Yorkshire 3 peaks prep

Yorkshire 3 peaks scheduled for Friday 25th May, so I have been trying to get as many local walks in before.

Stanage Edge  Wyming Brook 6th May 2018

This was not as long as the previous time when I crossed the A57 and walked up to Moscar before crossing the A57 again and walking the entire length of Stanage. I ended up doing a loop across the moors back to Redmires. It was a hot day , and there was some cattle with calves in the fields ahead which I would have to cross. I didn't fancy that with Meg after my experience at Dove Dale where a couple of cows charged at us.

However, we still covered 10 miles on a hot sunny day. An excellent walk.

10 Miles OS OL1 Dark Peak

North Wales April 2018

We had a week in North Wales (on the coast just south of Anglesey). Whilst we didn't do any long hikes we had lots of lovely walks on the beach and cliff tops through the week.

Frogatt Edge Curbar Edge 12/05/2018

This was the same route I have done many times before Baslow Edge - White Edge - Froggat Edge - Curbar Edge. I did this walk with Rowan and he was intent on walking quickly (his version of Nordic walking without the poles !). We covered the route in 2.5 hours ...I only had chance to take a couple of photos

A lovely (quick) walk. About 8 miles OS OL24 White Peak

Win Hill - Lancaster Flypast 16/05/2018

The flypast over the dams didn't happen due to unfavorable winds. A typhoon flew past as a replacement but I didn't hang about for that. 

I parked at Hope and walked up the side of the ridge through Twitchill farm up to Win Hill. The view would have been fantastic, In the end I opted for a short walk along Hope Brink and then doubling back down past the farm and out onto the main road near the station

Lose Hill

Crook Hill

About 5.5 Miles OS OL1 - Dark Peak

Hope - Kinder Scout - Edale - Castleton 18/05/2018

This was an excellent walk for several reasons :-

• A new route
• Three separate ascents
• A good distance (12.5 miles)
• Brilliant views throughout

I parked at Hope and followed the same route from earlier in the week up onto Hope Brink, From there it was a lovely high level stroll with stunning scenery and also a view of the entire route ahead of me. Just after Hope Cross I turned left on the path which dropped down the the start of Jaggers Clough. The climb up the clough was reminiscent of Grindsbrook (albeit with less well defined paths). After a tough climb (tough because nearly every step had to be negotiated) we emerged on the edge of the plateau - yet another way up to the Peoples Mountain. I then followed the good path around the eastern edge of Kinder to Ringing Roger where I descended next to Golden Clough down into Edale. I was collared for a survey in the village (took longer than I expected), and then stopped at the station cafe for a delicious cream tea.

Looking back on the way up to Hope Brink

The Great Ridge

From Edale was the third ascent of the day up to Hollins Cross. I had thought of then following the ridge up to Lose Hill and then dropping down to Hope, but Meg was really over heating by then so we dropped down to Castleton and picked up the footpath back to Hope.

Lose Hill

Hope Cross

Start of Jaggers Clough

On the way up Jaggers - looking back

Mad Dog and Englishman

On the Great Ridge at Hollins Cross

A stunning walk which I will definitely be doing again. 

 12.5 Miles OS OL 1 Dark Peak

Crich Chase 20/05/2018

Another forced route march with Rowan. This is the fall back walk when I don't want to have to drive too far. We got a good workout on a hot day with the ascent through the woods of Crich Chase.

About 6.5 Miles. OS OL24 White Peak

Lake District 18 19 20 April 2018

Brilliant three days in the Western Lakes, camping at Sykes Farm Buttermere.

I arrived mid Wednesday morning and (despite the good weather forecast) it was p****** it down!. I booked into the camp site , but decided to do my walk before setting up camp....hopefully in better weather later on in the day. This was the case and putting up the tent at 6.00PM in the dry was a much better option.

Wednesday 18th April - Starling Dodd , Great Bourne

This is the continuation of the High Stile ridge I did a few years ago. I remember running out of water that day and becoming dehydrated.... hopefully a never again now I have a water filter bottle. The route up was via Scale Force which is a spectacular waterfall between Buttermere and Cummock Water.

The steady climb up the side of the ravine was hard work, and then once on the ridge proper the wind was quite high. The descent from Great Bourne down to the Floutern pass was very steep but with the fence to one side and a grassy path it was quite straightforward. On my way back I passed Hen Comb and Mell Break ...part of tomorrow's route. It was great to get my first two fells of the week.completed.

Footbridge just below Scale Force

Scale Force

......

Starling Dodd(left) and Great Bourne just before I got onto the ridge

Happy Meg

Red Pike behind me

Starling Dodd Summit...very windy.

Starling Dodd behind me

Great Bourne Summit

Thursday 19th April Burbank Fell, Blake Fell, Gavel Fell and Hen Comb

Bacon sandwich for breakfast ...sat outside surrounded by mountains.... brilliant. The plan today was to drive the short distance to Loweswater and walk the Blake Fell Ridge returning by Mell Break. It took me a while to find the national trust car park at Maggies Bridge. For future reference it is down the track signposted High Nook Farm near the Kirkstile Inn.

Maggies Bridge - Burbank Fell

Burbank Fell - Blake Fell

Blake Fell - Gavel Fell

As you can see from the route above I didn't do Mell Break in the end. By the time I got to the top of Hen Comb I had no energy left to desend to soggy Mosedale and then ascend Mellbreak on the flank of the fell. .....another day.

Also, I screwed up with the final bit of the walk - walking over farm fields (and a river ) to get back to Maggie's bridge. I should have swung left and followed the wall until it met the track down through the farm.

The track up to Holme Wood

Mell Break

Blake Fell

Top of Burbank Fell

Blake Fell Summit

Gavel Fell

Hen Comb Summit

Mosedale

Friday 20th April Fellbarrow and Low Fell

Deliberately chose this shorter walk for the last day so I could get on the road at a reasonable time.

Parked at the hamlet of Thackthwaite for a there and back walk of these two fells.

Just to make things more interesting, when I got to the top of Fellbarrow I left Megs lead on top of the trig pillar. Got down to the col  before I realized and had to do the climb up again!!

Low Fell summit with Mell Break and Crummock Water in the background

Fellbarrow top

Way down from Fellbarrow ....I went right down to the bottom before climbing back up to retrieve Meg's lead !!

A terrific three day walking which included 8 Western Wainwrights ...176 is the total now

PEN Y GHENT 14th April 2018

With the Yorkshire 3 peaks in mind at the end of May, this was a taster of the first section of the walk.

Weather slightly overcast, but dry and warm. Perfect walking conditions.

Parked at the Golden Lion on the edge of Horton in Ribblesdale (£2 per day)

I followed the standard route out of Horton up to Pen y Ghent. There was plenty of fellow walkers to chat with on the way. The final pull up to the summit wouldn't have been out of place in the Lake District. I got as far as Old Ing which is not far from the viaduct. I then did a U turn and followed the path back as far as Jackdaw Hill ,but instead of heading back up Pen y Ghent I  took the path straight on the Pennine Way back into into Horton.

A lovely walk with good paths for most of the way. About 10.5 miles (not even half way!!). OS OL2