Perfect Morning - (Revisited!)

[Lancashire Lad]

First Lake District visit of 2020!

The Lake District weather forecast for Monday 20th January looked quite promising: - “Sunny periods with frost and possible fog in valleys during the morning”.
So, on that basis, I decided to have a look on Gladstone Knott near Crinkle Crags, to try to find “Gladstone’s Finger”, a seldom visited rock pinnacle mentioned in Alfred Wainwright’s “Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells”. (Book 4, Southern Fells – Crinkle Crags 5).
As things turned out, the forecast got it decidedly wrong for the area I was interested in! – The valley was clear, as was the entire skyline around the Langdale Pikes, but the higher parts of all the fells around Crinkle Crags were shrouded in low lying cloud, which despite extremely strong and blustery winds, hung there all day.

I set off from the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, and walked through Stool End Farm into Oxendale.
Following Oxendale Beck as far as the second footbridge near the confluence below Whorneyside Force waterfall, I crossed the bridge and then within a few yards crossed Crinkle Gill, (via boulders as stepping stones), to begin the fellside ascent, (with Crinkle Gill now on my right, and Isaac Gill on my left), up towards Gladstone Knott.

Initially, a vague grassy path, (more of a sheep trod), could be followed. But that soon disappeared, and it was then a case of picking the best looking route over various grassy and slightly boggy areas as I headed upwards towards the crags.
I became enveloped in thick mist just as I reached the level of the lower rocky outcrops, so just had to take the most likely looking route, as each outcrop appeared through the mist. I had to make a slight north-westerly diversion to skirt one particularly steep looking crag, but when I traversed back across its top I saw what must surely be my target about 50 yards higher up, just on the limit of vision. Getting up to the pinnacle, (and continuing beyond it), involved ascending a very steep, and extremely loose scree slope.

I’d intended carrying on up to Crinkle Crags after photographing the pinnacle, but what with the mist, and the extremely strong and gusty wind, I decided to abandon that thought!
Instead, I traversed across the plateau above Great Knott, until I came to the main Red Tarn to Crinkle Crags path. I followed that path down to the Red Tarn “crossroads”, and turned northwards for the final descent via Brown Howe, back to valley level. Eventually retracing my earlier route through Stool End Farm and back to the car.
I did find what I'd set out for, but not a great day weatherwise, and so the pinnacle will need a revisit, when the weather is being more amenable!

Regards,
Mike.

GPX Track of the route walked: -
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Walk Elevation Profile: -
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And some photos from the day. (Described in list form below, to ensure correct alignment of thumbnail images).

Photo 01 – Looking towards Crinkle Crags. (Pike O’Blisco at left, The Band at right). – From the road in front of the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.
Photo 02 – A snowy looking Bow Fell, viewed from Stool End Farm.
Photo 03 – The route ahead. – Looking towards the head of Oxendale, with Isaac Gill to left, and a stony looking Crinkle Gill over to the right.
Photo 04 – The view back down Oxendale, towards Great Langdale.
Photo 05 – Slightly higher up the fellside, and looking towards the Langdale Pikes and the Great Langdale valley.
Photo 06 – Now up in the mist, and a first glimpse of (a not very obvious from this angle!) Gladstone’s Finger.
Photo 07 – Having finally managed to climb up the horrendously loose scree, a shot of Gladstone’s Finger from above. – The photo doesn’t do any justice to just how steep and exceptionally loose that scree slope was!!!
Photo 08 – A closer view of Gladstone’s Finger.
Photo 09 – Now back in the valley, and a shot of the Oxendale sheepfold, with the stubborn mist still hanging over where I’d been earlier.
Photo 10 – A final shot, showing how very different the conditions can be just one valley away. – This is what the weather on the Langdale Pikes had been like all day.

If you would like to see a more extensive description, and lots more photos from this walk, see: -
https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ?f=2&t=738
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[NellyDee]

I do like photos of craggy places and mountains in mist they give a sort of mystical feeling. Good for you going out in such weather. My daughter took me to The Ross of Mull for a week where we had a major storm, so could not go out. We got so fed up with brown seaweed and muddy slopes we drove up to Carsaigh and also up Loch Na Keal. All our photos are misty as each day was horizontal driving sleet, which suddenly turned to blue sky and sunshine, then back to sleet again. It was bitterly cold.

