Scale force & The Buttermere fells

With a forecast for sunshine after a damp start to the day, I drove to Buttermere in the north west corner of Lakeland

This hotel in Buttermere village was once known as 'The Fish' & is very popular with walkers

Walking along the side of Crummock water heading for Scale Force....

....where I met Chris from Norfolk, he had been for a icy cold shower under the falls to raise money of the small breast cancer charity Little Lifts. He was taking a cold water dip somewhere every day in January!! "Good luck with your fund raising Chris" you deserve a medal!!!

Copy the link below to donate 

https://littlelifts.enthuse.com/pf/chris-sharman

 

 Scale Force in full flow

Leaving the falls behind I continued the climb to my first Summit Red Pike... the clouds were starting to rise out of the valleys....

....and again

....and again looking across to Grasmoor....

....and Hope Gill Head & Grisedale Pike in snow

Buttermere and the central fells from Red Pike summit 2477ft

Looking down on Dodd with Buttermere village behind

More snow on the central fells

Looking down on Crummock water from the ridge leading to High Stile....

....and again

High Stile summit 2647ft....

....and its wind shelter

Bleaberry tarn below Dodd

Looking back to Red Pike before continuing to High Crag

Now on High Crag summit.... 2440ft. The Scafell range in the distance....

....and Great Gable & the lower Green Gable....

....before the final descent  towards Seat & Haystacks

Fleetwith Pike from Scarth Gap

Finally looking back at Fleetwith Pike again from the gentle stroll back to Buttermere village

A really exhilerating day's walking on the fells with some fantasctic winter scenery.

Another rainy  day with gale force winds forecast for the high fells so I decided to stay closer to home today.

Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, Humphrey Head & Hampsfell (Grange over Sands)

12.5miles 1600ft

On my way to Leighton Moss I passed St John's church Yealand silhouetted with the rising sun

Starting a short walk through the RSPB reserve...

....but there wasn't much activity apart from a few coots, moorhens, swans & and mallard ducks....

....so I drove on and parked by the promenade and railway between Grange & Kents Bank. After crossing the railway I was heading west to Humphrey Head in the distance

Looking back to a misty Grange-over-Sands but now perhaps Grange-over-Grass is more appropriate!

A brief murmeration of some birds which I couldn't identify....

....before I arrived at the tip of Humphrey Head

....and again....

....and again

I then headed back inland over the top of Humphrey Head....

....passing the 172ft Summit (if that's worth calling a summit! and the lowest of Wainwright's outlying fells of the Lake District)

Leaving Humphrey Head I walked through Allithwaite village and and began the easy climb up Hampsfell

Arriving at the Hospice shelter with its.... 

....360 degree viewfinder. However there was little to view owing to the very misty conditions....

I could just about make out Arnside Knott over the river Kent estuary and nothing of the lakeland fells in the opposite direction to the north

Storms Isha & Jocelyn had taken their toll on the area with power still out in parts of Allithwaite that I'd passed through....poles were being replaced in the still windy conditions....

....and power lines reconnected

Finally I walked down through Grange and back along the promenade to my car.

Some sunshine and better air clarity would have made this an excellent walk. I've read that the 360 degree view from Humphrey Head which reaches about a mile into Morecambe bay is particularly rewarding. I'll certainly be visiting again! 

A Perfect Winter's Day on the 

High Fells 

Swirls (Thirlmere) to Grasmere via

Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, High Crag

& Grisedale Tarn, 9miles 3100ft

Waiting near Grasmere for the bus to Swirls

Before starting the climb to Helvellyn I took a short walk to the Thirlmere lakeside and met Tommy & Callum pictured here. They were camping last night in the extreme cold and had lit this fire to warm themselves! Good Luck lads nice to meet you.

Thirlmere lake reservoir

Starting the climb to Browncove Crags

Thirlmere again as I gained height....

....and again with the Newland and Skiddaw fells 

After passing Browncove Crags the gradient eases as Helvellyn Lower Man is approached

Looking back from Lower Man with the Cumbria coast on the horizon

Swirral Edge leading to Catstye Cam

Standing at the exit from Swirral Edge with Red Tarn below

Helvellyn summit Trig Point 3117ft.... 

....and summit shelter

Standing here at the exit from Striding Edge I met these two intrepid & experienced winter walkers who were just finishing their crossing of Striding Edge.... Nice to meet Brian & Max rather you than me in these conditions 

Crossing Nethermost Pike 

Looking back to Helvellyn and Catstye cam

Approaching High Crag keeping well clear of the snow Cornice

Beginning the descent to Grisedale Tarn

Grisedale Tarn

The final descent through Tongue Gill to Grasmere

A spectacular day's walking that will live long in the memory!