Castle Rock of Triermain - The last Eastern

Back in 2010, when I came across a list Birkett summits, I initially engaged in a bit of armchair bagging as I crossed those off I'd already walked from the list. It didn't take long before I became tired of this task so, after scrumpling up my pencil marked list I started off with blank list of 541 Lakeland Fells as seen in the eyes of Bill Birkett.
   Now four years later I'm still 62 away from my target, in my defence I've had several periods where I've lost the will, a new Birkett top has not been bagged for months! Sometimes I don't have the drive to pick off a minor top that I know I've already walked - Castle Rock at the head of St John's falls into that category. Many a time on my journey's up & down Thirlmere I've been tempted to pull over but I've never summoned the energy. But forced off the higher tops by rain & lack of anything resembling a worthwhile view, a thick pencil line can be drawn through my last Birkett summit in the Eastern Fells. My remaining total now at the annoying 61, almost tempted me towards Eycott Hill on the way home - but heavy rain saved me from that fate!

The amiable side of Castle Rock from Legburthwaite...

Raven Crag & The Benn - Plan B Birkett hunting

The forecast for this morning was favourable & stupidly I ignored the North Western Fells which where free of cloud and pressed on through Keswick heading South. However the view of the Helvellyn fells shrouded in dank mountain mist from Castlerigg, was a game changer, time for a plan B. In the central fells I have one remaining Birkett top : The Benn, an often overlooked (by me anyway!) lump behind Shoulthwaite Farm.

Plenty of parking on the old road, mist licking The Benn, oddly parking is restricted to 2 hours? 

Helvellyn - More wandering in cloud

If the doomsayers (weather forecasters) where to be believed than today was to be the last 'fine' day before a week or more of stormy weather. Even then it was only foretold till lunchtime, hence the early start to grab the forecast clear skies - Southern & Western Fells weren't even given this chance .

Its been a few months since I was last over Helvellyn and since this may be the last outing for a week or two I wanted it to be on a few good hills. As usual I parked in the free layby and avoided the LDNPA car parks like the plague, ok there is a short unpleasant walk beside the A591 but for a saving of £7 for a day's parking, its worth it.

Early morning view back down to Thirlmere, Skiddaw is nice & clear...

An Ullscarf circular, from Dob Gill

By mentioning Ullscarf in a previous blog post, I realised it had probably been over twelve months since I last walked the Central Fell of Ullscarf. I decided to start from Dob Gill picking off a previously un-ascended Birkett top of Brown Rigg and since it had been even longer since I had last visited Harrop Tarn I planned to descend over Castle & Nab Crags with a small detour to include the tarn. With a predicted cloud-base of 200m, a 30% chance of clear summits & the fact everything was well & truly in cloud when I set off, to say I wasn't expecting much was an understatement.

A short distant down the road a gate takes you onto the open fell between the trees...