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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
We booked into Wasdale hall youth hostel for a couple of nights and although there was quite a chilly wind on the tops we were lucky that we had two days of mainly sunny weather.
We drove straight to the parking spaces by the cottages at Greendale where we were meeting Helen who was walking with us as far as Middle Fell.
This is looking over to Scafell and the Pike.
It's a pretty steep climb away from the road and the view over Wastwater to the Screes soon opens up.
Approaching the top of Middle Fell.
The Isle of Man seen over Sellafield.
Middle Fell is known for it's great view of the Scafell massif. A little cloud had come over but it never felt like it would rain.
Sunshine on Yewbarrow with Great Gable and Kirk Fell beyond.
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Looking along the full length of the Screes with Illgill Head at the left hand end and Whin Rigg at the right.
Zooming in to Lingmell Gill and Hollow Stones below Scafell Pike.
After saying good-bye to Helen we made our way down off Middle fell to the boggy saddle under Seatallen. Haycock is the fell in shadow above a sunny Pots of Ashness.
From the saddle it's a relentless climb up grass to Seatallen.
Middle Fell and Greendale Tarn.
The Isle Of Man again this time seen from Seatallen.
After the very steep climb up it's a welcome amble down the long whaleback of Seatallen.
Looking back to the top.
It's gone a bit dark again over the high fells but Middle Fell is still mostly in sunshine.
As we reach Buckbarrow it's bright again. From this angle Scafell now looks higher than the Pike.
Although it meant we would have a bit of a road walk Sue decided that the way down to the valley via the cairns built by Joss Naylor looked a bit too steep so we came down following Gill Beck. Tosh Tarn below.
There are some lovely cascades in Gill Beck so our way down was full of interest.
Today we followed the valley of Nether Beck which after a boggy start improves into a lovely walk and in the lower reaches not to steep.
A look back.
Lots of lovely little pools and falls in Nether Beck.
Great Lad Crag from where the path starts to steeper
Middle Fell seen from near where we cross the beck and head up the slope to Scoat Tarn.
Scoat Tarn below. We are now climbing another steep slope up to the ridge connecting Red Pike with Scoat Fell.
And once there we climb a easier slope up to Scoat Fell. Red Pike is on the right and the 'muffin' top of Great Gable is poking up above Kirk Fell.
Steeple from Scoat Fell. From here we walked back down the hill then up again to Red Pike ( Wasdale ).
The cairn on Red Pike is perched right of the top of the very long drop to the valley. Another great viewpoint for the Scafell massif and also Kirk Fell with Gable behind and in the centre back ground is Great End.
The fields around Wasdale Head far below. Yewbarrow is not quite as far down but the path down to Dore Head is very rocky and has a couple of sections where hands on rock might be needed..
Yewbarrow from Dore Head.
On our way down the valley of Over Beck with Wastwater visible across the end.
Looking up Brimfull Beck from the footbridge across it.
Not far to go now. As with yesterday the afternoon has become very warm especially with the bracken radiating the heat
The unmistakable end view of Yewbarrow.
After tea I had a walk down to the lake and was just in time to catch the last of the setting sun as it caught the tops of Lingmell, Great Gable and Yewbarrow.
And the wonderfully lit Screes.
Today the forecast was for a dry but dull start with rain by lunchtime and as we had the long drive home to contend with we didn't think we had time for a walk around the higher fells in Wasdale. So we drove around to Loweswater to climb Hen Comb which is one of Sue's twelve remaining third round Wainwright fells. Our route to Hen Comb would depend on being able to cross Mosedale Beck which we did without a problem so we could head up the long ridge past Little Dodd to the summit.
The Lorton valley with Low fell on the left and Whiteside on the right.
The summit of Hen Comb comes into sight beyond Little Dodd.
Loweswater from the climb.
It's still overcast as we reach the top but no sign of rain. Buttermere and the distinctive shape of Fleetwith Pike are well seen from the summit.
Mellbreak with Grasmoor beyond.
On the steep grassy path down the south west end of Hen Comb now. The small bump is Floutern Cop and the larger fell is Great Borne
As the walk was a shortish one and as the day seemed to be improving with no sign of the forecasted rain we walked in a longer loop around the Mosedale valley and came back on the track under Mellbreak. This is looking to Hen Comb.
Looking back along the Mosedale Valley. Little Dodd and Hen Comb on the right.
Again the afternoon is nicer than the morning and it's a lovely view over to Darling Fell and Low Fell.
And Whiteside and Grasmoor show their best sides.
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