Walks and days in the Lake District (mostly) - 2008
| Cold Pike and Little Stand from the Three Shires Stone - Monday 16 June - a lovely walk in partly new territory. Short report to follow. |
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Sharp Haw and Rough Haw, near Skipton - Friday 13 June - a local afternoon-evening walk with 2 fellow OFC members who are also Silsden residents. Dave and Josie, my near neighbours picked me up at 3.30 and we were parked ready to set off 20 minutes later with the distinctive pointy peaked but relatively low Sharphaw in view. When I was younger, the 3 distinctive peaks were always known as Sleeping Lady, Sharphaw and Sugar Loaf - in fact I still refer to them as that. Anyway, a short shower held us up for a few minutes but didn't deter us and off we set. A slightly longer shower was with us not long after but did nothing to dampen our spirits. Sharp Haw was reached after much pleasant conversation and then the decision had to be made which way to go next. We carried on to the next small summit of Rough Haw, which has good views north into Wharfedale, then retraced our steps back to Sharp Haw then north down the path toward Flasby - with super views to Malhamdale and beyond.
A longish walk back along the forestry track brought us back to where we had left the main track earlier on and so back to the car. We were walking for about 3 hours and the conversation and 'craic' was great. A couple of pints of Tetleys on the way home rounded off a very enjoyable outing. Thanks Dave and Josie for the company - must do it again soon. |
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Malham Bimbles - Monday 12 May - 2 short walks in limestone country nearer to home. The day before, Sophie and I had taken part in the Race for Life at Broughton Hall near Skipton. It had been a very hot day and while it was only 5km it had taken it out of me. Barrie was having problems with his knee and neither of us were feeling up to a long drive or a long walk. We decided to explore nearer home and turned off and Settle and went over the tops via Langcliffe to Malham. Here we walked down to the tarn where Sam had a lovely swim then we drove down to the village and walked up to Gordale Scar. Gordale Scar is an impressive place and though I've been there many times I am still amazed as I turn the corner into the amphitheatre by the sheer majesty of the steep dark cliffs. Quite a place to realise how small you are in the scheme of things Then back over the tops to Settle - as I wanted to visit the Watershed Mill (it was too early when we passed in the morning!) then back via Hellifield where we visited the refurbished station - and bumped into my sister and brother-in-law who live in the village, having lunch in the cafe.
Again we keep saying we'll do more walks in the Dales as there is so much lovely scenery and so many interesting places nearer home. The pull of the Lake District is always strong but we always enjoy our days in Yorkshire too. |
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Caw in Dunnerdale and Swinside Stone Circle - Monday 14 April - after our last two walks being done in fantastic weather, we couldn't believe that we could be lucky a third time. But the gods were smiling on us again and although we weren't after too strenuous a walk we needed to be on a fell. We're trying to get some of Alfred Wainwright's Outlying Fells done and Caw in Dunnerdale was just right this time. There's plenty of parking on the minor road that runs north from Broughton Mills which is also handy, and is where we parked, for Stickle Pike last year. The route we took was nowhere steep although we made our own route for the last bit to the summit and think we made it harder for ourselves. But we got there and had lunch at a rather breezy summit - although we managed to get out of the worst of it below the trig point. After that we made our descent by the obvious path west from the summit stopping many times to look at the super view north to Harter Fell and the Scafell range. Slight detours on the lower slopes where the path wasn't so obvious brought us back to the track and so back to the car. It isn't a long walk and is mostly on easy slopes and grassy terrain. As I said I think we made it a bit harder for ourselves as we went for the summit. But if you want a shortish walk with great views then Caw is one of the best.
After that we drove round to Swinside stone circle (roadside parking then just over a mile walking there and back) which is well worth seeing and much more impressive than Castlerigg - in my opinion. |
On the way back we stopped at Fell Foot (National Trust) for afternoon tea then ended our day with the usual trip to Lakeland and drinks and chips at Gargrave. It had been another great day, lovely weather again and a lovely walk and another Outlying Fell to add to our list.
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Beda Fell from the old church at Martindale - Monday 31 March - a lovely walk taking in one of the most beautiful and peaceful valleys in the Lake District. We're trying to get done some of the Wainwright fells that we haven't done together and as we hadn't been to the far eastern area for quite a long time Beda Fell seemed like a good idea. It was just perfect - not too high, not too steep and not too long. Once again the weather was on our side - it was 'jackets off' time for some of the way although there was a cool breeze along the ridge - if you were in the shelter of the crags it was really warm but out of the shelter the complete opposite. We parked at the old church at Martindale and if you want complete comparison for quiet and busy then this is the complete opposite of places like Bowness and Ambleside - perfect peace and such beauty. Words can't do it justice - you have to see it for yourself, but don't tell too many people!
