Quickie up Holme Fell, the hard way

[Jaxter]

Previous day - Evening on Helm Crag & friends

Cycle 12.47km, 262m ascent & 1 hour 15 mins

Another beautiful day where I was working, but was able to get out afterwards. Malky was off doing a big walk taking in most of the Lake District - I reckoned I might manage a small local one on the bike. I cycled out through Elterwater (more hilly than anticipated) along the road towards the big hill (bigger & steeper than expected) and found the track towards Hodge Close (tarmac, but steep). Unfortunately the tarmac ran out at High Oxen Fell and the next section was pretty rough.

I reached my turn-off just before Hodge Close and decided I could cycle a little further up - a couple watched me with surprise I left the bike just next to a giant hole in the ground


A decent path led steeply up


There were people swimming in the disused reservoirs as it was a really hot day


It was a really stunning spot


Looking back, the views towards the Langdale Pikes were already fabulous (and I needed an excuse to stop for a break!)


Above the wee lochans there was a maze of paths all leading in vaguely the right direction. There were some squishy sections as I climbed higher and worked my way around the bracken


As I approached the top of the steepest section I met another walker - he said that the best views were from the left hand ridge, not the summit. I went to summit first - the views towards Coniston Water were already awesome


The Pikes


Jaxtering on the summit of Holme Fell


Wetherlam


Langdale Pikes and wee lochans


Zoomed


Seat Sandal & Fairfield


I dropped off the summit and headed for the other ridge - despite being a wee hill, it was satisfyingly rocky!


The other summit had excellent views also, and I stopped for a short break - it was hot and I was shattered!




Time to go - I headed back down towards the wee lochans


Happy to be on a hill, even a wee one!


Wee lochan - the swimmers had all disappeared


Back at the bike it was time to cycle home - I couldn't face the track I'd come in on (too rough and steep) so took the track from Hodge Close out towards Little Langdale. It was steep in places but the ground was easier to cycle on.


I arrived back a sweaty mess but not feeling too awful, which was definitely a step in right direction

[url-https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100323]Next day - Black Fell & another hellish cycle[/url]

[Pointless Parasite]

Holme Fell is great, although you seem to have climbed it the easy way. There's a really nice grade 2 scramble up the South West corner, which is relatively safe and unexposed. The grade probably reflects the difficulty in route finding at some points. There's a huge cave somewhere round here with a scramble leading out to the surface. I was never able to find it, but I'm wondering if it's the same place where you left your bike.

[past my sell by date]

One drunken night nearly sixty years ago I drove my moggy traveller along that track from Little Langdale over the ford to Hodge Close . It wasn't a good idea but we survived . The quarries are impressive, but NB In the Lake District they are "Tarns" not lochans - and not lakes either. There is just one lake in the Lake District (Same as in Scotland)

[Jaxter]

:clap: Holme Fell is great, although you seem to have climbed it the easy way. There's a really nice grade 2 scramble up the South West corner, which is relatively safe and unexposed. The grade probably reflects the difficulty in route finding at some points. There's a huge cave somewhere round here with a scramble leading out to the surface. I was never able to find it, but I'm wondering if it's the same place where you left your bike.

I suppose the "hard way" bit was more referring to the cycle rather than the walk, but after reading your comment I feel I ought to edit it - as you say, even for me and my useless post-covid fitness it was a very easy walk I loved how the the top of the hill felt - like a "real" mountain with all the rocks - perhaps I can return and try to find the scramble you mentioned - the cave bit sounds very cool