Crinkle Crags & Bowfell (one of my favs!)

A wonderful day out in the snow from Langdale up to the Crinkles and then over to Bowfell.  No story to tell on this one just some great pics to savour.  Fabulous day as usual and a nice wee chance to get the crampons on..........finally! 

A wintery wander up Skiddaw & Little Man

Come hell or high water (no pun intended) we were getting on a hill today if it killed us.  The forecast was fair throughout the day with rain coming in later so up we got early doors (6am) and we were out the door by 6.32.  An obligatory stop at Tebay for a couple of scotch eggs (hill food) and a couple of coffee's it wasn't long before we were heading into Keswick.   Seeing the sight of how high the river rose and peoples gardens strewn with rubble and occasional recognisable pieces of furniture was sobering as it really hit home just how devastating those floods were.

Parking up by Latrigg the road was closed half way mainly due to the fact one side of it had washed away and there were pot hols 1 - 2 ft deep running down the centre of the road.  More evidence of the devastation of the water.   We parked, got our boots on and  made our way up the rest of the road towards the start of the walk.   There were a few birds about and a fluttering of red caught my eye and although we got a blurred picture of around 6 birds that landed in a pot hole in front of us we recognised them later as being Crossbills.  Beautiful and colourful.

The start of the walk starts fairly steeply and the fair forecast was holding out.  I didn't think we'd be luck for long as we couldn't see the summit or even anything past half way up the initial hill.  It was all foggy and looked damp and a bit bleak.  Onwards and upwards and time would tell if we'd get a dry day.

The views behind us was a bit dark and cloud swirled in and out of peaks previously climbed.  My fav little hill, Causey Pike with its distinctive nobbles and cute little nose like feature was there in all its glory with just a little dusting of snow.  Keswisk lay before it and as we climbed, more hills became visible as well as Derwent water.

The initial path was a good one, in fact the whole way up the path was really good.  The higher we got the more snow there was but there wasn't really any deep stuff.  More patchy and icy.

The higher we got the less we could see and soon enough all views behind us an ahead of us were obscured.  I'm sure this walk would have been gorgeous on a clear day but today we could only see what was ahead and soon that wasn't much indeed.

I think it was just after Skiddaw Little Man that the ice rain started but thankfully we had our goggles with us and although after they steamed up I couldn't see a thing they did keep the wind and ice off our faces....RESULT!  The wind was fierce (50mph forecast) so we didn't stick around long at the summit of either hill and instead of carrying on we decided to venture back down the way we'd come up as conditions were fun for no one.

Cameras were packed away as we made our way down off the hill on a great path that flanked round and met our original path which then led down again towards Keswick and Derwent Water.

There were a fair few folk out on the hills today.  Some fell running, some walking and some just having a wander out.  We were back down by 2pm and glad that we had time to pop into Keswick to visit the butcher and the cheeseman and of course we'd pop into the Dog and Gun for a nibble and some well earned refreshment.

A great day out, a quick walk and weather that was different than forecast but that's just par for the course and all in all superbly enjoyable.

Dreich & Drookit Old Man

The first walk of 2016 and the first walk since October 2015 - Shocking!, blooming weather!! (but sparing a thought for all the poor folks of Cumbria who's homes, belongings and lives were destroyed).

We were resigned to go whatever the weather and although showers were forecast we didn't care, we needed to get out, we needed to get up a mountain come rain, hail, wind or snow, we were going and go we did!

The drive over to Coniston was uneventful and we only had 1 large puddle in the road to deal with and although the sky was grey and not very interesting it was dry which was a blessing.   Parked up and boots on we ventured out on the path and only then did the first drops of rain start to fall.  It wasnt heavy at first but enough to pack cameras away and tighten hoods on our jackets.

Before long it was heavier and seemingly relentless and by the time we reached the small tarn the cloud base had lowered and we couldnt even see into the middle of the tarn.

Up the last rocky steps to the summit where the large cairn stood it was evident that the weather wasnt going to get any better and the showers that were forecast had all ganged up together to just rain and rain and rain.  The wind on top was blustery and whilst not quite strong enough to blow you off your feet the order of the day now was heads down and keep moving forward.

Over to Brim Fell was next on the list and then we doubled back and took the left hand turn down the path that would lead us over to Dow Crag.

By the time we'd reached Dow Crag the conditions weren't good at all and the light of the day was diminishing. It was cold, I was wet, shivvery and a little bit whingy to say the least (some would say what's new!!!)

