The forecast for today was for a 90% chance of cloud free summits and upland gales - in one hand it was perfect but in the other the fun would be taken away. The first thing that hit me when I started scraping the ice off the windscreen wasn't the expected gale, in fact it was still? And as I headed up the road everything was shrouded in cloud - I've always been told if there is no wind then the clouds will build up (this may well be inaccurate?). I'd set off with a loose plan of either Grasmoor or Red Pike (Buttermere) but as the signs for Lorton approached it was obvious I wouldn't get a view - even Low Fell & Fellbarrow where in cloud. As the lowest hills these would be the first to clear and the Synge top of Whin Fell was still on my to-do list, the car was quickly parked in the ample space next to the telephone box & bottle banks.
Whin Rigg is awkwardly situated at the end of the Low Fell - Fellbarrow ridge, the easiest approach seemed to be over the fell road (this was a regular bike route from home when I was about 17!)...
the Hatteringill Head track leaves the fell road...
sods law dictates the cloud has began to lift as a breeze has startd...
this nice looking corner...
also gave the best point to reach to Whin Fell...
the approach to Hatteringill Head involved a wall crossing...
Hatteringill Head's summit cairn, looking towards Fellbarrow...
it doesn't take much to feel welcome...
Fellbarrow's summit trig and plenty of blue sky...
the route to Low Fell...
one of the best views in the Lakes, these hills are often ignored...
cloud now lifting off a lot more hills...
Low Fell's summit...
and the route back...
I can now let the dog off as I'm now sure the fell is sheep free...
'does my bum look big in this?'...
he spends most of his fredom hunting (unsuccesfully)...
Fellbarrow & Hatteringill Head on the way down...
pointless gate...
Whiteside is clear but Grasmoor holds on to the cloud, just...
maybe should have aimed for something higher...
descending to Thackthwaite, then a short road walk back to Lorton...
A fine day out on some lovely fells - I like the Mossers and don't do them often enough. Have you got much snow up there yet? I've managed to get 2 nights sledging in. We're due up this month but around Grasmere and then Windermere. I think I'm going to try to bag some Outlying Wainwrights.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you only have photos of your dog on your blog - that way, if I ever bump into you on the fells, I'll have to recognise you by him! ;-)
Took the kids sledging today :) the fells have a nice covering but could do with another good drop. Has Richard finished his Wainwrights yet or are you just after somewhere new, any idea of the ones you plan to bag? I've tried giving the camera to the dog but he takes such a terrible picture you still wouldn't recognise me! Cheers Simon
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