Kinder Scout 19th June 2015

First proper trip of the year to Kinder Scout. The February visit didn’t really count as I didn’t get to the top.

My route up was the standard Nab- Ringing Roger, as usual soaking up the fantastic views on the way up. I had decided the evening before to have a little excursion onto the Eastern section  of the plateau. I had put the grid reference of a WW2 plane wreck and Mad Woman’s stones into my Garmin. I set off across the plateau supposedly heading for the wreck of a Wellington bomber. When I reached the target reference there was nothing there – just lots of boggy peat, with the trig point on Edale Moor not far away. I headed for the trig point for some photos and a drink of water. My Garmin was complaining that the batteries were running down , so I decided that I should just head back to the edge where navigation is simple. I tried retracing my steps but as per other excursions onto the plateau it is very easy to become disoriented as it is almost impossible to head in a straight line. One of my legs dissapered into the soggy peat up to my knee on this section. Fairly soon Madwoman’s Stone’s came into view , so I decided I would visit them and this would then give me a clear bearing to get back to the edge path.

Trig Point on Edale Moor

Lots of squidgy peat bog

Madwomans Stones

I have to say , on reflection that ‘bog trotting’ across this sort of terrain is not my favourite type of walking !!

From Madwoman’s Stones I picked up a faint path which took me to the edge path east of Ringing Roger.

Druids Stone

This next section of the walk was my favorite – a high level tramp along the edge with a good path and brilliant views.

The great ridge from the edge of Kinder

Eventually I reached the top of Grindsbrook Clough which marked my descent down. I haven’t gone down this way for years. The first few hundred feet are a scramble, but as long as you take your time easy enough. After that section the path is fairly well defined as it winds its way down the valley with Grindsbrook to the right.

On the way down

Soon I was back at the car park. Another great day out on Kinder Scout.

OS OL1 Dark Peak. About 8 miles

Saturday 30th May. Grike – Lank Rigg

My first venture to the far west of Lakeland. There was a little voice in my head saying that these are only small fells and it will be an easy and possibly unspectacular walk. Shame on me !! As usual, this beautiful, small corner of the Cumbria 

Top of Grike

Lank Rigg from Grike

came up with the goods. A great days walking, with varied views and plenty of challenges.

My first challenge was finding the starting place which I can now say is the minor road just outside Ennerdale Bridge signposted Gosforth, with the parking spot near the forestry commission footpath. I then couldn’t find the correct footpath which should take me through the forest to the slopes of Grike. It turns out the signpost was non existent – different from the walk outline I had downloaded. With some playing around with my Garmin I located the path and set off.

Ennerdale Water from the top of Crag Fell

Pillar 

The path taook me up the slopes of Grike to the summit and then across a boggy depression of the joining ridge to Crag fell with stunning views across ennerdale water and the Pillar range.

The downloaded instructions from the Walk the Lakes site were brilliant from then on. I could see the trig point on the summit of Lank Rigg on the skyline and it looked a long way off !!. The path took me to the depression between Crag Fell and Whoap (pronounced Warp) with is a parallel ridge separating Crag Fell and Lank Rigg.

Lank Rigg - from the bottom !

Whoap Beck Valley

Top of Lank Rigg

View South from the top of Lank Rigg

Climbing up through the cleared forestry land I was soon at the top of Whoap, looking at the climb to Lank Rigg. This was a steady slog (last bit steep) to the top. Short drink and photo break, and then I set off on the return leg which took me don to the dip between Lank Rigg and Whoap . Left turn there and down the  beautiful (wet and boggy in places) Whoap Beck valley. This also include a couple of fords which left me with soaking feet. Eventually the path met the road , maybe 0.5 – 1 mile above my parking place.

Another three Wainwrights – A brilliant days walking.

OS OL 4.  

9 miles

Saturday 23rd May Robin Hoods Bay – Ravenscar

Family weekend away at Robin Hoods Bay. Did this walk with Anne along part of the Cleveland Way.

Just after here the path drops down to Boggle Hole

I love this woman

Headland at Robin Hoods Bay

Highest zoom - can;t see any seals !

From Robin Hoods Bay old town the cliff path is an easy (well relatively !!)  stepped climb to the top. The well defined path then meanders its way along the cliff top, dropping down to the beach at Boggle Hole and the climbing back again. This drop and climb was then repeated near Stoupe Bank. From there it is steady climb across lovely countryside to Ravenscar, with the track taking us through the ruins of the Alum Mines. Unfortunately for Anne , all th ups and downs put strain on her recovering sprained ankle , so by the time we got to Ravenscar she was using the walking poles and was in some pain. We stopped for a late lunch at the tea rooms and because they were so inept (forgot our order) , we had sat for qite some time which meant Anne’s ankle had a good rest.

Robin Hoods Bay From Ravenscar

We retraced our steps back to the dip in the cliff path at Stoup Bank , and from there strolled back along the beach all the way back to Robin Hoods bay which was perfect for a sore ankle.

A brilliant and varied walk, with outstanding views all the way.

About 8 miles OS OL27 North York Moors