The path downwards was thankfully a great path, wide and free from larger rocks and the walking was good.  It wasnt long before we just about won the race with clock and arrived back at the car before darkness set in for the night.  Heaters on full blast, legs weary, clothes and hair damp, rucksacs tossed in the boot we headed for home.

A grand but very tiring day out!

150 Nethermost and friends

A great wander up Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike, Seatsandal with a pop over to Helvellyn just because it was there.  We were treated to the most spectacular views over striding edge and had we not had an alternative agenda today I'd have been tempted to nip down and back but it was not to be and even by the time we got to Seatsandal I was done in and with the weather closing in I wasn't even sure I'd go up but rather take the path to the right through the valley but I did and with a great deal of huffing and puffing we were up and down in no time.  Great day, great views and great light !

Looking back to Steel Fell

 Looking down to Thirlmere

 Dollywagon or Nethermost Pike summit (cant remember which oops!)

 My 150th Wainwright - Hurrah!

 The path up - always behind !

 Dark Striding Edge

 On route to Seatsandal

 Seatsandal Summit

Castle Crag & Great Crag with a scone inbetween

Great post holiday walk up Castle Crag and Great Crag with time for a scone and tea in between.  Good little walk with some fabulous views and not too strenuous at all.  The light was pretty kind to us today and we got a fair few decent snaps!

On our way

The path up to Castle Crag - its Shaley!

Fern?

Stepping stones

Stepping stones

The view along the path towards more adventures for another day.

Slate sculptures and a soft green valley!

From the path to Castle Crag

Along a really pleasant path towards the base of Great Crag

From the path of Great Crag - no sign of the Vulcan!

Haycock, Cawfell, Sunshine....say Cheese !

 The weatherman said it the outlook was fair and with no rain forecast we saw a few hills in our weekend.  A quick call to Churchstile campsite and Friday after work we were off.  Car packed with the most basic camping equipment.  Tent, chairs, blow up bed, duvet, pillows, kettle, tea and coffee.  What else did we need?

Arriving at Churchstile in the dark wasn't on the cards but after a later finish at work than planned an a shop stop at  Kirkby Lonsdale it was around 9pm when we finally rolled up.   Could we get pitched in the dark and more importantly could we make it to the pub for last orders?  Both were managed very successfully and we had time for not 1 not 2 but 3 little drinkies......uh oh, we're walking tomorrow !!!!

Up and out by 10am the following morning Haycock and Cawfell were our targets for the day.  These 2 were a couple of Wainwrights left in the area unticked so we'd put that right today.  A short driver down Wastwater and we found a little parking spot right next to where the path started up the first part of the hill.

It was warm and as we wandered up the path next to the little stream fleeces came off.

There were some gorgeous little waterfalls trickling down on the way up and since we'd all day we took the time to stop and get up close to see if we could capture the beautiful light that covered the hillside.  It really was turning out to be a super day.

Onwards and upwards through the valley, gaining height all the time with Middle fell to our left and soon behind us and Seatallan coming proudly into view.

Scafell behind us in the other direction and then Scafell Pike poking its head out it really was a day for the loveliest of views only marred slightly by the occasional jet that streaked overhead.

After the final slog up to the left hand side with the now chilly wind blowing in from the sea, the summit of Haycock came into view with its nice little shelter over the wall.

We didn't stop here for the moment but continued onto Cawfell and since today's route was a linear route we'd be back on Haycock later.

Down off the fell and over to Haycock was a pleasant walk.  Almost plateau-like however if you weren't aware of where the summit lay then you'd miss it as for little short people (like me)seeing the beautifully constructed cairn to mark the summit behind a high stone wall was a tough ask.   Thankfully I was in the company of a taller person.....a map & GPS so all was well!

Over the wall the wind blew hard from the North and I quickly darted back over the other side to get a bit of shelter in the walk back up to Haycock.   The sun was still bright in the sky and the light was starting to change as the afternoon took its grip.  Shadows were more defined and that distant haze started to appear.

We were on our way back down after a quick snack stop at the shelter on Haycock.  We'd timed ourselves and ideally wanted to get down in 3 hrs so we could get some ice cream at the campsite shop.  That was our motivation and we moved forward and downwards at the fastest pace possible which in my case wasn't that fast but I was moving (ouchie knees today!)

The initial steep bit was over and we were awarded with some stunning views as we moved down through the valley.  The late afternoon light was just beautiful bathing everything around in a warmish glow.

Almost down and the fantastic purple heather on the screes at Wastwater caught my eye and was a welcome site as we neared the end of our walk.

Back to the car almost 3 hrs since we'd stepped off the top the next stop was the ice cream shop where we sat in the sun, ate the most delicious ice cream and reflected on a great walk.