Thursday 11 December 2014 – Ten Lakeland Summits from Tilberthwaite

Firstly, an addendum to yesterday by way of a ‘post blog’ portrait of the inestimable John P, who after jarring his knee on Tuesday had spent the day purchasing bling that apparently served as a pinny for his baking exploits.

The dessert was delicious.

Our group was now down to six for this short bimble from Tilberthwaite, which proved a suitable venue for celebrating Kath's fiftieth birthday.

We set off in bright sunshine on the cool day, but as we gently ascended the old miners' track the sunshine moved across to appear like a searchlight on Lingmoor Fell (top picture).

After passing some mine buildings an 'off-piste' route was followed. The Langdale Pikes showed signs of recent snowfall. We enjoyed views in that direction whilst taking a roundabout route to Summit Number 1 - Great Intake on Low Fell (405 metres).

There were great views across the southern Lakes.

Soon we headed off and nearly climbed Birk Fell by mistake. After realising our error (four of us were equipped with GPS units!) we battled the wind up to Summit Number 2 - High Fell (428 metres). The snowy heights of Wetherlam towered above us as we looked down towards Coniston whilst trying to avoid being blown away.

A small tarn led to Summit Number 3 - Hawk Rigg, at 441 metres the highest point of this entire trip, but very windy.

A little further on was Summit Number 4 - Haystacks (421 metres), featuring Roger trying not to get blown away, and snow clad Wetherlam behind us.

Summit Number 5 was Blake Rigg (423 metres) – there was quite a breeze up there. Five down, five to go.

After some unnecessary faffing by four of the party (Tilberthwaite Gill being the easy obstacle that they were reluctant to step across) Roger, Viv, Peter and Barbara deigned to join Kath and me for lunch in a sheltered spot in Yewdale Moss.

Excellent miner's paths past some wonderful wild camping pitches led to Hole Rake, and much evidence of mining. We'd skirted around the upland plateau of Yewdale Moss. Eventually we gained Summit Number 6 - Kitty Crag (435 metres). There was a good view down to Coniston Water.

Ghyll Head was just about visible from Kitty Crag, across a distant Windermere.

Here we are at the next top - Summit Number 7 - Long Crag on Yewdale Fells (421 metres). There's a dished shield of rock on the top of Long Crag on which Roger and Barbara enjoyed a snooze.

A little further on we reached Summit Number 8 - High Wythow (410 metres). It was going well. Everyone seemed happy despite the unnaturally short (for the LDWA) length of the walk.

It was largely downhill to Summit Number 9 - Low Wythow (372 metres). The wind was a bit kinder here.

There was no cairn on Summit Number 10 - Brackeny Crag (370 metres), but Barbara did her best to impersonate one before the rest of the team arrived to celebrate with afternoon tea. Yes, that's ten (10) summits we managed to climb on this windy day.

The weather held as we descended back to Tilberthwaite, pausing only to pick ourselves up when blown over by the occasional severe gusts of wind, before adjourning to Chesters for coffee and cake by way of ‘Kathy’s Birthday Treat’.

Here's our route - 11 km with 500 metres ascent, in 4.5 hours.

Back at Ghyll Head, there were mammoth celebrations.

There’s a 96 image slideshow here, and this link takes you to all three years’ reports on my visits to Ghyll Head.

A slideshow for our 2013 visit is here, and 2012’s is here.

Finally, thanks to Reg for organising this trip, to all the wonderful chefs, and to the various ‘Quizmasters’. A most enjoyable few days.

Wednesday 10 December 2014 – Gummer’s How from Ghyll Head

We enjoyed a lie in today, before leaving Ghyll Head after 10 am on a low level circuit involving Gummer’s How. This was as a result of an atrocious weather forecast, but apart from a bit of wind fuelled hail above 300 metres on Gummer’s How, conditions were relatively benign for the nine of us on this walk. Others were lazier.

Here we are, early in the day at Winster House. Nearby, a pheasant shoot was in progress. Apparently John P, on a separate walk, was offered a ‘snifter’ and a job as a beater. They obviously recognised his thirst for alcohol but didn’t notice his crippled knee.

The River Winster was slightly inflated after yesterday’s rain, which had continued overnight. We managed to cross without incident, but the ford may have proved tricky for the average Renault Laguna.

Elevenses with brownies in a field were soon surpassed by mulled wine and coffee in the Mason’s Arms. The coffee was much delayed by a mechanical failure, as a result of which we managed to avoid leaving the pub until after a sharp squall had passed over.

Lunch was taken in an initially sheltered suntrap in Raven’s Barrow (pictured, top), then, after recovering various items that had been snatched by the sudden arrival of a heavenly huff, we made our way up to the summit of Gummer’s How. Roger and Peter managed to join me in getting directly to the summit. Others arrived by a circuitous route. Some were just happy not to be blown away in the squall that arrived just as we approached the top.

Views towards Windermere could at least be admired.

