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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
Tuesday 5th August - Black Sail YH - Scarth Gap - Gatesgarth farm ( about 2 miles )
Not a brilliant weather forecast for our few days in the Lakes but the hostel was booked months ago and the train tickets bought so we set off from Ravenglass station determined to make the most of it. I know in the grand scheme of things our multi day trips are very tame adventures but I still get a nervous excited feeling when the train pulls away leaving you at the station with the prospect of walking to your destination.
Actually the weather had not been too bad on the journey up but as we left Ravenglass it started to rain but Jake, Emily and Thomas didn't complain and were soon into their stride
We passed Walls Castle Roman bathhouse just outside Ravenglass
Muncaster Tarn, still a nice spot for a break even on a dull day.
We passed on climbing up to Hooker Crag ( the summit of Muncaster Fell) as the fells were mostly in clag. Whin Rigg did appear as we neared Ross's Camp though
and this is looking back to the coast from Ross's Camp
Green Crag is the dark fell ahead.
We called in the pub to shelter from the rain and decided to have an early tea and whilst we were in the skies cleared and the day became quite warm.
We were camping at the Fisherground campsite where there is lots to do for children, including tractor tyre rafting on their pond
The forecast for Sunday was terrible so we decided to change our plan for a wild camp on Eskdale Fell and walk to the campsite at Wasdale Head. Again the weather wasn't too bad as we passed through the hamlet of Boot.
Looking over to Birker Force. After a very dry summer it's not taken long to fill all the streams up and rejuvenate the water falls.
This is the fell gate onto Eskdale Moor and literally as we passed through and on to the moor the rain came down and we were battered and blown about all the way to Burnmoor Tarn.
Our hope was that conditions in Wasdale might be better and the cloud does look as it's breaking over the valley.
Burnmoor Tarn and lodge always a bit of a foreboding place but more so on a day like today.
Oliver Gill on the right and Hardrigg Gill on the left made a tremendous noise as they rushed down the fell.
Nearly off the moor now.
And our destination, Wasdale Head comes into view
Great Gable from the road to Wasdale head.
Zooming in on Great Napes. I think you can just pick out Napes needle just right of centre.
Cloud curling over gable
After a very stormy night Monday was a much better day. Because we had stayed at Wasdale Head we now only had a short walk over Black Sail Pass to the youth hostel
This is looking up the valley with Gable on the left and the lower slopes of Lingmell on the right
The direct route up Kirkfell one of the steepest ascents in the Lakes
Looking back to Illgill Head. The path from Eskdale comes over the fell at the low point above the trees.
Yewbarrow on the right from near Gatherstone Head.
Gatherstone Beck.
The lower slopes of Pillar from near the top of Black Sail pass.
Thomas and Emily look down on Black sail hut nearly seven years to the day when their older brothers did.
The High Stile ridge from the drop down the other side of the pass
Green and Great Gable with Windy Gap between from the bridge over the Liza.
Very tame Chaffinch outside the hostel
I had wanted to see the changes recently made to the hostel but apart from a new sign and a coat of paint I couldn't see much difference
We arrived at the hostel quite early and spent a lovely afternoon just relaxing and talking to passersby from various nations walking the coast to coast. I took pictures of the moon rising above Kirkfell.
Whilst the kids were engaged in a wildlife hunt
And seem to have found a subject for inspection.
Black Sail hut.
The afternoon gave way to a lovely evening.
The sun setting over Ennerdale.
We were up early the next morning for the short walk to the bus stop at Gatesgarth
Looking down Ennerdale from the the climb up to Scarth Gap. The new planting is part of the Ennerdale re-wilding scheme.
A final look up the valley.
As we top the pass a new valley is reveled. Buttermere with the Grasmoor fells above.
High Crag from the path down.
Nearly at the bottom now with Fleetwith Pike towering over us.
Buttermere from Peggy's Bridge.
And looking the other way from the bridge Haystacks is on the right with Fleetwith on the left.
We were in plenty of time for the bus and left for home tired but happy after another great holiday.