Beware the killer frog of Illgill Head
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:41 pmTo say the weather was poor on Monday and Tuesday was an understatement. Near constant rain, summit gales up to 70mph and a cloud base of approximately zero meters saw no attempts on the tops.
On Tuesday night the wind dropped, the rain cleared and the cloud lifted and on Wednesday morning the sun came out so we set off on a squelch up the fells above the Wastwater screes. After negotiating a field of cows, always a nervous moment with a dog, we made our way through the sweltering breathless forestry land on a very gradual ascent up to the ridge.
Once we got to the open fell side it was obvious this wasn’t a day for dry feet as the two days of torrential rain had made things very boggy. Fortunately my temporary repair to my useless right boot just about held up.
It was fantastic to see sunshine on a Lakeland hillside after the last couple of days as the views opened up. Yewbarrow came into view looking very fine indeed and making a mockery of its comparative lack of height. We passed the impressive Greathall Gill and completed the steady pull up to our first top of the day, Whin Rigg. As we sat having lunch the cloud threatened briefly but fortunately lifted back up.
We stuck to the cliff edge path for the simple walk to Illgill Head. This is highly recommended as the views from the top of the crags down the screes are awesome.
During the final pull up to the high point of the ridge a blood curdling scream rang out. Me and Nicola turned in a panic to see Grace running around in a big flap. Turned out she had disturbed a terrifying Rana temporaria or to you and me a common frog.
Following calming Grace down from her encounter with the terrifying creature and a good giggle we visited the several tops of Illgill head, keeping an eye out for anymore frogs, to make sure we got the highest point.
In an ideal world we would have followed the path down before returning through Miterdale but given how wet parts of the outward route were we decided it was prudent to return the way we came.
These fells provide a fairly gentle and at times spectacular walk. It was great to have some decent weather as well. But remember if you attempt these fells yourself, beware the vicious wildlife.
On Tuesday night the wind dropped, the rain cleared and the cloud lifted and on Wednesday morning the sun came out so we set off on a squelch up the fells above the Wastwater screes. After negotiating a field of cows, always a nervous moment with a dog, we made our way through the sweltering breathless forestry land on a very gradual ascent up to the ridge.
Once we got to the open fell side it was obvious this wasn’t a day for dry feet as the two days of torrential rain had made things very boggy. Fortunately my temporary repair to my useless right boot just about held up.
It was fantastic to see sunshine on a Lakeland hillside after the last couple of days as the views opened up. Yewbarrow came into view looking very fine indeed and making a mockery of its comparative lack of height. We passed the impressive Greathall Gill and completed the steady pull up to our first top of the day, Whin Rigg. As we sat having lunch the cloud threatened briefly but fortunately lifted back up.
- Sun on a Lakeland fell side!
- Greathall Gill
- Cloud briefly threatening
- Hughie and Grace on Whin Rigg
We stuck to the cliff edge path for the simple walk to Illgill Head. This is highly recommended as the views from the top of the crags down the screes are awesome.
During the final pull up to the high point of the ridge a blood curdling scream rang out. Me and Nicola turned in a panic to see Grace running around in a big flap. Turned out she had disturbed a terrifying Rana temporaria or to you and me a common frog.
- Wasdale Hall far below
- View up Wastwater
- Looking down on Wastwater
- Looking towards Yewbarrow
- Eeek! 400 meters of air
Following calming Grace down from her encounter with the terrifying creature and a good giggle we visited the several tops of Illgill head, keeping an eye out for anymore frogs, to make sure we got the highest point.
- Kirk Fell and Great Gable
- Pillar
- Wasdale panorama from Illgill Head
- Harter Fell
In an ideal world we would have followed the path down before returning through Miterdale but given how wet parts of the outward route were we decided it was prudent to return the way we came.
- Tarn between the tops
- A soggy boggy doggy
These fells provide a fairly gentle and at times spectacular walk. It was great to have some decent weather as well. But remember if you attempt these fells yourself, beware the vicious wildlife.
Great to see you getting a little more good weather