Monthly Archives: October 2013

Grisedale Tarn

Posted on by under Lake District UK

It was looking like a wet last day and so it turned out towards the return.

Route

However although the big tops were in cloud the walk up the valley was clear. We took the northern path gradually climbing past Ruthwaite Lodge, now a climbing hut and eventually to Grisdale Tarn where we stopped for lunch. Just below us 4 tents were parked near the tarn, they were in for a wet night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grisedale Tarn


We retraced our steps to the climbing hut and then took the southern path back to Patterdale. The forecast rain had now commenced in earnest and we were lucky to have missed most of it.


On our descent the “Navigator” shouted out “bikes” and with that two mountain bikers swooped past. We came across them a little later and they had cycled up to Helvellyn starting at Glenridding and presumably then up Sticks Pass to Raise, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon and down. Mad, mad but clearly enjoying the experience.

 

 

 


That’s the end of our “boys week”.

Llanmynech and Pant

Posted on by under Lake District UK
The “boys week” had come around again and as usual the October week was to be spent in the Lake District. Our base was in Patterdale at Patterdale Hall Estate in a comfortable chalet.

I very nearly had to cancel because of a prolonged and continuing bout of sciatica, but hoped that tablets and less ambition may see me through. Even low level walks in the Lake District are more than worthwhile and I had great faith in the “Navigator” to ensure good walks would be had.

With the car packed we set off north. As is usual on our jaunts we stop en route for a short walk to enable legs to be stretched. This time, to avoid a long time driving we stopped in PANT just outside of the Welsh border where the “Navigator” had been eyeing up the limestone outcrop as worthy of exploration. 

Route

Worthy it was. We walked alongside the Montgomery Canal and then up into an area of long abandoned quarries and onto a fine viewpoint where we had lunch.

 
Neatly carved quarry
Spot the goats
 
Hard graft
Navigator checking the panel was correct

The way back found us on Offas Dyke for a short while. 

 

 

Possibly sulphur tuft
 
 
This area deserves more time than we had as there were numerous paths to explore.

We continued our journey north to our base for the week, spotting various hills we had already ticked off in the past.

Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crag

Posted on by under Lake District UK
Today was forecast to be the best of the week and dosed up on pain killers we headed off to park in Mungrisdale.

Route
 
The walk along the road to spot height 235 was continually interrupted by numerous cars and 4×4,s containing lots of people wearing flat caps. When a trailer passed by carrying hounds we assumed that a hunt was to take place – hopefully legal.

From spot height 235 we struck uphill on a steep track to Raven Crags and onto Bowscale Fell. We looked over to Bowscale Tarn which Wainwright told us was a fine example of a glacial lake.

 
Meditation time
Rainbow
Bowscale summit
A glacial lake
Lunch was taken at the northern end of Bannerdale Crags before we skirted around to the cairn marking the top. Fine views of Blencathra opened up and the steep ascent of Sharp Edge – another time.
 
Lunch break
Living on the edge
Blencthra
 We went off piste and wandered downhill across White Horse Bent and followed the Glendermackin river back to Mungrisdale.


River art


Derwent Water and Walla Crag

Posted on by under Lake District UK
The ” Navigator” had expressed a wish to visit Keswick during the week to visit a travel agent who specializes in the Azores as he is planning a holiday there in 2014.

As the weather on Monday was looking damp in the morning, Keswick seemed a good idea with the possibility of a walk after seeing the travel agent.

Route

With the promise of an itinerary being sent and the taste of an Azorian cake inside us and the weather looking better we set off for a walk along the shore of Derwent Water and then up to Ashness Bridge. Amazingly I was able to take a photo of this well known landmark with no one else around.

 
Landing stage Derwent Water
Catbells across the lake
Ashness Bridge
 

From here we headed upwards along a path leading to Walla Crag and back down through Keswick without being tempted into any gear shops!

 
Open canoes on Derwent

 

Derwent Water and Keswick
 

Dovedale

Posted on by under Lake District UK
We parked the car at Brothers Water with the plan to walk up Dovedale.
Route

At Hartsop Hall Farm a typical Lake District view appeared with old buildings and sheep gathered in the yard. As I extracted my camera the sheep started to disappear into another yard and I was just lucky to catch about half of them – don’t work with children and animals!

Just after the farm there are two paths one being the public path and another not signed which climbs steadily onto the open access land and much higher up joins the public path.  We took the climbing path which is to be recommended. As you progress up into the valley it turns right leading into the head of the valley where all is quiet.

 

 

Our return followed our outward journey but then we joined the public path passing a superb waterfall where we had lunch.

 

 

 

On passing the the farm again we watched a fairly botched attempt of dog and man attempting to load sheep into a trailer. The walk back to the car saw full waterproofs donned.

