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.

Fells over Newlands - Scope End

 Fells over Newlands - Scope End,Hindscarth, Dale Head & High Spy, 10miles 3400ft 

Setting off in the Newlands valley with Scope End, Hindscarth &

Dale Head in sight

Passing Little Newlands church

Looking back to Skiddaw in sunshine

The sun appearing over High Spy ridge looking from Scope End

Looking north to Blencathra

Zooming in on Derwentwater and Keswick

Dale Head from Hindscarth summit 2385ft 

 Looking over Honister pass to Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere 

Newlands valley from the path to Dale Head

Arriving at Dale Head summit today's highest point 2473ft

Zooming in on Scafell Pike from the summit

Looking straight down into Newlands valley above High Spy crags

Dale Head and Hindscarth from the summit of High Spy 2143ft

Derwentwater and Blencathra as I started the descent into

Borrowdale 

Heading into the amphitheatre above Nitting Haws before the final

descent to Grange in Borrowdale