reasonstogonorth.com

Technological Rescue

reasons — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:51:55 +0000

The mist sat on the hills, just for a change.

We went for a walk anyway. Sargent Man and High Raise, a couple of hills up behind Stickle Tarn in Langdale, were destinations of the day.

The scramble up Stickle Ghyll was clear, but an eerie silence and stillness spread over the tarn. Someone had removed Pavey Arc.

Our navigation skills were seriously challenged. Every thing changes place in the mist.

Stickle Tarn

I was almost convinced by Silva compass had stopped working at one stage. My friend did tell me I was being a bit ridiculous. Thankfully we followed its suggestion, not mine. Much to my amazement we found Sergeant Man, right where it should be. No one had moved it. Not that we would have known it was Sergeant Man without asking people already on it. There was no view and little to distinguish it from the other mounds around.

Sergeant Man

Feeling extremely pleased with ourselves, and somewhat over confident we stuck off in the direction of High Raise. Still in the mist. The difference being that there were no real features to check. On the way up the hill there were streams and crags to place ourselves, now there was nothing. Bar the odd old metal fence post, and a few Herdy sheep.

Confidence gone, we were just about to give up when another mad person, with dog, came yomping up behind us. He was, horror of horrors, using a GPS system. Oh joy, we were about to be rescued by someone using technology. How happy can you be. Even better, he told us we were only 200 m from High Raise. Fantastic.

Ridge towards Harrison Stickle

We almost lassoed him, for that last 200m. Then, better still, he was going back the way we had planned, towards Harrison Stickle. So we stuck like glue to the hand with the GPS. Let me be clear though, he didn’t quite trust the technology, we did have to make several stops to check the compass and map.

Happily we soon spotted the ridge of Pavey Ark and the whole of humanity appeared to be there, etched against the skyline while having their butties. A slight wind had picked up and the mist was blowing around giving us some visibility and relegating the compass to my pocket.

Harrison Stickle – Nov 2011

Having done Harrison Stickle in more barmy conditions we skirted around and took a somewhat precipitous route around Loft Crag, round the corner to see Great Langdale,

Langdale valley from Loft Crag

over to Lingmoor Fell and Blea Tarn.

Lingmoor Fell and Blea Tarn

Yet again, putting the pieces of the Lake District jigsaw together from previous walks again. We reached the valley between various ghylls and ravines, over Mark Gate and back to the National Trust car park, by the pub!

I might just down load that GPS app.

Route, below, details, distance etc here

Map OL6

Ingleborough from Clapham

reasons — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:14:34 +0000

I live very close to junction 36 or the M6. This is not a very salubrious address, but put another way, I live in South Lakeland, on the edge of the Kent Estuary, between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Look one way from the village and you can Kentmere and even the Langdales, on a good day. The other way and the flat top of Ingleborough waits for a walk.

Which, at last, is where this preamble is taking me. Rather than heading to the Lakes, I went east, through Kirkby Lonsdale and out to the Dales.

From the main car park in the village, we headed west through some tunnels, under a man made lake created from Clapham Beck. Long before planning permission, in the days when labour was cheap. Through the tunnel and into a characteristic Dales, wall lined track

Walls in Cummack Dale

Just north of Austwick we took a left turn and moved in to a landscape which, on the map is littered with the black and white squares of rock outcrops.

These must be so much more fun to draw than roads and railways. Anyway , from the ground they are pretty obvious and I caught my first sighing of ‘destination Ingleborough’, with its distinctive flat cap.

Perfect place for a flapjack stop, half way up Crummack Dale and the ancient Wash Dub Field where sheep dipping used to take place.

Wash Dub Field and Clapper Bridge

Over the ridge beyond Moughton Scar, you’ll find yourself surrounded by vast limestone pavements and view the tripartite peaks partner, Pen-y-ghent. I was grateful the conditions were a little better than my hike over that hill.

The pores of limestone and numerous potholes meant the whole of the walk was pretty much dry underfoot. Not a spot of soggy sphagnum to be seen.

Moughton Scar

Once up on the Yorkshire flat cap Whernside appeared. That was going to have to wait for another day. Our route down was south down Little Ingleborough and passed a pot hole I had heard of, Gaping Gill. There was a small village of tents surrounding the Gill and the stream had been almost blocked and diverted away from the Gill. Apparently Bradford caving club was exploring and the following week it would be possible for the public to go down into the cave for a fee. Secretly, I was pleased it was not open. I would much rather remain above ground.