BOYS WEEK IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

Posted on by under Lake District UK

The “Navigator” and I spent a week in the Lake District from 12th to 19th October based in Patterdale. Our base was a comfortable chalet at Patterdale Hall Estate.

Home for the week

 

 

Ullswater from near the chalet

Overall the weather saw little use of our waterproofs although there was little sun with cloud frequently hiding the mountain tops.

Cloudy Tops

However with sciatica problems, ticking off the tops was not on the agenda and even low level walks in the lakes are not to be missed.

Hopefully the lack of words will be made up by the photos. Read on.

Around Sheffield Pike

Posted on by under Uncategorized
Our first full day in The Lakes and the kindly ” Navigator” was clearly concerned about my sciatica and proposed a walk which would not be too arduous. We would walk from base, visit Glenridding, onto Seldom Seen and back via Lanty Tarn.

Route

Place Fell

Boats at Ullswater

Ullswater from higher up

Seldom Seen
As it was going well a decision was made to basically walk around Sheffield Pike and home via Lanty Tarn.

Ullswater

We had lunch by the quarries at the back of the hill and then headed down Glenridding where we watched a group having fun canyoning in the river. 


Lunch time

Looking down to Glenridding

Looking down to Youth Hostel and our route above the wood

We then found a nice contouring path which eventually led us to Lanty Tarn and the back of Patterdale Estate. Ignoring an arrow we “meandered” back to base.

Looking back to the disused mines

Does it keep going?

Lanty Tarn in need of water

A Stag Do

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No, this was not a day of debauchery but a walk through Martindale with the hope of seeing and hearing the stags.

Route

We caught the boat from Glenridding and travelled to Howtown.


Cloudy tops


 From here we walked into the village and onto the path under Steel End and joined the minor road by the Parish Church, St Peters, leading to Martindale. At the next church we read about the deeds in the area.

Coffee Break


By the time we reached Dale Farm we had seen a stag up on the hills towards Beds Fell and from there on we could hear them becoming increasingly louder as we neared the end of the valley. With strained eyes we saw more of them.


High St in the distance

 Our route now took an increasingly steep and narrow path to Heck Crag and then to Angle Yarn.



Our route followed the wall to the pass

Looking back into Martindale

Angle Tarn
From here we headed downhill following the public footpath to Boredale Hause, Side Farm back to Patterdale




Pembroke and Pembroke Dock

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The Sunday evening chat with the “Navigator” resulted in a walk in and around Pembroke and Pembroke Dock.

Route

We parked adjacent to the Princes Trust Adventure Centre almost under the Cleddau Bridge.  The parking is free and for those with boats a number of free slipways into the Mildford Haven Waterway.  The centre also has a cafe and toilets.

Our route took us south heading towards Pembroke. Unfortunately as we were putting the world to rights we (him) overlooked a turning but we’ll gloss over that.  We spent a little time trying to recover this error but all we did was explore a council estate.

Would this be true?
An executive decision was made and a more direct route was taken and we were soon at the battlements of Pembroke Castle.

Pembroke Castle
.

Fungi possibly sulphur tuft
Sorting the fat from the thin
Billy Goats Gruff
A coffee break was had before continuing our walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast path towards Pennar where we interrupted someone’s game of golf and then onto the beach.
We were joined here by a huge bumble bee who took a fancy to the “Navigators” blue rucksack.

Where’s the pollen?

Following lunch we walked along the stony beach, passing the first of a number of Martello Towers, into the area of Victorian dockyards and a number of interpretive panels depicting the history of the area.

Martello
The dockyards
Somebody should!

We had our afternoon break on a promenade and watched the Irish Ferry head off for Ireland before heading back to the car.

Next Saturday we are off for a week of walking based in Patterdale and I am hoping my sciatica problem eases or I might just become the “Navigators” shuttle bunny!

Cwm yr Eglwys

Posted on by under Pembrokeshire Coast

With the navigator and myself back from our respective holidays it was time for the usual Monday outing.

I returned from my holiday with sciatica and the Navigator with a less than perfect back – old age doesn’t come alone!

However we manned up and decided on a walk in Pembrokeshire, partly coast and partly inland with the base at Cwm yr Eglwys.

Route

We were soon in shirtsleeves and heading around Dinas Island with lunch on Aber Bach beach.

Large Fungi

 

 

We met up here with a husband and wife from Australia who had already walked across England, walked the coast in Cornwall and were now on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and they were of the grey brigade and so there is hope for us all.

Always found just after a stop!

Because of our aches and pains  we decided against going inland to Mynydd Dinas but stayed low wending our way on road and bridle ways back to Cwm yr Eglwys.

 

 

Cwm yr Eglwys

 

Arty shot through the remains of the church

We have one more Monday before our trip to Patterdale and hopefully fit and able.