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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 although modest in distance was really enjoyable and it was a real treat to be walking in some actual warm weather and sunshine. Friday evening and Saturday morning had been awash with news and pictures of the northern lights and a repeat was forecast for Saturday, unfortunately this didn't happen ( at least where I was ) but that was the only minor disappointment from a lovely couple of days.
Back on the train and bus today and all my connections worked well. I left Ambleside heading for Low Sweden Bridge and then the climb up the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe. Plenty of bluebells about and although these were not quite up to Rannerdale standard they were still lovely to see.
One of the best things about this climb is the marvelous drystone wall which extends very nearly to Fairfield.
Looking over the wall to the head of Scandale and Little Hart Crag.
A bit of easy scrambling is needed to get over Sweden Crag. These ladies to the easier route which is over to the right by the holly bush. I tried the more sporting route on the left by the wall where the six foot rock step proved a bit of a stretch but I just about managed it.
Low and High Pike from Sweden Crag.
The view back down to a hazy Windermere.
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The wall crosses the top of Low Pike and carries on to High Pike.
The long range views were a bit hazy in the heat ( and it was hot, not just warm ) but Harter Fell can be made out beyond the Coniston group.
After High Pike is crossed it's a really nice gentle uphill stroll on lovely soft grass all the way to Dove Crag. There are paths on both sides of the wall, today I chose the left.
From left to centre Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike and Great End are the fells in the far distance . Great Gable and Pillar are the fells to the right.
In the other direction are the fells of eastern Lakeland with Ill Bell prominent on the right.
After crossing over Dove and Hart Crags I get the view down into Deepdale with the fields of Patterdale at the end with Brock Crags, Angle Tarn Pikes and Place Fell above.
After climbing up from Link Hause I turned right off the path to see if there was anywhere suitable to pitch on the end of Scrubby Crag looking over Deepdale. And there was..
Looking across to Saint Sunday Crag.
And to Helvellyn and Striding Edge. Catstyecam getting into the scene as per usual.
Later in the evening I had a walk up to Fairfield to catch the sunset. St. Sunday is just catching the evening light.
Rydal and the western arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
The heat of the day had gone now and there was quite a chilly breeze blowing so I settled into one of the many wind shelters on the top of Fairfield . This young couple and their dog were off to camp by Grisedale tarn.
I spent a wonderful hour or so just watching the sun drop down behind this cloud.
And then sink below it.
Even with the benefit of the wind shelter I started to feel the cold so I walked back to my tent to get the kettle on.
The sun dropping down behind Dollywagon Pike. I was up around midnight and again at three but a mist had come up from the valley so unfortunately I didn't see the northern lights.
The haze was quite a bit more extensive on Sunday morning but the temperature had risen as the breeze had dropped and it was a very calm day.
Seat Sandal is the only fell I'm climbing today ( not counting the short walk to Fairfield ) I have to endure the path down to Grisedale Hause which mostly is more a river of stones than a path.
The normally excellent view down past Grisedale Tarn into Grisedale and Patterdale is lost in the haze today.
And from the summit of Seat Sandal the high fells are just a ghostly outline.
Once back down to Grisedale Hause I changed my mind on the route down to Grasmere, instead of using the more conventional coast to coast path I turned right on to the path which goes over the small crags of Hause Rigg and the down the grassy slopes by Tongue Gill on the banks of which I had a second brew and cooled my feet in the stream.
The grassy slopes with Helm Crag on the right and Silver How centre left. Harrison Stickle can just be made out on the right in the distance. I walked into Grasmere village and then along by Grasmere and the river Rothey to White Moss from where I got the bus to start my journey home.
Previous walk - Tarn Beck and White Pike - Next walk - Whinlatter to Buttermere via Loweswater