Trow Gill

Trow Gill was a surprising exit from the moorland and the only, slight, scramble of the day.

The rest is a positive stroll in the park. Pass by Ingleborough Caves, a detour if you are so inclined. Just beyond the caves there were a pair of grey wagtails cavorting. I don’t think I have ever seen them before and they were exotically incongruous for a Yorkshire Dale. Incredibly long, wispy tails. No picture. Wrong lens, and they were moving too fast. Check the RSPB.

The Lake – Ingleborough Hall

Finally, when I thought there was nothing much else to see, the path goes by the lake over the tunnels, with imported rhododendrons and artificial landscapes, culminating in a waterfall to the village.

So, that’s two of the three Yorkshire Peaks – anyone fancy a hike up Whernside?

Although this walk started from Clapham it could be a railway walk from Horton in Ribblesdale.

Route details here.

Map

New Life on Arnside Knott

reasons — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:30:27 +0000

Arnside is one of my favourite ‘local’ places and where I invariably end up when a longer walk for the dog and I is not possible. Last weekend was no exception and as I have hundreds of photos of the view already I just concentrated on the new plants emerging in our late spring.

Plus I have ‘done the map’. A short walk starting from Arnside Prom, where you can park your car. Good walk for kids with lots of muddy places to play. Maybe wouldn’t get a push chair to the top.

The route is just over 3 miles and you can find more details on distance etc here. Park your car on the front, and set off with the sea on your right. Pass the lifeboat station and look out for a gate in the woodland on your left.

Gate into Gubbins Wood

The entrance to Grubbins Wood.

Blackthorn

Out of the meadow and down to the shore,

Out of Gubbins Wood to the shore

with the oystercatchers,

Oystercatchers at New Barns Bay

and cowslips

leave the wood and turn left. Follow the shore line and head up a small lane for a about 100m. Look out for a gate on the right, with the AOB sign on the post

Follow this lane up into Copridding Wood.

Lane to Copthorn Woods

and enjoy the slow emerging of spring – in May!

Continue through another gate

The woodland opens out a little and becomes a little more ‘scrubby’ with gnarled trees and gorse.

As the path flattens, turn left and follow up to a gate into the National Trust car park. Turn right and immediately head up the hill on a stony track. The track veers left and you will soon be enjoying the views over the estuary and hills beyond.

Head down the hill towards the car park, swing right over a cattle grid and then through a small gate and continue downhill until you come out onto the narrow Knott road.

Continue down hill for no more than 5 minutes, on the road. On the right will be a gate into Dobshall Wood, with a bench immediately inside the gate.

Turn left down the hill. You can take a detour to look round the woodland.

Come out of the meadow on to a path and head right between the meadow and houses to your left.

Robins here are particularly friendly.

At the end of the path continue right along the road to a T Junction.

Turn left and you will see a footpath between houses on the left. This quickly leads into Ashmeadow woods, which will return you to the estuary shore.

For more information on Arnside and the estuary, click here, and search my site.

Like me and tweet me.

OS map

Bleaberry Fell

reasons — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:50:43 +0000

Sometimes there has to be a ‘plan B’ but thankfully, it does not always need to be used. With the possibility of low cloud, I had a couple of routes planned from Armboth car park on the west side of Thirlmere.

We set off westwards up the side of Cockrigg Crags on the footpath to Watendlath. It is pretty steep way up from the shore to above 400m. Thirlmere was quickly left behind as we walked up the unusual scattering of large boulders which had detached themselves from the Crags.

Therlmere

An indication, which we did not pick up, of what was to come, was the heavy spate in the stream by the side of us and a second stream under our feet. Appreciative as we were of ‘fixed fell’ foot path, it resembled a shallow waterfall much of the way up the gill.

Armboth Fell andHelvellyn Range

As the cloud was considerately remaining aloft, we carried on up above the tree line, ‘plan B’ was to turn right and keep low. The inclination became more gradual as we made our way onto open fell and we became very aware of what a perfect location for a reservoir Thirlmere is. The fells between it and Derwent are a perfect watershed. A sphagnum sponge. At times we were walking through, rather than on, a soggy, green sago soup. Hi technology may make for waterproof boots but after being over the tops a few times, no I wasn’t wearing gaiters, I had to rely on the wetsuit effect to keep my feet warm.

