The "not so quiet" Northern Fells
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:49 pm
Having been without Hills for just about a whole month the great forecast for the weekend was just too good to pass up. We decided on Sunday because of the lighter winds and set off nice and early to Lakeland. Heaven knows just how much we will have spent on petrol by the time we complete, best not to think about it.
With temperatures dropping to minus six as we passed Warcop it was a slightly more sedate journey than usual but hugely enjoyable with the Eden valley looking quite magnificent as a frozen wonderland. The temptation to stop and grab photos was resisted (I could have spent the whole day just getting to our destination) and we left the A66 and trundled along the minor road with great care through Mungrisdale and Mosedale to the delightfully named “Apronful of Stones”.
Carrock Fell from an Apronful of Stones. Rake trod can be clearly seen heading diagonally up the fell side
The first sign that the quiet Northern Fells might not live up to their reputation was we weren’t the first car and were quickly joined by a third before we set off. A more worrying sight was the dozens of vans and cars parked further up the road.
On the way up
Thoughts as to just what was going on were quickly banished to the back of the mind as we set off up Rake Trod. This turned out to be an excellent route up Carrock Fell and I’d highly recommended it. On the way there were some amazing icicles formed on Further Gill Sike and plenty of ice on sections of the path but we managed without any real problems.
How did that happen?
Strange ice formations
Further Gill Sike
There was once a hill fort (pre-roman) atop this fell and it’s easy to see why with an extraordinary view over the Vale of Eden all the way to the Scottish border hills. The remains of the fort take the shape of an oval of stones around the summit and it all adds to what is a fantastic top.
Grace and Hughie on Carrock Fell summit
Skiddaw from Carrock Fell
Blencathra from Carrock Pike
Crystal clear views to Cross Fell
The two miles to High Pike are in normal circumstances a boggy, swampy morass but today they were frozen solid and a joy to walk on. We stopped for lunch on Miton Hill taking in great views towards Bowfell and the Scafell range before completing the simple ascent to the very ordinary looking High Pike. This fell might not look like much but the views make up for it with a fantastic panorama taking in the Southern uplands.
Frozen bogs on the way to Miton Hill
View to England’s highest ground
High Pike
View over the Solway Firth from High Pike (click on pic for large version)
Carrock Fell and the Northern Pennines from High Pike (click on pic for large version)
High Pike summit
The less said about our descent via the mine track the better. It turned out the dozens of vans etc were because somebody had seen fit to allow stinking noisy trails bikes onto the hills for some kind of event. In fairness to the riders they all acted sensibly as the passed us but descending a hill with your nostrils filled with petrol fumes isn't my idea of fun. In my opinion whoever allowed this in a national park needs to have a long hard look at themselves.
Overall it couldn’t detract from a great day out however and if it turns out to be our last day of what has been a fantastic years hill walking we can have few complaints.
For more pics from the walk follow the link
With temperatures dropping to minus six as we passed Warcop it was a slightly more sedate journey than usual but hugely enjoyable with the Eden valley looking quite magnificent as a frozen wonderland. The temptation to stop and grab photos was resisted (I could have spent the whole day just getting to our destination) and we left the A66 and trundled along the minor road with great care through Mungrisdale and Mosedale to the delightfully named “Apronful of Stones”.
Carrock Fell from an Apronful of Stones. Rake trod can be clearly seen heading diagonally up the fell side
The first sign that the quiet Northern Fells might not live up to their reputation was we weren’t the first car and were quickly joined by a third before we set off. A more worrying sight was the dozens of vans and cars parked further up the road.
On the way up
Thoughts as to just what was going on were quickly banished to the back of the mind as we set off up Rake Trod. This turned out to be an excellent route up Carrock Fell and I’d highly recommended it. On the way there were some amazing icicles formed on Further Gill Sike and plenty of ice on sections of the path but we managed without any real problems.
How did that happen?
Strange ice formations
Further Gill Sike
There was once a hill fort (pre-roman) atop this fell and it’s easy to see why with an extraordinary view over the Vale of Eden all the way to the Scottish border hills. The remains of the fort take the shape of an oval of stones around the summit and it all adds to what is a fantastic top.
Grace and Hughie on Carrock Fell summit
Skiddaw from Carrock Fell
Blencathra from Carrock Pike
Crystal clear views to Cross Fell
The two miles to High Pike are in normal circumstances a boggy, swampy morass but today they were frozen solid and a joy to walk on. We stopped for lunch on Miton Hill taking in great views towards Bowfell and the Scafell range before completing the simple ascent to the very ordinary looking High Pike. This fell might not look like much but the views make up for it with a fantastic panorama taking in the Southern uplands.
Frozen bogs on the way to Miton Hill
View to England’s highest ground
High Pike
View over the Solway Firth from High Pike (click on pic for large version)
Carrock Fell and the Northern Pennines from High Pike (click on pic for large version)
High Pike summit
The less said about our descent via the mine track the better. It turned out the dozens of vans etc were because somebody had seen fit to allow stinking noisy trails bikes onto the hills for some kind of event. In fairness to the riders they all acted sensibly as the passed us but descending a hill with your nostrils filled with petrol fumes isn't my idea of fun. In my opinion whoever allowed this in a national park needs to have a long hard look at themselves.
Overall it couldn’t detract from a great day out however and if it turns out to be our last day of what has been a fantastic years hill walking we can have few complaints.
For more pics from the walk follow the link