After the Mason’s Arms we had dropped off my map, so I have Kathy and Barbara to thank for pointing us all in the right direction after that, thanks to some routes being downloaded to their GPSs last night. Well done all concerned. We found the correct path through Blake Holme woods and along good paths, with a pause for afternoon tea and the last few brownies, to reach the road to Ghyll Head and get back in time for a cuppa at 4 pm.

Here’s our route, more or less made up as we went along – 19 km, with 700 metres ascent, taking a little less than 6 hours. Another excellent day out.

Tuesday 9 December 2014 – Claife Heights

A rather damp day out with the Plodders, from Ghyll Head, where we are staying for a few days. Reg the chicken wisely chose an easy stroll, whilst the twelve of us pictured above embarked on a mini adventure.

It was dry for the walk to the Bowness ferry, but once we got to the west bank the rain started and waterproofs were needed all day.

The anticipation of crossing the lake in typhoon conditions had caused great concern, but thankfully the weather was not as bad as predicted and we crossed safely, albeit in a frenzy of excitement exhibited by those not accustomed to this form of transport. The ferryman did warn us that we might not get back, due to high winds. This caused some of the more anxious members of the party (Roger, Hilary, Peter – most of us actually) some worry for the rest of the day.

A half dead wood pigeon resisted Viv’s attempts to feed it.

After a while, and after some clamour for elevenses, our leader conceded to a brief halt.

“Lunch will be later” claimed our 78 year old guide. Sadly, his memory seems to be fading, as lunch had still not been taken by the time many of us got back to Ghyll Head at 4 pm!

Some rather slithery sections were encountered as we wound our way through mist laden countryside.

Moss Eccles Tarn’s dam proved a bit of a slippery challenge for Peter Haslam, who despite his commando training encountered much difficulty. “My soles are smooth” he claimed. (Not verified.)

Here he is, faffing over a simple stream crossing.

However, Peter soon recovered, and he and I were the only ones out of the twelve of us to venture to the easy summit of High Blind How.

The forest walk in early afternoon seemed more like a night hike – the light has been brightened considerably in the following image, taken in heavy rain.

Eventually a few of us did manage to get a view across to Bowness, but the town was only just visible through the gloom. The predicted view of Helvellyn remained in the imagination.

Mulled wine in the Cuckoo Brow Inn was enjoyed by most of the party – Kathy in particular enjoyed her half pint laced with dregs. Some of us surreptitiously ate our lunches outside, whilst the executive committee indoors raised their glasses to us. Then the rain got torrential, so we went in.

Some ‘slippage’ occurred, John P’s knee falling victim to the slippery rocks, so he and Neil walked back along the road, dutifully chaperoned by Hilary.

Here’s our route – 23 km, with 600 metres ascent, taking 6.75 hours. Thanks go to John B for leading the ‘west bank’ section of the walk, and to Peter H for guiding us to the ferry from Ghyll Head – and back, as nobody could remember the way.

And tomorrow’s forecast is worse!

Finally, thanks go to Kathy and John P, who helped me to compose this entry.

Ghyll Head – 1 to 5 December 2013

This was the second time Sue and I have had the pleasure of attending Reg’s Ghyll Head Bungalow ‘meet’. Last year’s visit is described here.

We were sorry to hear that ‘Little Ann’ was unable to join us, and Cathy was no doubt working; otherwise it was a similar team to last year’s.

Having arrived on Sunday afternoon, we spent the first two days in dull but warmish weather.

Monday involved a well attended walk to Staveley and back, described very briefly at the time, here.

Another picture from this walk is shown above.  We enjoyed a fairly lavish lunch at Wilf’s Café in Staveley, before following Peter Haslam’s request to turn on our heels and head back to Ghyll Head, initially along the Dales Way, bringing back memories of my 2009 walk from Windermere to Ripponden.

A very chilled evening at Ghyll Head concluded proceedings – I seem to have found very little time to record much detail of the walk, but more photos were taken – see slideshow link below.  And thanks to Peter for leading this bimble.

We walked about 25 km, with 600 metres ascent, in 6.5 hours.

On Tuesday, Reg led a crack team along a section of the Thirlmere Way, which the Plodders have been ‘plodding’ since leaving Heaton Park on a sunny day in April.

Meanwhile, Sue and I were joined by Barbara for a round of Seat Sandal, Fairfield, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur from Grasmere.

Garry joined us for lunch.  He was ravenous.

I wrote a short piece on the day at the time – here.  I suppose that was marginally more than on the previous day!  The slideshow reveals more…(see link below).

Here’s our route – 13 km with 950 metres ascent, in about 5 hours.

Wednesday was a brighter day.  The rest of the team went off to explore more of the Thirlmere Way, but Sue and I didn’t want to be valley bound, so we headed up Longsleddale to Sadgill.  From there we enjoyed the gentle ascent to Tarn Crag.  I wrote about that here.

It turned out to be a lovely day for this 11 km, 500 metre ascent, excursion taking about 3.5 hours, after which we had a very leisurely afternoon at Ghyll Head whilst the others struggled on along the Thirlmere Way in the dark (or so it seemed to us).

Thursday dawned powerless and stormy at Ghyll Head.

Others copped out of their concluding section of the Thirlmere Way, but Roger and Barbara bravely joined me and Sue for a wander around Stang Hill, Arnsbarrow Hill and the 335 metre summit of Top O’Selside.  I wrote about it here.

The weather actually cheered up quite a bit as we descended back to Nibthwaite with fine views across Coniston Water to the Coniston Fells.

Here’s our 7 km route.  Ascent was about 300 metres, and it took us 2.3 hours.  An excellent blow of fresh air.

Later, as John had been sent home due to serious misbehaviour in the dormitory*, Allan was obliged to co-opt Neil as his replacement assistant ‘chef du jour’.  He seemed happy enough with the arrangement and got on with the cooking whilst Allan chatted.

There’s a slideshow covering the whole trip – here.

Thanks go to Reg for organising the trip.  We hope to see you all again next year, and we hope John and Don and whoever else has been afflicted with ‘John’s Lurgy’, are recovered by Christmas.

* John’s nasal cords are legendary, and very vocal.

Thursday 5 December 2013 - Top O'Selside

Emergency lighting at 5.30am signified a power cut. Wet and windy outside, it was soon dark again inside the Ghyll Head bungalow. A candle-lit breakfast of fruit salad and hot bread got us under way. 

Sue and I were joined by Roger and Barbara for a thirty minute drive through assorted debris to Nibthwaite car park. We then enjoyed a two hour tramp over Stang Hill, Arnsbarrow Hill and Top O'Selside. It was a little windy. We had to employ a crawling technique to reach the summits, though the rain abated and we enjoyed some winter sunshine. Today's image was gained, with some difficulty, on Stang Hill, with The Old Man of Coniston engulfed in thick cloud behind the summiteers.

We managed to rendezvous with the remaining seven Ghyll Headers, Peter and John having left for home yesterday. The Brown Horse Inn proved a suitable venue. Good food sourced within a three mile radius, and real ale brewed on the premises. 

Wednesday 4 December 2013 - A Saunter from Sadgill

On a fine, bright day, Sue and I eschewed the attractions of the final stage of East Lancashire LDWA's assault on the Thirlmere Way, in favour of a short walk from Sadgill Bridge. 

The forty minute drive from Ghyll Head passed quickly, and we parked by Sadgill Bridge (pictured) next to a sign that might make anyone thinking of proceeding further by car think twice.

The sun skittered in and out of the cloud all day, resulting in hasty, often futile, grabs for the camera, which on this trip is my waterproof Lumix FT4 as the Canon G12 has broken. Hopefully there will be some pleasant images - to be made available by way of an 'overview' posting about this trip once we get home. (My apologies to complainants about the brevity of this week's postings, but socialising has come first.)

Anyway, Sue and I headed up Longsleddale into an Arctic breeze, meeting a lone dog walker with two delightful puppies near Brownhowe Bottom. We saw nobody else all day, though our route did look well walked.

We were soon on a drier than expected path beside a fence, leading to the 664 metre summit of Tarn Crag on Sleddale Fell. I'd not been there before. There's a large survey tower, and excellent views in all directions, with the track over Gatesgarth Pass to Haweswater dominant in the foreground. 

The path to Harrop Pike wasn't as wet as expected, and the expansive views from that summit were rather better than on my cloudy visit in June last year. Sue is pictured here. 

The onward path to Grey Crag, where we enjoyed lunch, then Great Howe, seemed easier than last time,  perhaps because I wasn't carrying camping gear.

Finishing at Sadgill Bridge was also somewhat easier than continuing to Burneside!

A lovely walk in great weather - 11 km with about 540 metres ascent, in 3.5 hours.

Tuesday 3 December 2013 - Fairfield in Cloud

Whilst others wrestled with the intricacies and rendezvous logistics of the Thirlmere Way, Sue, Barbara and I enjoyed a five hour escapade from Grasmere. 

I don't think I've been up Seat Sandal before. A pleasant hill with a steep finale. It was cloudy on top.

Down and up to Fairfield took us past Grisedale Tarn and some long views to Ullswater.

Lunch was in a cloud on the summit of Fairfield, with a cheeky Raven for company.

Then we enjoyed the easy path over Great Rigg before dropping down a delightful path to Stone Arthur (pictured) and thence back to Grasmere by soon after 3pm. 

An excellent day out - approximately 13 km with 1000 metres ascent. 

Monday 2 December 2013 - A Dull Day in the Lake District

It was cloudy on the tops, so nine of our group of fourteen enjoyed a circular walk from Ghyll Head, where we arrived last night, featuring lunch at Wilf's Café in Staveley. 

It was an excellent day out, and very sociable to boot, despite the incessant trading of insults!