Canoe on Thirlmere.



View to Rough Crag from under The Swirls

Typically the weather improves when it's time to come home. We managed to squeeze in a few hours on Thirlmere. 

North from under The Swirls

We set off from Armboth car park, paddled across to the eastern shore, then south, exploring the shore as we went.

Helvellyn Gill, where it empties into Thirlmere

Whelpside Gill waterfalls

We managed to paddle a short way up Wyth Burn, at the southern end, due to the high water levels. Then up the west shore, stopping at Hawes How Island, and back to the start.


View south from Hawes How Island





Our Last Wainwright Summit - Coniston Old Man.

Our final 3 Wainwrights. Following a weather forecast for heavy showers clearing by lunchtime, we set off just after 11am. The views from the car parking area at the top of Walna Scar Road were good, clear up to about 550m, with streaming clouds over the summits and down the valleys. We set off with several other groups of walkers in front and behind.


Walna Scar Road

A heavy rain and hail shower near the saddle of Walna Scar Road sent us scurrying for our waterproofs. We left the other groups of walkers here, as we turned left to pick up some extra Birkett summits and everyone else turned right, up the motorway towards Dow Crag. The rain eased as we ascended to Walna Scar summit, but cloud covered us and visability was very poor, leaving me thinking that the compass might get an airing! The cloud began to lift gradually and visability improved as we ascended White Maiden and White Pike, giving great views of Coniston Water, but nothing above 700m.

Summit of White Maiden

We ticked off these 3 extra Birketts which we added to the classic Coniston Round and returned to Walna Scar in bright sunshine. We took some extra photo's here, with a view this time! We had lunch on the summit of Brown Pike, in the shelter, out of the wind. We were just under the cloud base and had great views across Coniston Water. As we ascended towards Buck Pike the cloud started to lift and the weather further improve.

Blind Tarn

Near Dow Crag summit

Around Dow Crag, the terrain became rocky and the cliffs precipitous, Jim having a bit of a scramble around. We'll be back this way sometime to do a bit of hands on stuff.


Jim can't resist a look through

We watched a couple with a dog scrambling up and it looked good fun. 


Dow Crag summit

Hal and Rafe had a good jump about on the boulders at Dow Crag summit, the first Wainwright of the day.


Hal and Rafe on the summit of Dow Crag

As we descended towards Goat Hawse, we met a couple, who we had last seen on Haycock a month ago. They are very close to completing the Wainwrights, and it seems like they have been chasing the same summits. We ascended Brim Fell across the hillside, avoiding the paths and were rewarded with extra views over Seathwaite Tarn and good views of Weatherlam and Prison Band.
 

Jim and the dogs move on from Brim Fell summit with view to Dow Crag

 It is an easy ascent of Old Man from here, with glorious views all around in excellent visability and bright sunshine.

Coniston Old Man trig point with views to Windermere



Views to Scafell and Scafell Pike over Brim Fell from Coniston Old Man

 On the summit, our final Wainwright we met a family with a 4 year old who had walked all the way to the summit. 

Low Water and Weatherlam from Coniston Old Man summit cairn

 It felt quite strange to be a COMPLEATER!


Jim and the dogs descend to Low Water

 On the descent we stopped for a second lunch and paddle at Low Water.

Hal and Rafe do their washing in Low Water

We explored the workings in Coppermines Valley......

...before ambling to the finish - an excellent day.

The Bell, with Wetherlam beyond

Route - Car park at the top of Walna Scar Road (SD288971), Walna Scar Road to Walna Scar, Walna Scar Summit (Birkett 207, Wainwright Outlying Fell, 621m), White Maiden (Birkett 220, 608m), White Pike (Birkett 227, 598m), return to Walna Scar summit, Walna Scar Road saddle, Brown Pike (Birkett 156, 682m), Buck Pike (Birkett 101, 744m), Dow Crag (Wainwright 47, 778m), Goat Hawse, Wray Crags, Brim Fell Rake, Brim Fell (Wainwright 36, 796m) The Old Man of Coniston (Wainwright 32, 803m) Low Water, Coppermines Valley, return to start.

Statistics: Distance: 13.4km  Ascent: 910m  Time: 5:45 hours

Crosby Beach.

During a visit to my Uncle Keith, we had a little trot along Crosby beach, famous for Antony Gormley's Another Place - 100 cast iron life size figures.

Uncle Keith is famous for walking and talking !!

High Cup Nick, North Pennines.



High Cup Gill - looking south west

We went into the North Pennines due to a very bad (and ultimately correct) forecast for the Lakes, where we were staying. Walked from the car park in the pleasant village of Dufton along a bit of the Pennine Way (and stopped to watch a sheep cleaning off her new born lambs) local paths and an unclassified road to the entrance to High Cup Gilll. Had lunch behind a rock under Middletongue Crag, out of the wind.

Whin Sill

The Cup became more impressive the further up the valley we walked. A perfect U shaped valley, on a massive scale, topped by the dolerite cliffs and crags of Whin Sill. As we boulder hopped up at the head of the valley, we could hear the wind whistling through the crags.

From High Cup Nick

Amazing views from the top of the Nick, including the bad weather over the Lake District! We had often heard how photographs don't do justice to the expanse of the valley - and how right that is!

Nichol Chair

We chatted to a couple of chaps who were Supervising a group of Bronze DoE'ers who were walking over from Teesdale. They had been waiting a while and looked nithered. 

High Cup from Narrow Gate Path

When the group arrived we moved on and started our descent, via the Pennine Way, with good views all the way, of High Cup Nick and Gill, Pennines and Eden Valley etc. We had a second lunch in old quarry workings under Dod Hill, which were full of sheep and lambs sheltering from the wind.

New life

On the final part of our descent we checked up on our new mum and her lambs, all seemed to be doing well.

 

In Dufton

We had coffee and a cake outside the "Tea on the Way" cafe in Dufton - excellent value, somewhere to sit outside with the dogs (mostly out of the rain, that had just started, under a parasol) and gorgeous carrot cake muffin!

Route - Dufton village car park (690250), walk through village to 694248, E onto Pennine Way, at spot height 259m, turn S on fp to Keisley House, fp SW to road, E and S to Keisley Bridge, fp SE to Harbour Flatt, fp NE to Middletonge Crag and High Cup Gill, High Cup Nick, Narrow Gate path. Pennine Way to Dufton and return to start.

Statistics: Distance: 15.2km  Ascent: 580m  Time: 4:30 hours