A circuit from Mungrisdale

A circuit from Mungrisdale including Scales Tarn, views of Sharp Edge, Bannerdale Crags & Bowscale fell, 10miles 2450ft

Leaving Mungrisdale and heading for Mousthwaite Comb for the climb to Scales Tarn

Continuing up Scales Beck with Sharp Edge just catching the sun

Sharp Edge now clearly in view 

Zooming in on its narrow jagged ridge  

Then the cloud descended hiding the view above the Scales Tarn 

I spoke to 3 three  different walkers who had attempted to cross Sharp Edge today and who had given up at different stages saying it was far too dangerous on the wet greasy rocks. 

However, undeterred this man who had travelled from Hull for the day to do this walk proceeded to attempt the ascent!

The cloud continued to swirl around giving only brief glimpses

below as I continued to Bannerdale Crags

Arriving at Bannerdale Crags summit cairn 2230ft

Looking down through the cloud at the crags

Next stop was for lunch at the summit shelter on Bowscale Fell

after walking through thick cloud all the way.

Looking back to the cloud covered summits from the descent down

Mungrisdale

These large flagstones made for an easy crossing of this boggy area

Finally crossing the footbridge to the Mill Inn back in the village

of Mungrisdale  

 

Sail Pass and more...

I intended walking the Coledale Round today but on reaching 

Sail Pass and seeing the cloud cover on all the summits I intended to climb, I decided to stay on a lower level walk. 

Sail Pass, Outerside, Stile End & Whinlatter Forest Park. 10miles 3000ft

Leaving the car parked near the hamlet of Stair in Newlands 

Looking back down Stony Croft Beck

Looking back down Coledale from near the top of Sail Pass

Derwentwater and Keswick from the summit of Outerside with the

route ahead down the ridge 

The panorama view in the opposite direction where the summits of

the Coledale Round were all under cloud

Looking back to Outerside and Stile End as I came down Coledale 

The village of Braithwaite below

Bassenthwaite lake as I climbed up to the Whinlatter visitor centre

The path winds up through some lovely scenery in the Forest Park 

ditto

ditto

Grisedale Pike with it's summit still in cloud and the path I

intended to come down if I'd continued with the Coledale Round

The visitor centre includes a shop seen here but also has many

other attractions including a café, cycle hire & Go Ape amongst others

'm not sure what bird is shown here in this metal sculpture

 

Quarries,caverns, fells and tarns

Quarries,caverns, fells and tarns - Skelwith circular through Little and Great Langdale  11.5miles 2000ft 

 

Starting along the rivers Rothay and Brathay to Colwith Force

Arriving at Hodge Close quarries I descended to the quarry pool

used frequently by divers

Looking out over the mist covered pool from the quarry tramway

Then to the other opening onto the pool 

I then climbed round the outside to get the view down to where I'd

been standing

My route took me through the still misty woodlands to Little

Langdale quarry 

Once there I put on my head torch and entered the tunnel & cavern

network

I reached Cathedral Cavern with it's rock pillars....

....and again

More tunnels lead further into another section 

Lunch time as the sun appeared on leaving the quarry

Back to the river and crossing Slaters Bridge on the way to

Elterwater

"Timber!" but not quite as this one had been felled by storm Arwen

and was stuck on another tree

The village of Elterwater now behind me 

The Langdale Pikes were clear of cloud

I then climbed up to Loughrigg Tarn and passed the sad memorial to

a boy who drowned here in 1960 whilst on holiday with his school

Loughrigg Tarn with the Langdale Fells in the distance 

Finally a plaque I passed on the ground at Colwith Force which

expressed my sentiments precisely 

A walk in the Caldbeck fells

A walk in the Caldbeck Fells - Mosedale to  Hesket Newmarket via Bowscale tarn, Great Lingy Bothy & High Pike 10.5miles 2450ft

Setting off from Mosedale hamlet on cold a wet windy morning

Heading into a very murky Mosedale valley

There was no improvement in the weather as I reached Bowscale Tarn so I abandoned plans to climb up Bowscale Fell above the tarn and headed into Upper Mosedale instead

Crossing the River Caldew at Roundhouse

Still wet and windy

Upper Mosedale with Lingy Bothy now just visible on the ridge ahead

A very welcome sanctuary for lunch!

The view down Mosedale from the bothy window

There was a Christmas tree with lights but no signs of
Father Christmas this time, rumour has it that he was in Manchester today!

Lunch all laid out in dry if not warm surroundings

However as emerged after lunch there was the sun shining brightly on the bothy

I then headed for High Pike summit with a view back to Blencathra in cloud

High Pike summit 2159ft the memorial bench is for a 16year old boy who "loved these fells" but sadly died here in 1944!

The summit provided and great view point for the snow covered Skiddaw range

I then descended to the pretty village of Hesket Newmarket and the Old Crown Inn, which was sadly closed.