High Tove, Armboth Fell, Grange Fell and Great Crag 17th Jun 2017

A lovely walk of two halves using Watendlath as a base camp.

Parked up at the NT car park and set off and the well defined path up to High Tove

Watendlath Tarn

Navigation was easy in clear sunny weather. Soon I was at the top of High Tove.

High Tove Summit

From reading Wainwright and Mark Richards I knew the path to Armboth Fell was less obvious, so I had waymarked the turn off from the main path on my Garmin, and despite some bogginess found the top of Armboth fell quite easily.

Armboth Fell summit

High Seat

I had a slight navigation malfunction coming down off Armboth and had to tramp thhrough the soggy heather and bracken to get back to the top of High Tove after which the return journey to Watendlath was straightforward.

So, after a quick break and a change of boots we set off up puddingstone bank , and turned right before the path started to drop down to Rosthwaite. Despite a steep ladder stile thta Meg struggled with at first we were soon at the top of Grange Fell. An excellent top with magnificent views allaround. 

Grange Fell summit

Skiddaw

The afternoon was very hot by then as we set off back down to puddingstone bank and across the soggy path to Great Crag. Meg enjoyed this bit - plenty of chance for a cool muddy dip !

Great Crag summit

Watendlath Tarn

Another four Wainwrights on a beautiful sunny day. 

About 8 Miles OS OL4

Striding Edge Helvellyn 9th June 2017

The original plan was Gowbarrow Fell on Friday and then Striding Edge on Saturday, but due to the weather forecast we (Jake , Rowan and myself) opted to do the big walk on Friday. By the time we were parked up at the Helvellyn YH it was 13:00.

The route was the well trodden one out of Glenridding and along Mires Beck up to the summit of Birkhouse Moor.

Crossing Glenridding Beck

At that point Jake was having real problems with his hamstring so decided to turn back and head back down to the YH.

Looking back to Ullswater

Final push to Birkhouse Moor summit

Birkhouse Moor Summit

 It was a shame but probably the right decision, So, Rowan and myself tackled Striding Edge and Helvellyn. I have to say that

Approach to the start of striding edge

second time around it was a lot more enjoyable, with the correct decision to scramble up and over the final rock tower instead of trying to go round it. First time I ended up loosing a lot of height and ended up in a gully with lots of loose rock which was a pain to climb out off.

After a brief rest and some photos on the summit we headed back down Swirrall Edge and then knocked off Catstye Cam which I hadn't done the first time around.

Down the chimney

Up the final rock tower

Helvellyn Summit

Catstye Cam Summit

On the way back to the YH

After descending Catstye  Cam we walked back along the good path along Red Tarn Beck back to the YH.....and a celebratory drink.


An excellent afternoons walking , and (for me) another two Wainwrights in the bag.

7 Mile OS OL5

Souther Fell, Bowscale Fell,Bannerdale Crags, and Mungrisdale Common 28/05/2017 and 7/06/2017

This originally was going to be one walk on 28/05 taking in all 4 of these Northern Fells. However....

28/05
We (Meg was with me) set of from Mungrisdale village and headed up the steep path near the church up to the East ridge of Bowscale fell in mist. All the time we were climbing I was hoping the mist was going to lift , but it just got worse as we got higher. The pathe was pretty good but then started to fade out as we got to the summit

North Summit

However , as I found out later I had only reached the lower North top. At this point I didn't fancy carrying on in the mist on an indistinct path so I headed back down the way I came. 

By the time I got back to the village there was lovely bright sunshine ...s***. After a brief rest, I decided to do a there and back up to Souther Fell.

Blencathra from Souther Fell top

A happy Meg on Souther Fell top

Ridge up to Bannerdale Crags

Planning my route for next time

From the top of Souther Fell I could see a clear route running along the flank of the Tongue which I would use on my return to finish what I had planned for this day.

07/06

Back again in Mungrisdale village. No Meg this time as she has been poorly and I didn't want to subject her to the long drive there and back again. I easily found the path which runs along the left flank of the tongue.  There had been some flood damage near the footbridge across the Glendermackin, so the only way to get to the footbridge was across some really boggy ground ...wet feet from the start - my high ankle Merrels are proving not too waterproof. After that the path was easy to follow all the way up the ridge between Bowscale fell and Bannerdale Crags. 

Bowscale Fell summit

Wind shelter on Bowscale

I took a right fork and after a few hundred yards this brought me to a very windy Bowscale summit (the true summit this time). Retracing my steps I joined the ridge path to Bannerdale Crags. It was very windy and I was glad that Meg wasn't with me this time.

Bannerdale Crags summit

Blencathra from Bannerdale Crags

So, across the open moor / fellside to Mungrisdale Common. I wasn't sure how good the paths were , so I had plotted a track on my Garmin, which helped to re-assure me I was on the right track. After a soggy mile and a half I arrived at the summit.

A soggy Mungrisdale Common summit

An uneventful , but very enjoyable tramp back and return via the Tongue flank path. I did bump into the guy (David ....) who had guided Julia Bradbury on her Helvellyn walk. I wasn't sure why he would be there but then noticed a few hundred yards behind another walker looking a bit out of breath. He must have been guiding the second guy. 

A very enjoyable walk which means all these four Wainwrights are now in the bag. 

Harvey Superwalker - about 8 miles.