Hopegill Head & Whiteside - Holding on, just

My friend who has recently took up walking has caught the 'bagging' bug, he even suggested an evening walk, with the excellent weather we had been experiencing this seemed a great idea and the next convenient evening was picked. Despite another day of summer conditions, this walk unfortunately also coincided with a change in the weather. As we traveled through Cockermouth it was beginning to cloud up & by the time we reached the tops it was near gale force, not the best conditions for an enjoyable evening stroll!!

Parking on the gated Hopebeck Road...

Eel Crags Trig Finally Topples

A friend who has slowly been working through his Wainwright list asked me if I'd like to accompany while he aimed for Grasmoor. As summer has finally arrived I couldn't really refuse :) The trig point on Eel Crag which has slowly been deteriorating has finally toppled - probably helped.

Crummock rewards the early start...

Keskadale Circuit - Robinson & Co.

The Newlands Valley is amongst my favourites in the lakes and is home to the popular Newlands Horseshoe, but a smaller often overlooked horseshoe can be made of Robinson and the two smaller Wainwrights of Knott Rigg & Ard Crags.

Robinson & High Snab Bank...

Hobcarton End - The last North Western

Back in 2010 when I discovered 'hill bagging' I came across the  Hewitts, Nuttals & the Birketts previously unheard of! I'd already completed the Wainwrights and ticked off a few in hills in Scotland & Wales but had kept no record. I originally started arm chair bagging my way througth the various lists, but soon decided it would be better to begin again at the start with blank lists. Currently in Cumbria I'm ticking off the Birketts & Wainwright Outlyers but throughout the Lakes I have the odd straggler. Today's target was one of those pesky ones - the last in the NW area.

I started slightly further away from the usualy car park - for two reasons get my legs warmed up for the steep climb & to avoid the Forestry Comission car park charges...

Aiken Beck Circuit

By any standard today's forecast was poor, a depressing 10% chance of cloud free summits was hardly inspiring, even by my standards! Something low and nearby was the order of the day and with little or no wind mist was boiling up from Whinlatter's conifer plantations, occasionally obscuring the views but today's summits provided an unexpected 100% cloud free summits. The developing cloud clung to the surrounding hills adding a touch of atmosphere but for once I had picked the right hills.

Early morning, touch of cloud around Broom Fell (R)...

Grisedale Pike & the new lagoons

Grisedale Pike was a spur of the moment decision, I originally intended on Lingmoor from Elterwater which I hoped would be below the forecast cloud. It was a surprise to see Grisedale Pike looming over the mist boiling up from the forestry plantations above Wythop. All the other hills were well & truly obscured so the decision was made for me - it also gave me an opportunity to have a closer look at the current works around Force Crag Mine. 

Over the last year or two the mine road had been improved, there has been a period of drilling/boring, and last summer I saw people taking samples from the beck. The latest ongoing project is for the construction of a series of lagoons to capture various metals (3 tonnes a year) being washed out of the mine and improve the water quality flowing into Bassenthwaite. It will be interesting to see how well it all blends in.

Some info:-

Newcastle University - New Lagoon

The Plight of the Vendace

Slightly annoying, roadside parking it is...

A quick jaunt up the Jaws of Borrowdale

Struggling with a sore hip (makes a change from a hurty knee) and a 30% chance of cloud free summits confirmed it was time for something a little lower & little shorter. A walk over Castle Crag & Grange Fell the 'Jaws of Borrowdale' may lack in height & distance but rewards with fine views.

Grange Bridge, despite the rain the level wasn't that high...

Newlands Horseshoe with Robinson & High Spy's shrinking cairn

Today's forecast wasn't particularly favourable and at the start with Dale Head, Hindscarth & Robinson shrouded in cloud it didn't look promising. A large number of my walks towards the end of 2013 have been blighted by cloud, uncharacteristically the final one of the year didn't follow suit. The wind was a bit icy & the tops busy but at least the cloud lifted & remained clear. 

The track leading to Yewthwaite Mine below Yewthwaite Combe...

Aiming low - Sale & Ling Fell

Only a short walk today, for two reasons the cloud base was, as forecast,  low and the poor weather was to deteriorate even further as the day progressed. Sale & Ling Fell are an ideal choice for when every else is clagged up, it was also today's choice for a mountain bike orienteering event - a sport I'd previously never heard of.

Sale Fell over Burthwaite Woods from the climb up Ling Fell...

Gasgale Crags - More unsuccessful cloud dodging

With a forecast for low cloud I originally intended a crossing of Lord's Seat and its surrounding hills but as I passed through Cockermouth the cloud had lifted & was just licking the summit of Hopegill Head, an old fell-running route of mine looked promising.

A new bridge spans Gasgale Gill, replacing the one that was washed away in the 2009 floods... 

Not quite a round of Stoneycroft

This was intended to be a round of Stoneycroft Gill, but eager to leave the busy car park & deep in conversation we set off up the mine road, completely forgetting that the 'correct' way up Sleet Hause was from below Rowling End. It wasn't a problem as we picked up the diagonal path that begins near the fold on High Moss that leads to the Causey Pike - Scar Crags ridge.

The start of the Cobalt Mine road near Stoneycroft...

Brocken Spectre's & a circuit of Rannerdale

After two walks that lacked in both interest and views it was time for something a bit special to lift my spirits. If you are ever in need of a 'hill pick me up' then the Buttermere Fells are the tonic of choice & coupled with a fine forecast these hills will lift the darkest of moods.

An empty car park - always a great way to start a walk - I didn't see anybody all day...

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...