WWW.KARLSWALKS.CO.UK
PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
A ride up on the train this week to meet April and Beefy at Penrith from where we drove around to the Bleach Green car park on the shores of Ennerdale Water. Before our walk we took out Beefy's new kayak for a sail on Ennerdale water.
It was warm but very overcast, April and Beefy went first and then Beefy and I took to the water. There was no wind so paddling the kayak was very easy.and I found it very relaxing drifting along on the very calm waters.
After packing the kayak away we shouldered our packs and made for the steep path up by Ben Gill. Bleach Green is below with Knock Murton to the left and Blake Fell the highest of the Loweswater fells to the right.
The path crosses this dramatic mini gorge where Ben Gill plunges steeply down the fell.
The weather has perked up now and we have blue sky above. We decided that as this was very much a slackpacking trip that we wouldn't climb Crag Fell today but would save it for our return tomorrow..
On the path by-passing the top of Crag Fell and Lank Rigg our camping spot for tonight appears.
After reaching the old logging road the view to the high fells open up. This is Pillar, Black Crag and the pointy top of Steeple.
And panning a bit to the left brings in the fells above Ennerdale with Starling Dodd on the left then Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag.
Grike in the background and Crag Fell from the gate in the Ennerdale Fence.
A look over to Caw fell and the valley of Bleaberry Gill from the stiff pull from the col between Whoap and Lank Rigg..
On Lank Rigg now and we find that Wainwright's buried treasure is still there.
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It was to early to pitch the tents so we spent the afternoon relaxing by the tarn which did look very inviting. Later in the evening I had a dip and can report that tarn is about four foot deep and has a very muddy bed which meant I was dirtier when i got out than when I got in..
Later in the afternoon we pitched up just by the summit.
The afternoon had become overcast again so we wern't expecting a great sunset but there was a bit of colour and some very nice clouds.
Nice evening sky over to the north.
And an interesting linear cloud over to the west.
After the sun had dropped into the sea there was quite a bit of an afterglow.
Which lasted quite late into the evening. It was lovely sat in the warm evening on our comfy chairs just chatting and chilling out.
It rained quite heavily in the early hours but was dry and a little brighter than yesterday as we made our way down to the col between Lank Rigg and Whoap.
Black Combe and the Station fells.
Lank Rigg from the climb to Whoap.
On to Crag fell now and looking down along Ennerdale.
We thought we'd vary our route back down to the valley by visiting the \pinnacles below Crag Fell, unfortunately the route I chose to come down by ( which I've used before ) was deemed too steep and dangerous by April so we had to make a tricky traverse across what April called " the ledge of doom" to regain the main path down from Crag Fell.
We had a break at a little clearing by the side of Ben Gill, where we were entertained by herdies peeping at us out of the bracken.
Warm and sunny now as we descended.
Ennerdale Water with Herdus and Bowness Knott beyond. It was great to meet up and enjoy the craic with April and Beefy again and the kayaking on Ennerdale Water was a great way to start the week-end.
Previous walk - Nethermost Pike - Next walk - 2 days in Borrowdale