High Tove

High Tove was our first achievement and gave us a bit of dry space to perch on to while we drank coffee and ate the inevitable flapjacks. A detour is worth taking a little way further towards Watendlath just to take a look over Rosthwaite and Sergeant’s Crag. Back on intended track we squelched our way towards High Seat. For once a few moor contour lines would have been very welcome. Looking now at the map, the area is called the Pewits, more a case of ‘phew, we’re over it’.

High Seat has a trig point rather than just a pile of stones and the grey line remained just high enough for us to see south westish to Borrowdale and north over Derwent, Keswick and Bassenthwaite. High Seat is an optional point for dropping back to Thirlmere, but as we could see it, and it really didn’t look that far, we thought we may as well ‘bag another Wainwright’ and continued to Bleaberry Fell. We made it just before the cloud. It was tempting to sit in the shelter and simply enjoy the lakes and the sight of Skidaw and Blencathra, but the cloud was probably about to hide them and common sense, for once, prevailed and we retraced our steps towards High Seat and then dropped down over the open fell, just managing to keep below the cloud.

Derwent and Bassenthwaite from Beaberry Tarn

Don’t expect to find a path to follow. There isn’t one. The reason for retracing back to High Seat is to avoid having to negotiate, Goat, Iron or Castle Crag. South of them the descent is a little more forgiving and we did eventually end on a vehicle track which led us to the edge of the fell and forestry plantation. It wasn’t that much drier down here and so we had a quick stop for lunch at a very uninspiring picnic point before heading north again.

Blencathra

For once a forestry trail was good to follow. We had had sufficient unspoilt fell for one day and were content to keep our feet out of the water and find our way down under Castle Crag. There is the option of quickly going up the ‘ancient monument of Castle Crag’ Raven Crag and/or The Benn, to enjoy a view over and along Thirlmere. Unfortunately Anne had an unfortunate slip and consequential dip in a rather acrid bog, exacerbated by forestry work. I can only admire her tenacity as wet and somewhat aromatic she made it up Benn, picked as we had read it afforded the best view. But one was enough. We were both quite happy to head down through the woodland directly down the hill and follow that tarmac ribbon back to the car.

Thirlmere from Benn

Route ideas from Cicerone North Lakeland walks, with a contribution from Go4walk C318. The map OL4.

Arnside Nature Walk

reasons — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:18:16 +0000

Quick walk around Arnisde. This Robin struck a perfect pose for me.

The Limestone Fringe

reasons — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:16:05 +0000

Away from Lakeland’s central, more well known peaks, away from Birketts and Wainwrights lie the softer folds of limestone. The escarpments of Farleton Knot, Arnside Knot and the three Scars, Cunswick, Whitbarrow and Scout are not so challenging as many more documented hills, but are often empty of other walkers and can still provide that ‘on top of the world’ sensation. All are on my ‘favourite walks’ list.

For a quick, steep ascent of Whitbarrow, take the ‘scar’ sides of Witherslack and Cartmel. A good heart work out. Escarpments though, have two sides, and as sharply as the drop over one side, on the other contour lines spread in well spaced folds.

Lyth Valley was left by the glacier which carved a way between Whitbarrow and Brigsteer. The River Gilpin flows down and joins the Kent before it wanders on to Milnthope Sands and here is the start for the slow stroll up to Whitbarrow. Opposite the Lyth Valley Hotel, SD452 896, is a convenient layby with an inviting footpath leading away from the road. The soft, evening sunshine highlighting the long awaited green of a very late spring.

Garlic boarded the footpaths where primroses, cowslips and wild strawberry flowers had pushed through to join the budding ash and larch.

Out of the woodland and through the larch plantation the sharp edge of Scout Scar stretches across the valley to the east.

Gain height and the characteristic limestone breaks through in an ad hoc white sculpture, while Kentmere loiters in the background.

This route circuits the northern end of Whitbarrow and the brilliant evening silhouetted the Langdale range so well I almost expected someone to etch on their names.

The northern edge of our circuit brings in the little community of Crosthwaite, still dominated by the church and highlighting a recent walk from Crook over Lords Lot one blustery day.

We had a bit of a battle with some gorse bushes due to too much talk and insufficient navigation. Of course the best way to end an evening walk has to be food and drink. Try the Hare and Hounds at Levens.

Map OL7

Bank Holiday Monday

reasons — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:19:44 +0000

What a lovely day. The sun shone, yes, even here, in Cumbria, where I often think my blogs are nothing but a belated weather report. I became a tourist for an afternoon and, with mum and dad, went on the National Trust steam yacht gondola on Coniston.

