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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 |
A walk this week which would make a nice day walk but as I hadn't been camping for a couple of weeks and had finished my household duties by Saturday afternoon I drove up to Patterdale arriving around seven in the evening.
I was actually walking from Glenridding but it's easier to find overnight parking in Patterdale so that's where I left my car. It was a very pleasant evening as I made my way along the road between the villages. St. Sunday Crag looked lovely in the early evening light.
My route this evening was up the north east ridge of Birkhouse Moor which I'm looking up to now.
The path up the ridge leaves the main Helvellyn track just after Miresbeck. I'm not actually sure I'm following it as the bracken was very high and I soon lost the line but just plodded upwards heading for a rocky outcrop low down on the ridge. The view back to Ullswater with Place Fell above soon expanded.
On the the rocky outcrop looking over to Heron Pike and Glenridding Dodd, two fells I hope to visit tomorrow.
The old mine workings and buildings at the top of Greenside road. It's a steep but enjoyable pull up the ridge with quite a bit of route surveying.
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Glenridding again from higher on the climb.
The final steep section before you reach the easy slopes of Birkhouse Moor. I really enjoy these pathless routes where you have to work out your line up the grassy rakes and short scrambles.
A final rough section. I knew there is a ledge above here where I had intended to camp but when I reached it I had been beaten to it by another camper so I had to climb higher.
And here I am. The north Pennines have come into view in the distance.
To the south are St. Sunday Crag and Red Screes.
I woke to low swirling cloud which hid the sunrise.
Although for a few minutes St. Sunday was nicely lit.
After packing up it only took me a few minutes to reach the summit of Birkhouse Moor from where my onward path looks to be completely hidden.
But as I neared Red Tarn the cloud showed signs of lifting from Catstyecam where I'm going next.
And the sun was trying its best to break through.
Catstyecam above. This photo makes the climb look harder than it is and I was soon at the top.
Unfortunately the cloud had returned and was covering Helvellyn and Swirral Edge.
There was no wind though so the climb up the edge was very enjoyable.
The view back from just before the top.
No views from Helvellyn.
Or Whiteside.
Or Raise.
Sticks Pass was below the cloud and so was my path down to Sheffield Pike.
The cloud was actually lifting ( as had been forecast ) and Catstyecam is now fully clear.
It was turning into a superb day. This is looking along Ullswater with Sheffield Pike to the right.
And Ullswater again from the top of Sheffield Pike.
All the Helvellyn fells are clear now.
A wider view seen over the attractive little tarn between Sheffield Pike and Heron Pike.
Gray Crag with the long whaleback ridge of High Street above. Thorneythwaite Fell is the bump to the right.
Looking down to Glenridding Dodd.
Zooming in on the north east ridge of Birkhouse Moor. My route started from the tree in the bottom left.
The shark and rhino peep around the corner on the drop down from Heron Pike.
A look back at Heron Pike from the climb to Glenridding Dodd.
Place Fell from Glenridding Dodd.
And the view along Ullswater from the same place. It really was a lovely warm afternoon with just a gentle breeze to keep you cool.
Just across from the top of the fell is a little tor from which there is a great view to the head of the lake and the fells around it.
After relaxing in the sun for quite a while I eventually dragged myself away and descended back to the valley on the steep path known as the Rake.
A last look at my climb from the evening before. I walked through the busy village back to my car in Patterdale.
Previous walk - The High Stile ridge and Pillar Cove wildcamp - Next walk - Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Heron Pike