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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 |
It was bright but still breezy when I set off from the small parking area by the cottages at Bowscale at around three thirty. I followed the track which climbs along the flank of Bowscale Fell heading for Bowscale Tarn.
Carrock Fell across Mosedale.
A look back down the track. The wind which I hoped would be dying down was picking up and was blowing straight into my face which made this gentle climb feel harder than it should.
Bowscale Tarn, a beautiful place but very windy today.
I wondered what the wind would be like when I climbed out of the bowl in which the tarn sits to the open fell above and what effect would the wind have on the steep climb which traverses the slope to the right of the outflow of the tarn.
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Luckily the shoulder of the fell seemed to protect the path and apart from the steepness I had no problem climbing up. The tarn is well seen from the path.
As I popped out onto the open fell it was like flicking on a switch and the wind was nearly blowing me over so much so that I had to kneel down take this and the following photo. This is looking up to the top of Bowscale Fell.
And this is looking over to Skiddaw.
I was glad to have a few minutes respite in the summit shelter. I peeped above the shelter wall to snatch a quick photo of Blencathra.
I dropped down from the fell towards Blackhazel Beck. I did start off following a path but must have lost the line and ended up in this steep stream valley. The wind although still gusting was a lot less severe here.
My plan was to camp in the substantial sheepfold by Blackhazel Beck, I came out of the steep sided ravine just below it so walked a short way back up the hill. The wind had now dropped to virtually nothing.
In the span of about ten minutes I had a squally rainstorm followed by bright warm sunshine and from then on it was a lovely evening with hardly any wind.
Nice clear view back up to Blencathra. I enjoyed a quiet night which if you had told me I would be getting when being blown over on Bowscale Fell I don't think I'd have believed you.
Sunday was forecast to be a lot calmer and generally nicer day and it was calm and warm as I walked down by Blackhazel Beck heading for the River Caldew.
Today I wanted to follow the course of Wiley Gill which runs down from the col between Knott and Great Calva but to get there I had to find a way across the Caldew which is easier said than done.
Looking downstream to Carrock Fell.
And looking upstream towards Skiddaw little Man and Skiddaw House hostel. I gave up trying to cross dryshod and as the margins of the river were very boggy my feet were wet already so I just found a shallow..ish place and waded across.
Wiley Gill seen from the footbridge which carries the track on the north side of the river and is part of the Cumbria Way.
The gill winds it's way along under the flank of Great Calva.
Mungrisedale Common and then Blencathra.
An unexpected plank bridge crosses Little Wiley Gill. The col between Knott and Great Calva can be seen above. From the bridge a faint quad bike track headed across the hillside towards Knott so I started to follow that.
I followed the track till it met the steep path to Knott.
Looking down past Great Calva and Lonscale Fell to the central Lakes with Steel Fell visible in the far distance.
High Pike on the left and Carrock Fell on the right which I would be climbing over on my way back to my car.
But not before a look over to the big fells to the south over the top of Great Calva. Great Gable is the fell on the right then Scafell and Scafell Pike, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell.
Lingy Hut ahead, time for a tea break.
Mosedale down below with Bowscale Fell to the right.
Lingy Hut where I shared my tea break with a couple of Belgian girls who were walking the Cumbria Way. I appologised for the weather which they'd had for the previous few days but they said they'd enjoyed the walk all the same.
Cross Fell and the Dun fells just about visible from a very popular High Pike , there must have been about 15 people on the summit including me and the Belgian girls.
The view to the south west from Carrock Fell along the valley of the Caldew to the Skiddaw group.
And looking back to High Pike.
The path down to the road by Further Gill Sike must be one of the most unpleasant paths to descend ( and ascend ). Very steep with loose soil underfoot it certainly took me a while to pick my way down.
Looking back up.
Despite a few hairy moments I managed to stay on my feet and eventually reached the road along which I had about one and a half miles to walk back to my car.
Previous walk -- Eskdale week