We walked along the road to Dale Head then took the diagonal path up toward Boardale Hause with the views to The Nab, Rest Dodd and Fusedale getting better and better as we gained height. As we reached the point where we started along Beda Fell ridge the views opened up to the west and the Helvellyn ridge and Fairfield. There was more snow there than there had been when we were on Dollywaggon 2 weeks ago. |
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Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike - Monday 17 March - great to be back on the high fells with a walk of about 6 miles in lovely but very cold weather and snow still on the high bits. Fit or not we decided we were going to have a proper fell walk and my plan A was a great success. We parked at the top of Dunmail Raise and took the fairly steep path up the side of Raise Beck. The advantage of setting off steeply is that you gain height reasonably quickly and it seemed that in no time - well, not much time - at all, Grisedale Tarn came into view, a very welcome sight and the first part of the uphill stretch over. From here we started up the zig-zag path towards Dollywaggon Pike with views east and down into Grisedale and to Ullswater improving the higher we went. We also found ourselves surrounded by snow, although we weren't actually walking in it, but there was still plenty around, especially where it has drifted onto the cliff edges. There was a very cold biting wind but the views more than made up for the chilly weather - there was blue sky and sunshine, what more could we ask for in March! It's not too far of a continuation on to Helvellyn but we were going far enough as it was, for us.
After a pleasant lunch stop in the lee of Dollywaggon summit with superb views to Nethermost and Helvellyn we made our way along the edge of the ridge to Nethermost Pike then took the very obvious path down to Wythburn. I've always liked that route as an ascent route to the Helvellyn ridge as it's an easy walk all the way down with stunning views down over Thirlmere. |
The hardest part of the walk was the stretch back to the car, along the track from Wythburn to the top of Dunmail Raise. It seemed to go on and on forever. We were soon refreshed with a hot drink then it was our usual return route via Lakeland then Gargrave for beer and chips A fabulous day with everything being right for once - weather, fitness, views. Roll on our next visit!
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Tom Heights and Tarn Hows - Tuesday 22 January - neither of us are feeling very fit at the moment and the weather once again wasn't great so a shortish walk was needed, We wanted to be on a fell and we wanted some good views. Now Tarn Hows on a weekend or Bank Holiday isn't a place to be if you want peace and quiet but on a winter day in January it's not a bad place to be. Tom Heights isn't very high and after a short steep pull there is a very pleasant walk along the ridge with several cairns and possible summits (probably how it got the plural name of 'Heights') with good views down Coniston Water to the south, the Coniston fells to the west, then east to the Helvellyn ridge and beyond. It was good to see some snow on the higher fells. We descended to the outlet at the west of the tarns and completed our walk on the very quiet tourist track.
Luckily the rain held off till we got back to the car, which was very kind of it. After a refreshing cuppa we made our way back via Ambleside then to Lakeland then Gargrave for our usual pint of Tetleys for me and chips for Barrie. And I came home even more determined to get fit this year and back up on the high fells! |
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A walk along the coastal path from Sandyhills toward Rockcliffe - Thursday 3 January - a Scottish walk for my first one of the year and a solo one too. I was enjoying a few days with Sophie, her partner Lee and Hollie, staying in the lovely log cabin we'd stayed in back in September 2006. It's situated in pine trees right in the middle of a golf course and while I didn't see any this time, last time we'd had red squirrels running about outside. On this day, I had the choice of either going with them to the big 'city' of Dumfries, perhaps to spend some money, or having a walk along the coastal path between Sandyhills and Rockcliffe. As the sun was shining, even though there was quite a chilly wind, I chose the walk! I walked for about 2 hours and thoroughly enjoyed the fresh air and much needed exercise. The tide was well out and unfortunately it was quite hazy so I couldn't quite see the distant Lakeland fells. I can say that I climbed a hill though - the quite diminutive height of Torr Hill.
Oh well, not a long walk but I think I chose the much better option - and my purse was much better off too! We'd woken up to snow but it didn't last long, thank goodness and had all disappeared by the time I was walking. I'm not a great snow walker so I didn't mind at all. But all in all it was a very pleasant short break in southern Scotland. And in only another 5 weeks we'll be in Aviemore. |
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