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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
I took Tom, Emily and my nephew Jake for wild camp and a couple of days walking. We left the car at the top of Wrynose Pass and set of up the excellent path up Wet Side Edge. With the weather set to be changeable I had planned a flexible route that could be changed to suit the conditions. My rucksack felt very heavy though with two tents and enough food for four people for three days.
Cold Pike on the left and Pike 'o Blisco from the climb away from the pass..
It had been raining as we passed through Windermere so we were well pleased that the weather seemed to be improving
Heading for Little Carrs.
Harter Fell in the sun.
This is the first time I have climbed this path and I thought it was a great way to approach the Coniston fells ( It does help that you have driven the first 1300ft though)
Looking down on Greenburn reservoir and Little Langdale tarn.
Cold Pike and Pike 'o Blisco again with Red tarn between them. Good visibility today without the haze of the last few weeks.
Grey Friar from Fairfield
We are heading for the distinctive Dow Crag. there is a good path which joins Levers Hause ( the low point on the left) to Goats Hause ( the low point centre) which is not on the map.
The clouds were still hanging around the high fells but the weather was improving all the time.
Levers Water and Coniston Water
Walking along the path which not on the map.
Goats Water then the southern end of Coniston Water then the sea.
The fine rocky top of Dow Crag from the climb up to Buck Pike.
Looking across to Coniston Old Man.
Emily, Thomas and Jake at the old Walna scar quarry.
Weather definitely improving.
Caw on the right and our camp site for the night, Pikes on the left.
Emily with the Lakeland giants laid out behind her.
Our beds for the night. After tea a brief 15 minute rainstorm drove us into our tents but it was worth the rain for the dramatic skies it left behind
Harter Fell.
Scafell in the mist.
Clouds over to the west
The tops of the Scafell range.
Lovely evening light over White Pike.
The view south eastwards
A little while later we climbed to the top of Pikes to watch the sunset.
Wednesday was dry as we set of down the fell to Seathwaite.
I just walked round these rocks but kids being kids
After a brief visit to the Newfield Inn we set of down the path following the Duddon.
This path starts of very clear with good views of the river and Wallowbarrow Crag but soon deteriorates into bog and in the summer when the grass is high is quite difficult to follow.
Some improvements have been made but just after we thought the worst was over we reached the stepping stones at Fickle Crag to find forestry work had started which has completely obliterated the path so the next mile or so was very hard going. Our plan had been to walk up through the forest onto the lower slope of Harter fell and camp there but as we reached Birks it started raining and this time it didn't feel like a shower so I made the decision to join the road and walk the four miles back to the car which we did in two hours. It was raining all the way and continued to rain right through the lakes and all the way home so I think we made the right call.
Last walk -Kirk Fell and Pillar Next walk - Langdale camping