free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
[urlhttps://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100179&p=431753#p431753]Previous day - Holme Fell, a hidden gem[/url]
Cycle 15.17km, 303m ascent & 1 hour 30 minutes
Another wee bike-hike after another day's work. It was slightly less hot than the day before, but I was also not feeling so good. We thought we'd give it a go anyway. We took the same route out through Elterwater as I had the day before (still steep but I couldn't say it was a surprise any more
)
At the top of the big hill we took the track in the opposite direction to the day before, initially towards Tarn Hows. It was delightful (uphill) tarmac to start with but soon turned to rubble and rocky slabs - curse these all-access tracks!! The views were good though!
The track (one of the better sections)
The track split after a while - we took the left hand fork which went steeply uphill and turned to a mixture of gravel and rubble that was largely impossible to cycle on
We were gaining height quickly, but not easily!
We were overtaken by mountainbikers, who seemed reluctant to trade their bikes for ours
At long last we had reached the turn-off. I was exhausted and wasn't sure if I'd manage the hill or the cycle home! However, Malky locked up the bikes and tempted me along the path on foot
We passed through a gate before picking up a smaller path onto the fell - we could see the summit ahead
Black Fell with the bigger fells behind
Looking back - Tarn Hows and Coniston Water in the distance
The summit finally reached, we were able to see down to Windermere
Esthswaite
As we climbed higher we could see down the glen to Lingmoor Fell with the Pikes and Crinkle Crags behind
Jaxtering on Black Fell
It was worth a short diversion beyond the summit to get the best views of the Helvellyn range
Trig point
From here we retraced our steps back to the bikes before continuing along the track back to the road (rough but not as bad as the previous section!) From there it was a short cycle back to Langdale where we made it back before dark
Next day - a really stupid cycle & a marilyn