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 |
James and I were out for a couple of days in the fantastic weather over the weekend. We parked the car on Dunmail Raise and caught the bus to Bridge End at the foot of High Rigg.
For such a modest fell, High Rigg really does punch above it's weight and it's a fell I always look forward to climbing.
Looking back along the A591. Great How on the right with Browncove Crags on the left.
I love these two trees.
Blencathra seen from one of the dips on the roller coaster top of High Rigg.
Great How again but this time with Thirlmere and the fells of the central ridge.
The lack of rain recently has meant that everywhere is very dry and parched but I was glad to see the little tarn by the path had not dried up
After High Rigg we have to cross the valley to Clough Head which with the day now becoming very warm I can't say I was looking forward to.
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But before then there is a bit more of High Rigg to enjoy. This is the view northwards over Tewet Tarn to the valley of the Glenderaterra with Lonscale Fell on the left, Blease Fell on the right and the dark pyramid shape of Great Calva in the centre..
Descending to the youth Centre. Grisedale Pike and the north western fells in the distance.
St. John's in the Vale church looking lovely.
Looking back to High Rigg from our path across the valley bottom.
A parched dry Old Coach Rd. I'm sure it wasn't this steep when I last walked it.
I held the gate open for a 4x4 driver who offered us a lift up the hill which I declined as it would be cheating, but at this point whilst I was toiling away under the hot sun I started to wish I had accepted the offer.
After the steep ( it's not that bad really but the heat was making everything hard work ) plod up the road we took to the properly steep but thankfully not too long grind up the grassy path to White Pike and then Clough Head. The guy who'd offered us a lift has left his car just off the road near the old railway carriage Great and Little Mell fells are the hills in the middle distance..
White Pike is always worth a visit if you're coming this way.
Just up the hill from White Pike we solved the mystery of the missing driver. He had lugged his para glider up the fell and we watched as he took to the sky.
Blencathra from Clough Head.
From Clough Head it's down the grassy slope passing Calfhow Pike and up to our highest fell for today, Great Dodd.
Looking back past Calfhow Pike to Skiddaw, Bassenthwaite Lake and the north western fells.
The distinctive top of Catstyecam and Helvellyn in the distance from Great Dodd.
Once you've actually got up here, Watson's Dodd must be the easiest Wainwright top to bag . It's just a few hundred yards along another grassy path.
There might not be much to the summit but the views down are pretty good. Our starting point for today and High Rigg are just below.
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike,Scafell Pike, Great End, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and then finally Pillar are all in a line from the left above Thirlmere.
From Watson's Dodd it's not much of a climb to reach Stybarrow Dodd where we left the main path and headed eastwards towards Hart Side.
We camped just before Hart Side with a view looking down Glencoyne to Ullswater.
Looking to the south with the long High Street ridge on the left, then the fells around Hartsop, Red Screes and behind James's head, St. Sunday Crag.
I love this time when walking for the day is over, the tents up and you can just relax for a while before it's time for tea.
The shadows are starting to creep across us now. Sheffield Pike is the hill just below us .
After tea we made the short walk to bag Hart Side. Cross Fell can just about be seen in the evening haze.
Catstyecam and Helvellyn seem to make our tents look very small.
I set my alarm for five and was just a bit late for the sunrise. I'd got up at 3am to use the en-suite facility's and there was a red glow to the east and enough light to walk without a headtorch.The sun was very welcome as it had been quite chilly overnight..
Looking down into another Deepdale as we made our way back to the main path at Sticks Pass.
And the main path is hard to miss as it climbs away from the pass to Raise,
A very clear morning looking over to the high fells.
A bit more haze over to the east and Ullswater.
Raise marks the change from grassy tops to rocky tops.
On the stony path to Helvellyn Lower Man.
Thirlmere was mirror calm today.
Catstyecam and Brown Cove.
Looking down Swirral Edge.
And looking down to Striding Edge.
On to Nethermost Pike with a view down to the lower Grisedale valley. The top of the east ridge is on the right..
Striding Edge from the side.
Hard Tarn below with St. Sunday Crag across the upper reaches of Grisedale.
Grisedale and a slice of Ullswater from Dollywagon Pike.
We took the very steep direct route down by the wall getting a view of Grisedale tarn with Fairfield to the left and Seat Sandal to the right.
I much prefer coming up by Raise Beck rather than descending but it's quite a quick way down and lead us straight to our car.
I should say that it's a quick way down if you want it to be but today James and I cooled our feet in one of the lovely pools passed on the way down.
Another fall passed on the way down.
Eventually we tore ourselves away and headed down to a very hot car.
Previous walk - 3 days in Ennerdale - Next walk - Around Longsleddale