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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 |
I'd not been to the Lakes using the train for a while so this week I thought I'd give it a try. Due to the vagaries of the train pricing system I got a return from Penrith for about half what it would have cost in fuel for the car and with the two pound bus fares being extended to the end of the year my travel costs were as cheap as they could be.
The weather forecast for Saturday was for rain which would pass by late afternoon so I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of blue sky. I set out from Pooley Bridge and made my way to the ridge that you can see in the distance.
Lovely view over Ullswater to the fells above.
The distinctive saddleback shape of Blencathra is well seen from the climb away from Pooley Bridge.
Climbing along the ridge and I think my fine weather window might be coming to an end.
The worst of this particular front passed below me over Ullswater and left behind a Rainbow and despite climbing up the hill I couldn't just get it all in the picture.
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As I reach Arthur's Pike I could see the the next front arriving.
Looking down to the path to Bonscale Pike where the wind dropped but the rain intensified into a proper deluge.
I had ten minutes of respite during which I could see Steel Knotts below and the area just beyond it where I hoped to camp.
The walk over Loadpot Hill and Wether Hill is not the most exciting at the best of times and with the rain pouring down I had to just get on with and hope that the forecast would be correct. Thankfully as I turned right downhill from the ridge the finer weather blew in and after that apart from a couple of brief hailstorms the weather was clear although very windy. This is looking along the full Steel Knotts ridge.
And this is looking across to a cloudy Helvellyn.
Approaching the climb to the top of Steel Knotts.
The rock formation on the summit with the rather strange but lovely name of Pikewassa.
The view back to Brownthwaite Crag.
I managed to find a reasonably sheltered pitch on the lee side of the ridge just before the path drops down Steel End. The wind was still quite strong till around seven PM when it suddenly stopped and after that there was not a breath all night.
As forecast Sunday dawned clear but cold. The morning sun is lighting up the fell tops to the north west.
Ullswater from my pitch.
In the time it took me to pack up high cloud had covered the sun but it was an altogether calmer day than yesterday. Here I'm coming down the very slippery path on Birkie Knott making for the church and then the climb up Hallin Fell.
Looking back to Beda Fell, with the Nab and Rest Dodd at the head of Howe Grain valley.
The obelisk and view of Ullswater from Hallin Fell.
And looking in the other direction towards Patterdale.
From Hallin fell I retraced my steps then took the path avoiding the road and was soon at the lakeside.
I have walked the Ullswater Way bridleway to Pooley Bridge before so this time I took the lower path through the fields which was quite a bit boggier but softer underfoot than the stoney bridleway. Hallin Fell looks great in it's Autumn coat.
I could have sailed back to Pooley Bridge but that would have been cheating.
Looking back to Steel End and Steel Knotts.
Passing the bottom of Swarthbeck Gill. If I'd been on the higher path I might have taken Wainwright's advice and gone and had a look ( but don't try climbing up ).
The path followed the fields just above the road with a good uninterrupted view of Ullswater all the way.
A brief pit stop at Waterside campsite.
And a last look back to the ridge walked yesterday from near to Pooley Bridge.
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