Irton Pike - A quick up & down

A quick up & down, even if your not collecting Wainwright Outlying tops its still a worthy viewpoint.

Obvious parking place...

A circuit of Miterdale - Plan C

This was a last minute plan C! My plan A had been a Outlying & Birkett top collecting exercise into the Dunnerdale Fells, but unfortunately comitments slowly began to fill up the afternoon so realisticaly I'd never get them all done. My plan B would have been a walk up Lingmell to pick up the Nuttals of Round How (99% sure I've been over this one before) & Middleboot Knotts (50-50 on this one?) but as I gained my
first view down Wasdale, the cloud was just licking  Lingmell & the Scafells were well & truely in the clouds. Time for a plan C.

I had the nearby Wainwright Outlier of Irton Pike & the Birkett top of Great Bank to tick off & Boat How was overdue a re-visit. As time was now of the essence I decided to approach Great Bank from the car park half way down Mitredale and follow the Whin Rigg to Illgill Head ridge to Burnmoor Tarn - from here I could return to the car over Boat How. If time allowed I could gain Irton Pike as a quick ascent from the road.

Under no circumstance can I recommend my route up Great Bank - a longer route starting/ending under Irton Pike however would be pleasant

Great Bank, a Birkett top...

Latrigg (Uldale) - An early morning trespass

Following my quick walk up Binsey I thought it would be worthwhile to have a wander up Latrigg whilst its fields where free of livestock. This Latrigg is the not the Keswick one that appears on the Wainwright lists but is the Uldale one found on the Synge list; I've read this is private but to be honest from the public right of way progress is unhindered by barbed wire or signs and the summit sports a small cairn. I've seen more restrictions to progress on a footpath!

Latrigg & the Uldale Fells from Binsey...

Binsey - An early morning leg stretch

I had time this morning for a quick leg stretch with the dog. Parked at the Binsey Lodge lay-by for the quick up & down of Binsey.

The gate at the end of the lay-by providing access to the open fell...

A pre-storm dash into the Uldale Fells

With what could only be described as a dire forecast and predictions of a 'Great Storm' today's walk was a quick wander over my local hills. The conditions when it wasn't raining were not that bad, despite the wind, when it did rain it was like being shot blasted! I was back home after a few hours to await for the 'Great Storm' that actually never arrived in Cumbria.

Looking back to Longlands from the Cumbria Way...

A Staveley figure of eight

With a forecast for 'extensive hill fog' I decided it pointless staying in the heart of the Lakes and decided to travel again to the Far Eastern fringe and pick off a few more outliers. Skiddaw & Blencathra had their heads in the cloud butI had to fight the urge to pull in to the empty parking for Helvellyn. A faint whiff of cloud teased its summit and with the surrounding blue sky it did look enticing :)

Arriving at Staveley and the car dumped by Barley Bridge with still a distinct lack of hill fog I wondered if I'd made the right decision. When I started on the Wainwright Outliers I soon discovered that it was handy taking the book or at least a photocopy of the map, a majority is through farmland so having a heads up where the (usually hidden) stiles & gates are to be found. Unfortunately it was at this point that the guide which I thought was in the car's glove box was back home on the book shelf, my memory isn't the best !

The first leg of the 'figure of eight' covered the Potter Fell section and probably involved a trespass. The second loop covered High Knott, Hugill Fell & Reston Scar chapters in one pass and again probably involved a bit of trespassing. Plenty of barbed wire & stone walls had to be crossed - not always easy with a wayward terrier.

Early morning in the Kent valley...

Glenridding Dodd & Sheffield Pike - A cloud dodge fail

This October's weather in general has been pretty poor and keeping with the status quo today's was no better. Unfortunately MWIS predicted a 20% chance of clear summits and heavy showers, something short & low seemed like the best option, Glenridding Dodd's lack of height virtually guaranteed a view. 

Avoiding parking in Glenridding I approached via the pleasant path that leaves the road beside Stybarrow Crag and follows Mossdale Beck as height is gained.

Slightly better than predicted up Ullswater...