Barrow 10/05/23

 I needed to be home fot the afternoon as Anne needed the car (we are now into one year of car sharing - proving to be a bit of a pain at times), so I had time to join Paul for the first part of  his walk. 

We met at Braithwaite and set of up the spine of Barrow. 

The paths were excellent , so despite some rain the navigation was simple and no maps were needed. After reaching the summit of Barrow we dropped down to Barrow door and I headed back to Braithwaite via the valley floor. Paul contued on further into the Coledale valley.

Bassenthwaite in the distance

Only 3 miles but a thoroughly enjoyable walk. Barrow was one of the early Wainwrights I completed many years ago.

Also great to meet up with my cousin on the last few days.

Lodore Falls - Ashness Bridge 9/5/2023

 

Met up with Paul at the Rotal Oak in Braithwaite for an evening meal on Monday.

Paul had been having some  problems with his hip , so I suggested a short walk as a warm up for his first day in the the Lakes on Tuesday. We met in Keswick and bought a day ticket for the Keswick launch. We got off at the Lodore Falls hotel and walked through the woods to the waterfall.

Although this was a short walk the climb up through the woods to the minor Watendlath road was very steep. Definitely felt like a good workout!

Causey Pike and Rowling end from the landing stage

Catbells ridge from the landing stage

Lovely view of Derwent Water

Looking daown at the Lodore Falls landing stage

Maiden Moor High Spy Ridge

Waiting for the return boat

Ashness Bridge

After a break at Ashness Bridge we dropped down to the Ashness Gate landing stage to get the return boat back to Keswick. 

Despite the short distance (about 2.5 miles including some wrong tuns in the woods) it was nearly 4 PM when we got back to Keswick. A very leisurley and enjoyable day.

 

Maiden Moor High Spy 08/05/2023

 Two and a half days short break in the Lake district. I travelled up on Sunday and booked into a B&B in Keswick. The plan was to meet up with my cousin Paul and do a walk with him on Tuesday as he was travelling up on Monday. On Monday I decided on a repeat of the walk I did with Anne over 10 years ago (2012 I think) which got me hooked on the Lake District and the Wainwright 214 challenge.

The forecast (which was corect) was for rain all day. I parrked up at Chapel Bridge car park in Little Town and headed up to Hause Gate. Given the rubbish weather , the navigation wass very straightforward due to the fact I had done this before and the path up to Maiden Moor and High Spy was excellent. 

Causey Pike

Path just above the car park

Derwent Water from Hause Gate

The weather really closed in once I got onto the ridge - hence not many photos

Looking up to Maiden Moor from Hause Gate

Maiden Moor

High Spy

Waterfall on the way down the Newlands Valley

I slipped over on a wet rock on the way down, but fortunately only suffered a brised hip (and wounded pride !!). 

Typically, as I arrived back at the car park the sun made an appearance!

However, even with the rubbish weather a brilliant walk which repeated the 2nd and 3rd Wainwrights I had completed all those years ago.

About 6 Miles. Os OL 04 North Westen Lake District

Cumbria Way 12 13 14 15 April. Ulverston to Keswick

 After a lot of planning the week finally arrived. I have done the Keswick to Carlisle leg of the Cumbria Way a couple of years ago, so the goal this week was to complete the Ulverton to Keswick section. 

Complete Route

Tuesday 11th Travel day

I set of around midday from Derby Station and a few hours later arrived at a wet Ulverston (via Sheffield and Manchester). I booked into the hotel /pub and then went for a quick stroll to check out the start point and also a quick look at the Laurel and Hardy Museum. The start point (The Gill) was only a few minutes walk away.

Stan Laurel (Ulverston's most famous son), and a dodgy random guy !

Outside the Museum

Got to bed early after some food and a shower.

Wednesday 12th April Ulverston to Conniston

This type of hiking is not normally my favorite (farm yards, villages , roads, agricultural land), but I found this an enjoyable trek apart from one half hour period. I set of early (6:30 ) with cool but clear and dry weather. I managed about 4 hours walking before the winter blast forecast caught me up just as I was descending from Beacon Tarn. It took me by surprise and very quickly I couldn't feel my hands. It took quite a while to locate my gloves which proved to be bloody useless. Just after this I turned my left ankle , and then my energy just drained out of me. I found the next half hour very difficult. Finally I got to the shores of Conniston where there was some shelter from the wind and the hail had eased off. After a short, wet break I completed the last couple of miles to the town and a welcome cuppa and cake in a cafe. By about 4 PM I was checking into the YHA.

Hoad monument just outside Ulverston

St Johns Church just before Broughton Beck

First View of Conniston on max zoom

Stopped here for a short break near Knapperthaw

Beacon Tarn

Conniston

Snow topped Conniston fells

Allowing for some muddled navigation about 17 miles.

Thursday 13th April Conniston - Great Langdale

Had a full breakfast at the YHA which was great. I set off around 8:30 into the pouring rain. It rained all day, but thankfully it was no where near as cold as yesterday. This would have been a lovely low level walk in fine weather, but due to the conditions it was a head down day.

Tarn Hows

I stopped for a nice cup of tea to thaw out in Elterwater just after the lovely path from Skelwith Force along the River Brathay

Langdale Pikes come into view

New Dungeon Gill Hotel

Home for the night

Great Langdale

By the time I got to Great Langdale the screen on my phone had stopped working (probably due to it getting rained on through the daay). There was no food facilities in the bunkhouse , so had an evening meal in the hotel , and then finally got my phone working in time to listen to Man United throw a way a 2 goal lead against Seville !!

About 13 Miles.

Friday 14th April Great Langdale to Rosthwaite via the high level route

The official route goes over the Stake Pass and then drops down to Stonethwaite via Langstrath. I had heard recently on the CW facebook group thta the fords on the Stake pass were in full flow and difficult to navaiage, so I decided to opt for the high level route via Rossett Gill - Esk Hause - Ruddy Gill. I was rewarded with a magnificent days walking. The path up Rossett Gill is really well engineered and every time I stopped for a breath I was rewarded with a magnificent view down Mickleden.

About to enter Mickleden

Rossett Pike in the distance

Pike of Stickle

Footbridge at the start of the Rosset Gill climb

Top of Rossett Gill

Beautiful Angle Tarn

View down to Borrowdale from the top of Ruddy Gill

Eagle Crag

Once I dropped down Ruddy Gill / Grains Gill I picked up a decent footpath from Seathwaite to the YHA near Rosthwaite avoiding any road walking. Wierdly I ended up with a six bed dorm to myself in the YHA.

Brilliant days walking in great conditions. About 9 miles.

Saturday 15th April. Rosthwaite to Keswick

Met with Richard for breakfast in Rosthwaite for the final leg. He left his car in Keswick and got the bus to Rosthwaite. It was perfect weather. Sunny , warm, with no wind, so today felt like a walk in the park compared to the previous 3 days. 

I had a wander around Rosthwaite while I was waiting for Richard's bus

We went back to Richard's lodge for a couple of hours before he gave me a lift to Penrith Station for the journey home.

A great end to another wonderful long distance adventure

About 8,5 miles

47.5 miles for the 4 days