[Lancashire Lad]

After several weeks of Covid-19 "Lockdown", recent easing of government legislation (within England) currently allows travelling of any distance for the purpose of outdoor recreation and exercise, so long as social distancing measures are properly maintained.
Cumbria County Council and the Lake District National Park Authority are beginning to gradually "open up" the area to visitors once again, and the National Trust have reopened several of their car parks in the area. These authorities continue to advise that visitors should take all necessary measures to prevent potential Covid-19 transmission, and respect the needs of local communities.
In order to lessen the chances of call-outs, and minimise potential Covid-19 transmission to its members, the Lake District's Mountain Rescue Teams are currently advising walkers to keep within their limits, and for preference, refrain from venturing onto the high fells.
With these things in mind, but also with a burning desire to get out amongst the fells again, I decided to have a trip up to the Lakes on Monday, 1st of June, with the intention of doing an easy, low level circular amble, (of about nine miles overall), to visit Cathedral Cave, in the Little Langdale area.
Parking up in the National Trust car park beside the bridge at Elterwater, I walked along the riverside path in the direction of Skelwith Bridge. – To first visit Skelwith Force waterfall, then continuing on through various woods and fields to visit Cathedral Cave and Slater Bridge, before returning to Elterwater and the car.
Cathedral Cave is a remnant of the Little Langdale slate quarrying era of centuries past. It is an impressive cavernous chamber, with a huge central rock “pillar” supporting its roof.
Access to the cave is best gained via the "long tunnel", which is over 100yds in length, and has a headroom of about 5ft. The floor is level, but can be several inches deep in water at various parts along the way. - Fortunately, with all of the dry weather of late, there wasn't much water in evidence, and my boots remained dry!
NB: This tunnel is pitch black and needs a suitable head-torch or flashlight to safely negotiate its length. Note that the tunnel splits as you approach the Cathedral Cavern end. You should bear towards the "light at the end of the tunnel" which will be seen slightly towards your right hand side.
Walking to your right as you exit the tunnel brings you onto the "balcony viewpoint" of the upper level area, from where you can look down into the impressive chamber of Cathedral Cavern. Behind you at this point is an area of jumbled rocks and boulders, over which you can (with care!), safely scramble down to an arch-like opening, giving you access into the main chamber.
After visiting the main chamber, you can exit the cavern by the “short tunnel” which is only about fifteen yards long and doesn’t require a head torch/flashlight. From that exit point it’s then a straight forward short walk to Slater Bridge.
Not my typical "high fells" kind of Lake District walk, and with several "social distancing" and other Covid-19 measures needing to be taken into account. - But a great walk nevertheless, and oh so good just to be able to experience this fantastic area once again.

Regards,
Mike.

GPX Track of the route walked: -
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And some photos from the day. (Described in list form below, to ensure correct alignment of thumbnail images).

Photo 01 – Looking across Elterwater, towards the Langdale Pikes.
Photo 02 – Wetherlam, with Great Carrs beyond, as seen across the River Brathay.
Photo 03 – Skelwith Force.
Photo 04 – Woodburn Bridge – named in honour of local parish council chairman, Mr Trevor Woodburn.
Photo 05 – Little Langdale Quarries sign.
Photo 06 – The “long tunnel” entrance, leading to Cathedral Cavern.
Photo 07 – Looking down into Cathedral Cavern from the upper level.
Photo 08 – Looking across the main chamber after having scrambled down the "rock jumble.
Photo 09 – Looking back across the main chamber towards the upper level viewpoint.
Photo 10 – Slater Bridge, with part of Lingmoor Fell beyond.
Photo 11 – Little Langdale Tarn, as seen from the path towards High Birk Howe Farm, having just left Slater Bridge.
Photo 12 – Having completed the walk, and now on my way home, a final shot taken from beside the cattle grid near Elterwater village.
A shot that I've taken many times over the years, and one of my very favourite views of the Langdale Pikes

If you would like to see a more extensive description, and several more photos from this walk, see: -
https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =753#p1677
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Photo 01

[Lancashire Lad]

Wednesday 24th June was forecast to be a fine sunny day – the hottest day of the year so far. And, as things turned out, it certainly was!
Unfortunately not a great day for photography. Much UV haze around throughout the day, quite a lot of high level light cloud around during the morning, and very harsh lighting conditions during the afternoon.
Starting from a layby just north of Stybarrow Crag, (beside Ullswater on the A592), I took the little used track which follows Mossdale Beck through Glencoyne Wood, to my first summit of the day – Glenridding Dodd.
From there I backtracked slightly to the drystone wall, and then took the south-east ridge route up Heron Pike and onto Sheffield Pike.
From Sheffield Pike I descended slightly to Nick Head, regaining the height lost on the way up to Green Side, before continuing onwards to Stybarrow Dodd. From there I took the ridge across to Raise, followed by Whiteside and Helvellyn Lower Man, before reaching the main peak of the day – Helvellyn.
From Helvellyn summit I descended the headwall and crossed Striding Edge, High Spying How and Low Spying How, heading towards the “Hole-In-The-Wall” and my final summit of the day on Birkhouse Moor.
From there I took the Mires Beck (Little Cove) route back down to valley level, then crossing Rattlebeck Bridge and walking down Greenside Road into Glenridding before a final short walk along the A592 back to the car.

