FAR EASTERN FELLS - LAKE DISTRICT
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:45 pm
Happy Easter to you all, back from a windy, wet and snowy Lakes On Sunday we travelled from Ambleside to Hartsop where we parked in the car park at the back of the village, we also noticed a new addition, a sandwich van parked up We set off up the valley at a very early time of 7:45am (don't forget the lost hour !) and we soon realised that the wind was getting very blowy even at this low level. We crossed Hayeswater Gill and skirted the foot of Grey Crag.
We could see our first target of The Knott The path meandered round to the outflow of Hayeswater where we crossed the footbridge to start the steep ascent of The Knott. As we climbed and reached the skyline below the summit we could see into Martindale over some distant grazing deer. The views west to the high fells were getting better with some sunshine, for us the wind was getting very persistent We skirted around the Knott and ascended from the east to some great views along the Straights of Riggindale to High Street Once on the summit of the Knott we had great panoramic views but this photo shows Rest Dodd, Plce Fell, The Nab, Hallin Fell, Steel Knotts, Arthur's Pike etc. We now descended back to the path before setting off up to Rampsgill Head with some great views down the Martindale Valley and Ullswater, just visible the red roof of the once hunting lodge It was even windier here and this shows me on the summit with High Raise behind me We now headed east to Kidsty Pike It wasn't a bad walk to this summit but we knew as it was so exposed that it was going to be a nightmare to stand on it in such winds, we weren't disappointed There were some great views to the Kentmere circuit and our first sight of Haweswater After a few photos we set off across country to our fourth Wainwright of High Raise (Martindale) which was a very rocky plateau, this fell takes you on to Wetherhill etc if you have the legs. We had a short breather here out of the wind in the summit shelter before setting off downhill and then climbing back over Rampsgill Head. Over the summit and down towards The Knott We then decided to follow the wall down the steep exit from the Knott through the wet area and back up a steep ascent to Rest Dodd Again it was very windy on top and with no path off we made our way across country to meet the path that goes to Satura Crag, the gateway to Brock Crags and Angletarn Pikes, an area we knew and a way off to Hartsop. At the top of our descent we could see Hayeswater to the left As we reached the lower part of the fells we were surprised to see deer so low, they had spotted us though One last word, the buttie van was open and I just fancied a bacon sarnie, Glynn had a coffee, turns out the owner was the local farmers wife branching out and she said she would like to open a village cafe, would do well in this busy little village. A great walk even with the wind and we stayed dry