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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 |
With cabin fever setting in I was desperate for a night on the fell. Saturday afternoon looked to be the only fine few hours of the weekend although very strong winds were expected and Sunday's forecast was for heavy rain in the morning so I planned a short trip to visit an old favourite camp spot but getting there by a route that I've not used before
The weather was windy but pretty nice when I arrived at the small parking space by the cattle grid on the northern end of the Corney Fell Rd. I found the fell road be in quite bad condition with lots of quite large potholes, a car pulled up beside me as I was booting up and to the drivers dismay found she had a puncture and had no spare so was settling down for a long wait for the AA. I set of walking along the road with a view to the small pyramid shape of Yoadcastle in the distance. The larger fell to the right is Stainton Fell..
Further along the road Stainton Tower comes into sight on the hill to the right with Hooker Crag and the long ridge of Muncaster Fell in the near distance The hills in the haze behind must be the Lank Rigg/Caw group.
After just under a mile and a half I arrive at Fell Lane which true to it's name heads straight for the fells. Most of the Stainton group of fells can be seen from Burn Moor on the right, Stainton Pike in the centre and Yoadcastle, Woodend Height, White Pike and the Knott on the left.
The driveable track heads for Grange farm but the bridleway carries on across a very wet in places Waberthwaite Fell. There are remnants of old settlements dotted about but to be honest to my untrained eye they just looked like random stones.
As I gain some height I have a hazy view of the high fells. . Great Gable is in the centre with Lingmell and Scafell ( with the dark outline of Scafell Pike just visible to the right of Scafell ) to the right and Pillar to the left.
The path crosses the lower reaches of Red Gill. It's deep ravine higher up looks an interesting place to explore.
A look back to the sea. It's becoming windier and a lot colder as I climb.
I've finally reached the top of the hill and am back on familiar ground. The climb seemed harder than I was expecting but the boggy ground and a return to a full winter kit slowed me down. From here there is a wide arc of views ranging from Gable,the Scafells, Ill Crag Crag, Bowfell, Esk Pike and the Crinkles....
....Then Harter Fell and Grey Friar with Fairfield in the gap between. Then Great Carrs, Swirl How, Brim Fell and Coniston Old Man....
.... And finally the more local fells of Caw, Stickle Pike and in the foreground the dome of Hesk Fell and the pointy Pike.
Whitfell seen over Holehouse Tarn. I'm puzzled as to why this tarn is not named Stainton Tarn as it's on the Stainton Fells right next to Stainton Pike.
Another look over to The Pike and Dunnerdale which are enjoying a nice bit of spring sunshine.
The highest ground in England however is looking very dark.
After not very long I reach the tiny tarn nestled in the saddle between Yoadcastle and Woodend Height. As you can see it was blowing a hoolie now so that scupperd my plans to camp on the tops overlooking the sea. I had to find a sheltered pitch in the lee of Yoadcastle.
After pitching up I had a walk to the top of Woodend Height. I had to kneel down to take this photo as the wind was so strong. Unlike every other time I've camped here there wasn't a nice sunset which was a bit disappointing. My choice of pitch was a good one though and I had a quiet night.
I was up early to try and beat the rain. It was dry but the cloud was down to quite a low level. That's Whitfell in the mist.
There was still a bit of a view down to the coast.
I diverted from the line of the path to have a look at Rowantree Force which I thought was quite impressive. There was a fair drop down to the stream bed and the wet grass was quite slippery so I kept well back.
Looking back up to the ravine of Rowantree Gill.
And a final look back to the fells just visited. The rain started about here and came down pretty heavily, Luckily a kind motorist saw me squelching along the Corney Fell road and offered me a lift for the last mile to my car.
Previous walk -- A night on Steel Pike