For once I was looking up at the hills from the water, not down on the water from a hill. On my last walk up Loughrigg I was delighted to name most of the hills I could see and it was good today to name the Coniston Range. Especially so as it brought back memories for mum from when she used to hike up the hills with my brother and I.

Brown Pike from Dow, just creeping out from behind the Old Man. Brim Fell, down to Swirl, with the foreground of Yewdale all but hiding the crags leading to Wetherlam.

The boat is rather special. Beautifully restored and chugs along with the noise of a steam train rather than the chop of diesel. Everything, inside and out, is polished to within an inch of its life.

The engine provides and wonderful outdoor central heating system, with seats round it wonderful to warm your back on, especially, when, like my dad, you are 87.

Looking south

So much better to enjoy the hills and water from outdoors rather than in. I learned a my dad’s last trip on a steam boat had been in the war, travelling from Germany to Denmark. He had slept on the engine to keep warm, but rather than swallows flying overhead, shells rained down. I am glad he lived to tell the tale.

Boat Bow

There was a stop at Brantwood, home of Ruskin. Visit the house and walk back, or pick up the boat again, or even take a longer trip.

There is a charge, even for NT members, and the car park is not NT either, so prepare to pay there.

The Bluebird Cafe is good for light lunches. I can vouch for the Belted Galloway burgers.

More pictures of the boat and day here.

Escape the Crowds

reasons — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:04:00 +0000

A day out with out seeing any other walkers on the hills was quite remarkable and very surprising. Though when I listened to the traffic reports of the M6 car park on my return home, I guess that is where everyone was. I was walking with family due to return to Australia the next day, and not used to walking our hills. This coupled with the uncertain weather situation, made me plan a walk with a low and a high option. Route to be decided by the height of the clouds and the state of antipodean legs.

So, the walk. We set off from the National Trust Car Park at Tarn Hows, partially to take advantage of my NT free parking, but also convenient ‘conveniences’. Always a useful feature for the start of any walk. Go back up the road a short way, to the disabled car park, and opposite is a kissing gate. There is a straight line from here to Coniston Lake. Take it. Mainly through woodland, which still had a distinctly wintery feel.

The potting shed Monk Coniston

Emerging from the woodland, cross the road to Coniston and it is worth taking a detour into the old gardens of Monk Coniston. A walled garden undergoing loving restoration from the National Trust. No entry fee. After a meander through the veg beds and a peep in the potting sheds, continue down to Coniston Lake and, well, just enjoy.

Looking south over Coniston

Tear yourself away from the lake shore and follow the road to Coniston. There is a footpath so no need to take your life in your hands. Just at the start of the village is a fork in the road with a handily placed bench for decision making. The shortest, quickest way back to Tarn Hows from here, is to follow the Cumbria way.

Alternative two is to follow the bridleway along the west side of the A593, but, at this stage, the antipodean legs were holding out quite well. They had only walked down hill and on the flat, so perhaps I wasn’t being quite fair, asking for a decision based on information so far. Anyway, I pointed out the Yewdale Fells on the map and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm for taking the ‘high road’.

We followed signs to the Youth Hostel, the one pointing across the road, there are two. The start of the bridleway is well marked. The footpath not quite so, but you should spot the green track going straight up the hill side. There is some respite from the steepness at times. My visitors found the industrial heritage of copper and slate mines interesting. In places the ground has collapsed in to old mine workings and slate extraction still litters the landscape.

On top of the fell the path was not always easy to follow, especially as I decided a detour to Yewdale Crag would be a good idea. It was, as far as the vista over Coniston was concerned, but not as far as boggy terrain and dry feet went. But, as I explained, this was all part of the Cumbria experience. Once we had found the trail again on the Tilberthwaite end, there was an easy walk down to Shepherds Bridge and High Yewdale.

Windermere in the distance

Depending on your sense of adventure, avoid the main road with a short detour to Glen Mary Bridge, where you follow the road a short way to another National Trust car park. Again an option of a high road and water fall view, or a more easy stroll up the track back to Tarn Hows.

Coniston View from Yewdale Crag

I did throw in the suggestion that we might walk around the tarn, but was out voted by the antipodean tradition – beer O’clock!

Ideas for this walk came from Cicerone South Lakeland, walks 15 and 18 and you will need OL 7 map.

