeting with Clive Hutchby who has edited Wainwright Book 1, The Eastern Fells (more of that below) so we decided on a walk on the Far Eastern Fells which is the book under revision at the moment…
Brock Barrow
Everywhere I went this morning there were heavy snow showers with it settling on the roads in many places. I ended up deciding on a short walk to somewhere that was not too high given the wind strength down at valley level and ended up getting a pleasant surprise with the way the weather turned out. Given the earlier conditions I don’t think I could have asked for any more.
Haystacks
What a gorgeous morning it was today – the sunrise was perfect and I timed it just right to get some fantastic reflection shots on Derwent Water. After clicking away for a good while at different locations I went over to Buttermere for a climb to Haystacks. It was amazingly quiet, there wasn’t a soul around and I only passed one person on the descent – another great winter walk.
Langdale Circuit
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Harrison Stickle – Thunacar Knott – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Stickle Tarn – New Dungeon Ghyll [5.6 miles, 723m ascent]
Blencathra via Hall’s Fell Ridge
‘For active walkers and scramblers, this route is positively the finest way to any mountain top in the district. It is direct, exhilarating, has glorious views and (especially satisfying) scores a bulls-eye by leading unerringly to the summit cairn’ – AW
Loughrigg Fell
This morning turned into a right old palaver – firstly I set off for Helvellyn but the local weather said that east would be cloudy all day as I set off so I decided upon Coniston…
Torver Common
We had a wander around Torver Common this afternoon, it was lovely up there and the wind was biting but the sunset was lovely.
Walla Crag
Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick [4.9 miles, 322m ascent]
The Dunnerdale Fells
I had the chance of a swift walk with the dogs at the end of the afternoon so I had a wander around some of the Dunnerdale fells. It turned out to be a stunning sunset, something that didn’t look like it would happen until the very end so I am glad we braved the cold wind and went for it!
The Dodds
Today was supposedly the calm before the storm, but I don’t think the weather necessarily knew that as once on the tops, the wind was howling and I ended up with more layers on than an onion.
Caudale Moor
The wind did howl and the rain did pour this morning for our walk to Caudale Moor. I had intended to go further on this walk but it was so wet and cold I’d had enough after I reached Hartsop Dodd. I think Fletcher came of age today with his first taste of some proper fell weather!
Gummer’s How
It was a grey old day today and it remained unerringly cold so I took Connie and the dogs up to Gummer’s How at the end of the day – it didn’t turn out too badly as there was a decent sunset to make a nice backdrop to the walk.
Stickle Pike
This morning was really poor, the weather was quite damp and dreary but later on the clouds cleared and there was just enough time for a sprint up to Stickle Pike for a glorious sunset.
Lingmoor Fell
Dougal was in for the op that any male wouldn’t like to think too much about today (gulp!) so it was down to young Fletcher to be #1 Fell Dog for the day. They were big paws to fill but Fletcher had no problems carrying it off – today he experienced snow and ice for the first time. Winter has struck on the high ground and the wind was icy coild, through to the bone on the tops but when the leaden skies cleared, what fabulous views there were to be had.
Brock Barrow
Should I, shouldn’t I, should I, shouldn’t I…oh, go on then – time was very short this morning and I did intend to have a low level walk with the boys around Coniston somewhere but then was magically drawn skywards by diminutive Brock Barrow. It was a bit drab and a bit cool but watching Fletcher made me smile – it wasn’t so long ago (July 11th to be exact!) that he climbed this as a small pup and I worried whether it would be too much for the little fella. Now he is as big as Dougal and positively bounded up here…he’s going to be a fine fellwalking dog that Fletcher.