Ups and downs around Loweswater
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:33 pm- Ascending Low Fell, late afternoon.
For the first time in ages (or ever?) I've actually got up to date with all reports! This was leg 34, with 5 now left to do. I'll be going up there tomorrow (the 15th of March) to do Great Gable and friends.
This day, done 2 days ago as I write, was very exciting for me. It contained the Wainwright fell that is my namesake! No clues, except to say it's not 'Hen Combe'. I did not know this group at all, which made it even more exciting, but a bit daunting too. For a start, the journey was pig-awkward. On the return journey, I discovered by accident that it was considerably easier to go via Whinlatter Pass than Honister and Buttermere. You live and learn. As for the 7 fells of the day, they are small ones in the scheme of things but the first 3 extremely inconvenient indeed to join up. It turned out to be very much a day of 2 halves. Walking almost entirely in mist for the first 5 fells, but the last 2 in evening sun with stunning cloud formations drifting across. Mellbreak to Hen Combe entailed a strenuous down-up. Hen Combe to Gavel entailed an awful trudge across lumpy wet moor, all in dismal cloud. Thereafter, it was an easy job of following fences, but the alleged paths still being sodden.
This was the first time I've passed the car during the course of the walk. The first 4 hours brought me round to the car park, then having to tag Low Fell and Fellbarrow on for 2 and half hours at the end. It was easy enough to resist the temptation to get in and drive away, not wanting to have to make that journey again just for those. Modest fells though these were, the day left me with sore knees, the worst I've had so far. I think the busy recent program had taken its toll, as well as the horrible ground early on this day. I cancelled plans to do Great Gable the day after. After 2 days rest, I feel I'm recovering okay. I got bad leg rashes too. I'm prone to prickly heat, but I think this might have been gorse bush allergy. Be warned: nasty plants, those, I'm glad I didn't pierce the skin. That seems to be recovering okay too. Great Gable tomorrow it is!
- Mellbreak. First objective of the day
- Interesting, but made for an 'awkward' route.
- Indeed.
- Gavel Fell (I think). Viewed after I'd finished the 5.
- Blake Fell :-)
- En route to Low Fell.
- Oh the lower slopes of Low Fell.
- Awesome cloud drifts later in the day.
- The south peak of Low Fell (the lower one).
- The north peak, with the ridge walk ahead to Fellbarrow.
- En route to Fellbarrow, the vale of Lorton below.
- It was a day for a lot of fence-following.
- Not a lot to see up there.
- The only trig point of the day, made a fitting finish I guess.
- Fence is right there in the same place too.
- I emerge from the clouds of Fellbarrow.
- Looking down towards Crummock Water,
- Mellbreak deigned to be free of cloud by the end of the day, but not while I was on it.
- A Lakeland hamlet, with excellent Lakeland name: Thackthwaite.
- Will not often see Grasmoor from this side.
- Spring is here!
- Another finish at dusk.
Note: I can't remember exactly what side of all the fences I was on ^ .
- Epilogue: Venus (aka the Evening Star) leads the way over Whinkatter Pass.
Bit strange to have a sign telling red squirrels to drive slowly 