Low Level Cumbria

reasons — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:13:59 +0000

Cumbria is far more versatile for walking than most people imagine, and yet again I found myself over on the east side of the Lakes, in the Eden Valley, just before the landscape rises up again to the Pennines. The clouds were hanging low in the sky and driving over Shap from the south, windscreen wipers were on full, wind was pulling us about and the temperature pinged down to 4°. On the 28th April! But at least, my friend assured me, there were absolutely no ridges to fall off on this walk.

In fact it must be one of the flattest 9 miles in Cumbria. But it is ‘off the beaten track’ and so quiet that even though we walked on quite a few small roads, once out of Melmerby, the only moving vehicles we met were tractors, not all of them were full sized.

Parked neatly outside a farm door. Some one is clearly going to follow in dad’s footsteps, or should it be wheel tracks? We met only one other walker and that was a resident walking their dog.

The square, red buildings have the neatness of Lego and even the farms were devoid of the usual detritus of dying machinery. Neat straight walls and lanes have a likeness to the Dales, except the walls are more red than grey.

Addingham Church was as neat and square, and the porch was a good place to remove by now unnecessary waterproofs. Apparently it is a re-build as a previous church which was washed away by the Eden in flood in 1350.

Just over half way between Glassonby and Little Salkeld is the ancient stone circle, Long Meg and Her Daughters. The circle is supposedly endowed with magic, so that it is impossible to count the same number of stones twice, but if you do then the magic is broken. We didn’t try.

Pass Little Salkeld and Little Gill, provides a perfect picnic stop by a small stream, even better when the sun came out and blue sky appeared.

From here the route loops through Hunsonby back to Broadmeadows Farm (those tractors), and from there retraces back to Melmerby. Melmerby Bakery does good food and coffee and a great stock of organic bread flour. With a little bit of an extension this walk could be made into a railway walk starting from the Settle to Carlisle Railway at Lazonby.

Finally, just had to put in this picture of fun..

Our route;

Maps

Lingmoor Fell

reasons — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:17:53 +0000

“An awful lot of view for very little effort.” Quote of the day from a group of fellow walkers, whom I shared a lunch spot with, when I hiked up Lingmoor Fell yesterday. They were absolutely right! It is not the highest of peaks, but dividing the Langdale Valley into Great Langdale and Little Langdale, the surrounding panorama encompasses the distinctive crags of Wetherlam, Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes, to name but a few. If your luck is in and the sky is clear then turn around and Windermere Lake precedes a direct line to the coast. All of this and you have only reached 466m. In some countries it wouldn’t even be given a name.

So, the way up. There are paths and tracks on the map from Side Pike, West, North from Elterwater or as we went, from the south east and Little Langdale. My circular route,

began from the Wrynose Pass road, just beyond Fell Foot farm.

Fell Foot Farm

Then follows the River Brathay to the delightful Slater Bridge, passed High Birk Howe and on to Dale End, before leaving civilisation behind and wandering up the fell from east to west.

Slater Bridge

Busk Pike

View, what view?

West towards Pike of Blisco and Crinkles

Langdales and Pavey Ark

Great Langdale and beyond

To complete the route back to Fell Foot there is the choice of dropping down to Blea Tarn just before Side Pike, or attempting a tight squeeze to skirt the top.

Side Pike

Having watched several people go and take a closer look, before deciding to return to the more mundane route, I did exactly the same. Had a look, and retreated. Rosie would have made it through, but though I am not exactly large, the logistics of hauling through a back pack with one hand on a dog lead. A game of high wire ‘Twister’ sprung to mind.

Blea Tarn from Side Pike

After retiring gracefully it was a pleasant easy stroll back to my car parked between Castle Howe and Fell Foot, pleased that I had eventually walked up a hill, I had walked frequently walked around and peered across, and it is another Wainwright!

Blea Tarn to Little Langdale

I read about the route in the Cicerone book on South Lakeland Walks. The book was obviously written a while ago as the paths are much more clear than the description credits and there are gates in walls which previously had gaps. Progress and thousands of footfalls.

This route falls between two maps.

reasonstogonorth.com

Technological Rescue

Related posts:

Ingleborough from Clapham

Related posts:

New Life on Arnside Knott

Related posts:

Bleaberry Fell

Related posts:

Arnside Nature Walk

Related posts:

The Limestone Fringe

Related posts:

Bank Holiday Monday

Related posts:

Escape the Crowds

Related posts:

Low Level Cumbria

Related posts:

Lingmoor Fell

Related posts: