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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 return to Wainwright bagging this week. I've only got five left on my fifth round but they are all "big 'uns" so I risked a bit of an iffy forecast to knock a few off. I had to be home before lunch time on Sunday for a family birthday barbecue so needed to work out a walk which would leave me a camp somewhere fairly near my car
I was on the road before 5.30am and arrived in Eskdale just after seven and I still only just squeezed into the last parking spot at Jubilee Bridge from where I walked down the hill and turned right past the famous red phone box
The forecast was about right as the morning was a bit dull with spots of rain on the breeze. It was still quite warm though. No amount of iffy weather can take away the excitement of walking along this path heading into the very heart of Lakeland.
After not too long you come to the Instergrammers favourite, Tongue Pot.
And just up from Tongue Pot is Lingcove Bridge. Up to now the walking has been fairly level but from here you start what today was a very sweaty climb to the Great Moss.
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It's not a very long climb though and soon you get a glimpse of the big hills.
On to the moss proper now and as you make your squelchy way across to find a way to ford the Esk you'll discover that the moss is well named. My way up to Scafell Pike is by way of Dow Crag and Pen which can be seen centre right above the huge cliff of Esk Buttress.
After a stiff climb I'm on Dow Crag passing my camp spot from 2020.
Perched on top of Dow Crag is the rocky crown of Pen which can be approached from the left or if like me you can have an easy scramble up the front.
On to what I've always thought of as the summit of Pen there is a slightly higher spot a short distance to the west but that is just a cairn on a little tor whereas on this top you have......
.....the fascinating swirls of sedimentary rock.
A brief fifteen minute rain shower passed through as I made my way to start the final climb up Rough Crag to the Pike.
Looking down on the Esk and the Great Moss from the climb.
And a look back to Pen with Pike de Beild ridge of Esk Pike behind and behind that are Crinkle Crags.
Not far from the top now and Bowfell appears. Ill Crag is the big hill to left in cloud.
I could hear Scafell Pike before I saw it. I've never seen so many people on the top and heading up. The full range of walkers were represented from guys who were dressed for a winter assault on the Eiger to girls in white trainers who were dressed for an assault on the Trafford Centre. There were drones buzzing overhead and people playing loud music. ( Joking apart it was great to see so many families out enjoying the countryside I just wish they weren't so noisy )
That's more like it, Lingmell where I'm headed next looks deserted ( and it was )..
Looking down the steep cliffs of Lingmell Crag to Piers Gill.
And a bit further afield is Sty Head Tarn.
After descending back to Lingmell Col I cut across some rough country to try and save some reascent up to the scree fan below Lord's Rake.
Wastwater from my path below Pikes Crag.
Nearly to the base of the scree fan now. There is quite a clear path through the scree so It wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
Looking up the first section of the rake.
And looking down.
Very near the top of the first section is the path on the left which is the start of the West Wall Traverse.
Tower Buttress on the other side of the rake from the traverse.
This is the section where you get the feeling that you're climbing into the heart of the mountain.
And this is the spot where you can look out from the heart.
Next comes the climb of the scree which is very similar to the start of Lord's Rake.
Looking back from near where you pop out on to the open fell between Symonds Knott and Scafell.
Symonds Knott on the left with Scafell Pike in the distance.
The weather has really perked up now and its a very clear view northwards from Scafell with in the foreground Great Gable on the right and across Beck Head is Kirk Fell. Fleetwith Pike is the hill in shadow behind Beck Head and beyond that is Robinson. Crag Hill and Sail form the horizon in the centre with Grasmoor who's top is in cloud on the far left.
It's all downhill now to Slight Side where I intended to camp.
Well it's all downhill apart from the short climb to Long Green from where I got a great view of Dow crag and Pen with Esk Pike in the background.
The twin rocky tops of Slight Side..
A lovely bit of sunshine lights up the Esk and Scar Lathing.
And the head of the valley.
I found a tent sized piece of grass below the summit of Slight Side with a good view of Burnmoor Tarn, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg..
And in the other direction is Harter Fell. I was in prime spot for the sunset but unfortunately not long after I took this photo the skies clouded over and there wasn't even a hint of redness in the sky.
I'm setting off early after a rainy and windy night but for now it's dry and the cloud base has lifted.
After missing out on the sunset I hoped I might get to see a sunrise but again I was disappointed Some lovely morning light over Bowfell though.
Slight Side seen from my off piste shortcut to join the path coming from the Great Moss along by Damas Dubs.
I joined the Damas Dubs path right at the little plank bridge from where it was quite a quick descent down to the valley and my car.
Previous walk -- Exploring Sleddale Forest