Wet, Wet, Wet Sleddale

This was the second walk of the day in an attempt to maximise summits/per car miles, don't say I don't do my bit for the environment. The original route was followed with the addition of Wasdale Pike as I had missed it off my Crookdale/Wasdale combo. As I'd never visited Wet Sleddale I was quite looking forward to this, but unnfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I had originally intended to visit in the frozen depths of winter the 'Wet' in the name being a clue to what one might expect.

The route was wet, heathery, tussocky more or less throughout the only respite being on the easy return Bridleway. Again the sound of bellowing Stags drifted up from the valley floor, I disturbed a a small herd near Great Saddle Crag but they disappeared before the camera switched on. I also disturbed an owl hidden amongst the heather - I've never seen this before ?

Wet Sleddale Reservoir only completed in the 60's supplies Manchester via Haweswater...

Robin Hood & his merry summits

I've slowly been working my way through the Shap Fells and today I planned to merge two of Wainwright Outlier routes into one, AW devotes a chapter each to the Crookdale & Wasdale Horseshoes. With Wasdale Pike omitted the remaining six summits make a more complete horseshoe of Crookdale.

Earlier in September I'd walked the Bannisdale Horseshoe and out of all the Outlying routes this is the one I had been looking forward to the most, unfortunately it hadn't really impressed me - although the poor weather I encountered could have played a part. Feeling uninspired & with this in mind I wasn't looking forward to these and the morning forecast of extensive hill-fog didn't really help my 'flat' feeling.

The official route starts from the A6 near Borrow Bridge but access beside the farm is no longer tolerated so I started from the old road where there is an abundance of parking. With the weather better than forecast and access problems avoided my mood improved and I really enjoyed this foray into the Shap hills. Its quite wet in places so would be ideal left for winter but I managed to finish with dry feet.

Early morning, the climb up High House Bank, two deer disappeared before I could reach to the camera...

Walla Crag to High Tove - The Central Tip

The forecast for today wasn't too hot, with low cloud forecast & a chance of rain. The four central Wainwrights on the Borrowdale/Thirlmere watershed where picked as hopefully they would be below the cloud & the walk could easily be cut short. As it turned out the cloud was higher than predicted around 2000ft and the rain never appeared. High Seat to High Tove is a pretty wet crossing & is best left till the ground is frozen.

Climbing beside Cat Gill...

Blake Fell - Birket bashing

Around Blake Fell I had four remaining Birkett tops, Kelton Fell & Godworth are pretty easy bags from the road. The awkward two being High Hows & Owsen Fell, which would also be an easy bag from Lamplugh Church if it was not on private land. These two are a trespass, a quick look at  the www.hill-bagging.co.uk entry for High Hows with words like trespass, walkers keep out, objectionable, foul-mouthed, aggressive & expletives; should be warning enough. This was the first walk of September & other than the sneaking an enjoyable walk on familar ground..

The track from the road up Kelton Fell...

A circuit of Rydal & Grasmere

Loughrigg Fell, a little hill with fantastic views & to get the most from this its best left for a clear day.
With MWIS predicting clear skies it guaranteed a great day.

Silver How was a last minute addition, at the cost of my lawn that is desperate from a bit of Flymo attention!
The sound of hunting horns rose up from Chapel Stile & Langdale and a few hounds criss-crossed the route to Silver How.
Once down in Grasmere, ruling out the grass cutting completely I decdided to have a look at Alcock Tarn. I had intended to walk up to Heron Pike but it seemed to have its fair share of visitors so didn't need two more, so I walked over Nab Scar on this side of Rydal.

  Early morning, Rydal Water...

Bleak hills, bleak weather - Selside Pike & Branstree

For this round of Wainwrights I'd decided to include the outlying tops of Nabs Moor & Howes with Branstree & Selside Pike and finally have a look at the MBA's Mosedale Cottage Bothy something I've been to planning to do for a while. I just needed the weather to play ball but I had spent the week watching
the weather turn out far better then forecast. So with another poor forecast I hoped they got it wrong again, they didn't!!

Skiddaw was clear in the early morning but by the time I set off the cloud was beginning to build up & as forecast it went downhill rapidally. The forecast weather was meant to be better in the east of the county, it probably wasn't, I think it was pretty miserable everywhere!

MWIS predicted and actually got it right a nil chance of cloud free summits.

Not looking promising up Swindale...

Cat Bells to High Spy - The dog hits 600

A friend has just taken up hill-walking and asked me if I'd accompany him on a walk. I only had time for a short half day's walk so with an an early start: Cat Bells, Maiden Moor & High Spy where picked due to their fine views & relative ease. These would be my friend's 5,6 & 7th Wainwright & the 600th for my four legged walking companion. As the Newland Valley was still in shade (it doesn't see the sun once winter comes) we descended by the Rigghead Quarries to Borrowdale and returned to the car using the busy valley footpaths.

Cat Bells from Skellgill Bank...