Three Southern Fells

The three little hills of Harter Fell, Green Crag and Hardknott may not have the drama of Helvellyn and Striding Edge but they proved almost as rewarding.

Harter Fell I had tramped before, but it was disgustingly wet and so foggy we never made the top but this time the views were captivating from the moment we stepped out of the car.

White trails only slightly disturbed the blue as  we left the car park, dressed in summer shorts dragged unexpectedly out of cupboards.

 

The forest in the area is slowly being restored to deciduous native broadleaved  so  the change in seasons introduced a richness of colour before  the open fell.

Grey Friar rose  behind us

Before long  Dow straggled above, Seathwaite Tarn lodged in the folds.

So, it may not be a ridge walk or a scramble but there was a lot of fun .

 

Convenient rocks  dropped and sculpted.

Perfect for posing, and realising our insignificant we are!

Scafell and companions, so often hidden and indistinguishable in mist or heavy grey sky,  transformed into an undulating basket of colour wash.  A far softer appearance hiding winter reality.

Over the the top of Harter, moss green undulated benignly to the coast with our next hill placed neatly in, just beyond an unmistakably wet stretch of Cumbrian bog!

But we made  with out so much as a wet toe

Some of us were so happy there was a dance!

After negotiating the ‘big bog’ once more, forest tracks lead down

to green lanes

and gushing streams

The afternoon was beginning to fade a little for the final hop up Hardknott.  Yes, we cheated and drove up the pass, but you need to get out the car to do the short hike to see the slopes of Slight Side.

So the final top

as the sun dropped down to the sea.

We decided there was maybe a pretty good way to end the day.

Sat underneath the Langdales.

 

Maps

Harter Fell and Green Crag

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Hardknott map