Regards,
Mike.

GPX Track of the route walked: -
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GPX Track superimposed onto 3D Aerial Image.
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Walk Elevation Profile: -
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And some photos from the day. (Described in list form below, to ensure correct alignment of thumbnail images).

Photo 01 – Looking across Birkhouse Moor to a cloud topped St.Sunday Crag and Fairfield. (Taken from Glenridding Dodd summit): -
Photo 02 – A stone seen on the flanks of Heron Pike, inscribed “H” on one side, and “M” on the other, and marking the boundary between the Howard (of Greystoke) estate, and the Marshall (of Patterdale) estate. – Ullswater in the distance: -
Photo 03 – A zoomed-in shot of Striding Edge and Helvellyn (from Heron Pike), with Catstye Cam in front, over towards right hand side of shot: -
Photo 04 – The first of two iron boundary marker posts. – This one on Heron Pike. These iron posts also mark the boundary between the Howard estate and the Marshall estate. The inscription on the other side also has the date 1912, but with letter “M” instead of “H”.
Photo 05 – The Helvellyn – Catstye Cam vista, as seen from the summit plateau on Sheffield Pike: -
Photo 06 – The second of the two Howard/Marshall iron marker posts. This one seen on Sheffield Pike on the approach to Nick Head.
The route from here up to Green Side’s summit follows the ribbon of darker green grass in centre of image: -
Photo 07 – Looking back to Stybarrow Dodd from Raise summit: -
Photo 08 – Looking west to Brown Cove Crags and Thirlmere. – From the ridge between Whiteside and Helvellyn Lower Man: -
Photo 09 – Looking north-east to Keppel Cove, with Catstye Cam prominent. – Sheffield Pike in middle distance and Ullswater beyond. As seen from the col between Helvellyn Lower Man and Helvellyn: -
Photo 10 – Red Tarn and Striding Edge: -
Photo 11 – Looking across from the ridge above Bleaberry Crag to Sheffield Pike / Nick Head / Green Side areas walked earlier in the day: -
Photo 12 – The “Hole-In-The-Wall”, with Birkhouse Moor beyond. – (Sheffield Pike and Green Side on horizon over to left hand side): -

If you would like to see a more extensive description, and lots more photos from this walk, see: -
https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ?f=2&t=757
.

[adampembs]

Another nice set of photos. Striding Edge always looks quite scary but I guess its not so bad on a warm sunny day without a lot of wind. Thanks Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Another nice set of photos. Striding Edge always looks quite scary but I guess its not so bad on a warm sunny day without a lot of wind. Thanks Mike.

Cheers Adam.

Monday 21st September was forecast to have lengthy sunny periods and fairly light winds, so I made another trip to the Lake District to visit Haweswater Reservoir – a place that I hadn’t been back to in over thirty years.
As things turned out weather-wise, there was quite a lot of cloud hugging the higher slopes. At those higher levels, the mist kept rolling in and then clearing, time and time again.
A fairly common occurrence on the high fells. – Sunshine one minute, and thick mist the next!
That situation prevailed all morning, meaning that I had some quite lengthy waits for clear spells to take photos.
(As UK Fungi is, quite obviously, not a website for walking exploits, and I only post here with Adam’s continued consent, I post just a small selection of the images taken. Additional images from this walk, giving a more comprehensive feeling for the day’s prevailing conditions, can be seen here: - https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ?f=2&t=776 ).

My planned walk started from the Mardale Banks / Whiteacre Crag area, ascending via the Old Corpse Road to the plateau near Ritchie Crag, and from there, taking the Selside End ridgeline up to Selside Pike. Then, via the survey pillar, onwards to Branstree.
From Branstree, a descent to Gatescarth Pass, entailing the passage of an extremely boggy area just where the Branstree fence line meets the main Gatescarth Pass track.
Then upwards to Harter Fell, before descending to Nan Bield Pass, and then back down to valley level via Small Water, before passing through Mardale Head car park and a final mile or so along the road back to the car.

Regards,
Mike.

GPX Track of the route walked: -
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Walk Elevation Profile: -
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And some photos from the day. (Described in list form below, to ensure correct alignment of thumbnail images).

Photo 01 – Cloud shrouded Harter Fell, and the view up Rough Crag to High Street. – (From the old peat huts viewpoint beside the Old Corpse Road).
Photo 02 – The summit shelter on Selside Pike, with Harter Fell and High Street, (beyond Branstree, on the horizon).
Photo 03 – One of the “sighting pillars”, used for surveying purposes during the construction of the Haweswater to Manchester aqueduct.
Photo 04 – The two Artle Crag cairns are approximately fifty yards apart. – The mist getting thicker by the second!
Photo 05 – The route from Branstree summit down to Gatescarth Pass. – Not much to be seen here today!
Photo 06 – The view towards Haweswater from the flanks of Harter Fell – now entirely mist free.
Photo 07 – But slightly over to my right, (from the same location), plenty of mist still around on Branstree!
Photo 08 – A few seconds before this shot was taken, this view from Harter fell summit area was obscured by pea-soup mist. But the mist suddenly cleared, revealing Small Water, with Piot Crag, Mardale Ill Bell, and High Street beyond. – (Just a glimpse of Blea Water can be seen in the corrie beyond Piot Crag).
Photo 09 – Two of the stone shelters which can be found immediately beside Small Water.
Photo 10 – Haweswater – Getting nearer with every footstep!
Photo 11 – Looking across to Wood Howe. - Originally a small rocky knoll at Mardale Green. Now made into an island by the raised water level due to the construction of Haweswater reservoir.

If you would like to see a more extensive description, and lots more photos from this walk, see: - https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ?f=2&t=776
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[adampembs]

Mike's website is really good and well worth a visit if you are planning a trip to the lakes. I like the grading system.
My wife wants to go back there after seeing these photos. Although when I asked if she wanted to climb up 2,500 feet she winced a bit.

I can't see a rating for this walk, but at over 8 hours, I'm guessing it must be serious or challenging?
I'll post an excellent walk we did in Dartmoor(in a separate thread) If anyone is heading that way.

[Lancashire Lad]

Mike's website is really good and well worth a visit if you are planning a trip to the lakes. . . . .

Hi Adam,

Just to clarify in case there is any misunderstanding, I have no involvement with WalkLakes website other than being a supporter of it, and one of several people who posts reports of walks done there.
WalkLakes website is owned and developed by Paul and Elizabeth Oldham, who I think have created probably the best Lake District "walking oriented" website out there.

PS: I'd say that most of my own walks would be graded as serious or challenging, as I do like long days on the high tops, But Were it not for the amount of time I spent waiting around for clear spells for photos, this last walk (above) would probably have taken less than half the time it did.

best regards,
Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Tuesday 22nd June was forecast to be a fine day, with lengthy sunny periods during the morning, but with increasing cloud in the afternoon.
I decided on a trip to the Lake District, to find a particular viewpoint on Lingmoor fell which overlooks the valley of Mickleden in Great Langdale.

Starting from a roadside pull-in near Side Gates, (on the “Blea Tarn” road between Great Langdale and Little Langdale), I walked towards the Bield Crag area of Lingmoor Fell, and from there began the steep part of the ascent.

After looking at various remnants of disused slate quarries on Lingmoor Fell, I eventually found the spot I was looking for, (just above Birk Knott), but unfortunately the vista was under very overcast skies at the time, so didn’t present a good opportunity for worth-while photographs. – At least I now know where the spot is, so can make a return visit at some future point.

I continued up to Brown How, (the summit of Lingmoor Fell), and then walked along the ridge, eventually following the dry stone wall down towards Side Pike.
Squeezing through the rock crevice aptly named “Fat Man’s Agony”, I continued onwards to Side Pike summit, before dropping down to the cattle grid and onwards towards Blea Tarn via the path that skirts Rakerigg.

Stopped for lunch at Blea Tarn hoping for a few good photos, but there was too much “blanket” cloud about so I made my way back to the car.

GPX Track of the route walked: -
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Walk Elevation Profile: -
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And some photos from the day. (Described in list form below, to ensure correct alignment of thumbnail images).

Photo 01 – Looking across Little Langdale Tarn from the flanks of Lingmoor Fell. – With Great Intake and Wetherlam on the Horizon beyond.
Photo 02 – High Bield from Bield Crag area, with Little Langdale Tarn beyond, and Wetherlam dominating on the horizon.
Photo 03 – Remains of one of several disused slate quarries on Lingmoor Fell.
Photo 04 – The view from “the viewpoint” I’d been looking for. – ( Unfortunately the vista was decidedly overcast at the time, and the cloud stayed around too long! ).
Photo 05 – A closer view of the Langdale Pikes from “the viewpoint.
Photo 06 – The Langdale Pikes from Lingmoor Fell summit.
Photo 07 – The approach to Side Pike, with the Langdale Pikes over to the right.
Photo 08 – Approaching “Fat Man’s Agony” on Side Pike. – A sheer drop, (not very visible in the photo), means the only way to get past is to squeeze through the cleft between the isolated rock and the main rockface.
Photo 09 – A closer view of “Fat Man’s Agony”.
Photo 10 – The Langdale Pikes, as seen from the summit of Side Pike.
Photo 11 – The Langdale Pikes, seen across Blea Tarn.

If you would like to see a more extensive description, and more photos from this walk, see: -
https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =831#p1855

Regards,
Mike.