Fountains Fell, Darnbrook Fell

[steve]

Fountains Fell and Darnbrook Fell can be included in a longer walk (24k) taking in the summits of Pen y Ghent and Plover Fell but on a day of low cloud and deep snow on the tops I opted for a shorter route. Starting at Dale head were the narrow road has wide, but none too fim, verges I followed the Pennine Way along the road passing Rainscar to Blishmire Close where the PW leaves the road to head SE up the hill. The ascent is mild to start with and when the angle steepens the path leaves the wall and head E in a long zig to an area of old mind workings and the National trust boundary. A number of not particulaly helpful cairns and under the snow I'm sure the usual banana skins and poached up ground mark a good place to stop on the Pennine Way, had the cloud lifted I would have admired the view across to Pen y Ghent. The snow helpfully bridged the walls and gates as I followed the boundary to the top of Darnbrook Fell, a trig point just over the wall. returnig to the point where a fence runs up from the area of woods to the E I headed off on a bearing crossing some rough snow covered ground, crossing the PW to arrive at Fountains Fell Tarn. the flat snow covered tarn merged with the cloud giving a ghoustly dimentionless aspect to the scene. From the E end of the Tarn another bearing was required to reach Fountains Fell South Top, caught by the wall that crosses it. This wall was then followed to a t-junction, where the corner can be cut to the right following this boundary across the higher top and back to the Pennine Way. The outward route was then followed back to my car. Some amusement followed extricating it from the, none too firm, verge! A short day but well worth it for the walk across the snow covered moor and the strange world of the frozen tarn.

[mountain coward]

I keep looking at Fountain Fell from Penyghent... just haven't got round to doing it yet!