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 |
A rare sunny day in the recent dire weather we are having couldn't be wasted so I took myself up to Ambleside for a walk exploring the lovely Woundale valley and to climb Red Screes from the Kirkstone Inn.
I was up early so could park on the minor road over the bridge from Rothey Park. I liked the morning sun on the tree roots.
After leaving Stockghyll lane it's a simple stone staircase all the way up to Wansfell Pike. Great view of Windermere to the south.
And to the north is Red Screes where I'm hoping to be later.
Although it is quite boggy in places I quite enjoy the walk from Wansfell to Baystones following the well made wall. Ill bell is the pointy fell straight ahead.
On Baystones now looking to my route ahead.
The path down from Baystones to the Kirkstone pass sticks with the wall till you reach the very wet field just before the road. The land owner has put a couple of signs directing walkers to the path as the walls running across the fell have been damaged in a few places by people taking the direct route down the hill. Woundale where I'm heading is the valley on the right. Broad End is the crag on the left with Caudale Moor above.
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Really nice walking along Woundale, quite dry and soft under foot and with lots of interest ahead.
I diverted off the path to have a look at the stone ruin.
Keeping close to Woundale Beck and its lovely cascades. The Wansfell/Baystone fells in the distance.
The stone house looks to be an easy fixer upper. You already have a fireplace and even a joist for the second floor. It's a bit of a trek to the shops though and I'm not sure the Tesco van could make it all along Woundale.
What a location though.
I kept as near as practical to the beck as I climbed the hill.
And found a lovely swimming spot..
Another look down Woundale. I left the beck now and headed uphill to visit the quarry on the side of St. Raven's Edge.
And there it is above me. There is a path on the map but I couldn't see any sign on the ground so just headed up the grassy slope on the right.
I met this path which looks to be more than a sheep trod.
And was soon at the quarry.
The old quarrymen had ingeniously used this natural gap in the rock for their chimney.
The quarry workings dug into the hillside.
And from inside a great view of Ill Bell.
There was quite a deep trench dug out with the remains of the track used to carry the stone away.
From the quarry It's a short but steep pull up to St. Raven's Edge and the view down to the Kirkstone Inn and the pass . The inn is closed for refurbishment and today the pass was closed for road works.
Looking across to Red Screes which I'll be climbing but not till I've had my lunch.
The view down from high on the climb to Red Screes. The struggle is the road below, Wansfell is to the left and Ambleside is just out of sight around the corner at the head of Windermere.
Superb clear views of the high fells from the summit. Scafell Pike is just to the right of centre.
And looking to Ullswater over Middle Dodd.
Great Gable is on the left then Scoat fell and Black Crag leading to the massive bulk of Pillar and on the right are the fells of the high Stile group.
Slightly nearer are Nethermost Pike, Striding Edge and Helvellyn and Then Catstyecam. In the foreground the fell in sunlight on the bottom right is Little Hart Crag with the steep face of Dove Crag in the centre.
I dithered at the top of Red Screes, I wanted to walk down the south west ridge over Snarker Pike which has better views but I also entertained the idea of climbing up through High Bakestones and coming back to Ambleside over High and Low Pike. When I reached the pass though I had pretty much run out of energy so I took a photo of the climb and Little Hart Crag and descended through Scandale.
Which to be fair is still very nice.
Especially the view back to the pass.
Easy walking in the afternoon sunshine and I was soon back to Ambleside
Previous walk - Gowbarrow and the Mell Fells - Next walk - Barrow to Catbells