Walkhighlands

Although I’d spent a lot of time in the Lake District growing up, it had been about 8 years since I’d been back. Let’s face it, with the whole of the Scottish Highlands on my doorstep I’d never really consider going South to the crowds. However, the start of my parents week in the Lakes coincided with the school’s September holiday (plus managing to sneak Friday off) so a long weekend South of the border seemed a plan….watching the forecast during the week the weather even appeared to be playing ball

Horrendously disorganised and massively sleep deprived I set off on Friday morning and had an easy drive South. Despite the usual pang at crossing the border (although I’m never quite sure where it is when going South, no “Welcome to England” sign ) as I drove through the Lakes it was a glorious morning and I was looking forward to revisiting some old friends

Ullswater


I arrived at Glenridding and shouldered my huge pack. Trying not to think about the car parking charge on my return, I crossed the bridge and set off up the road. I made my way through the maze of paths, past the campsite and along the Glenridding Beck (not burns down here ) before crossing a bridge and climbing up towards the path up the glen.



This path led me onto what could only be described as a motorway…


This led me past the Youth Hostel and past the mine workings. I crossed the bridge over some impressive water features


The good path then led up the glen alongside the Beck


I met a few folk along here; some stopped for a blether and all thought I was crazy After a while the path started climbing more steeply upwards and my huge pack was slowing me down. As I came round the cliffs the path towards Catsyecam appeared. I met a couple here who had come down Swirral Edge, the unknown quantity of the day and said that I would be fine. Although I’d been up Striding Edge as a child, Swirral had been outlawed

Red Tarn with Helvellyn and Striding Edge behind


As I neared the top of Catstyecam I bumped into a couple of guys and chatted to them on the way up. They turned out to be part of a larger group of people from the Over the Hill Walking Group based in Leicestershire. They were excellent company and as it turned out were heading the same direction as I was.

Looking down from the top of Catstyecam


Red Tarn and Striding Edge


Swirral Edge leading to Helvellyn


Looking over St Sunday Crag towards High Street and High Raise


Skiddaw and Blencathra


We left the summit of Catstyecam and headed along the ridge. Red Tarn was sparkling in the sunshine and it was shaping out to be an amazing day


Soon enough we reached Swirral Edge. Being me, obviously taking the “pussy path” wasn’t an option and I headed up the crest.


An easier section


I really noticed the extra weight when scrambling But there wasn’t anything difficult or even particularly exposed. Halfway along the weather had a Tourettes moment and the rain arrived. Waterproofs on I continued.

Looking back downwards


From here it was a short stroll to the summit of Helvellyn. There were so many people here it was like Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday. I know Helvellyn is a popular hill but you wouldn’t see this many people even on Ben Nevis

Unable to get any peace and quiet, we stopped for a sandwich and a few photos. Looking down towards Ullswater


Fairfield and Cofa Pike


We left the large flat summit of Helvellyn and followed the obvious path along to Nethermost Pike, over High Crags and lastly to Dollwagon Pike. The rain was on and off along here and the visibility wasn’t great.

Looking back towards Helvellyn with Striding Edge


The Langdale Pikes and Coniston Old Man


An impressive panorama


The distinctive shape of Fairfield and Cofa Pike


The descent down to Grisedale Tarn was steep and had those rocky steps that are designed for people with longer legs than me. But it was probably better than the eroded alternative

Seat Sandal


Reaching the tarn, some people decided they’d had enough (they promised it wasn’t the weird Scottish lassie scaring them aff ) and headed down the glen. The rest of the group continued around the tarn to head up Seat Sandal.

Grisedale Tarn with Seat Sandal behind


Looking down Grisedale


The climb up Seat Sandal was steep and initially quite eroded making it interesting for the numpty who was carrying their hoose…

As we reached the top there was another shower. This was where I would part company with my new friends as it was to be my home for the night. They all headed off, debating whether they would take in St Sunday Crag on their way home and I waited out the rain before finding somewhere to pitch my tent.

The weather improved soon enough….


And a few metres off the summit I found a nice flat spot which seemed to be sheltered enough for the night.


Domestic duties sorted, I decided to have a wander around with the camera. Looking down the ridge of Seat Sandal that led down to Grasmere I got an excellent view out to the Scafell range


The Helvellyn range


Grasmere itself. I did consider running down to see if the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop was still open. But figured I’d be too late. And I was lazy


Windermere


Pointy Bowfell and the Scafell Hills


Great Gable and Pillar


Great Gable


Pillar


The Buttermere Fells and Grisedale Pike


Skiddaw


Wetherlam and Wet Side Edge


Great Gable and Pillar with Easedale Tarn in the foreground


Summit pose


Fairfield and St Sunday Crag


St Sunday Crag


Grasmere and Coniston Water


Grasmere, Coniston Water and Wetherlam


Looking down the Glen, ominous clouds on the way


Grisedale Pike and friends


Not a bad camp spot




The sun is still out


A wee sit down, cup of tea and a book with a view


The light started to go, setting the scene for an excellent sunset…












Until it started raining….initially only gently with a rainbow…


And then it got heavier and heavier. I got my waterproofs on and tried to shelter the camera from the torrential rain….


I failed…but I think the rain droplets on the camera are kind of atmospheric






Eventually I gave up and crawled back into my tent. Warm and dry again and safe from the elements was where I stayed for the rest of the evening as the rain relentlessly fell from the sky to the point where I was wondering how much of a lake my tent would survive sitting in At last the rain stopped….and was replaced by wind…. I didn’t get a lot of sleep but safe to say that tent will survive pretty much anything




The next morning I wasn’t in much of a rush as I wasn’t due to meet the parents in Langdale until after 4. I had a leisurely breakfast, read some more of my book and packed up my things.

Morning mist


The Crinkle Crags


Skiddaw and Thirlmere


Grasmere


I walked back over the summit of Seat Sandal and met a group of people already there No chance of having my hill to myself today either I made my way carefully down the steep path before setting off up Fairfield. This had looked pretty steep but it was a good path and my legs felt rested even if the rest of me didn’t

Down the glen


Four men with their dogs; I thought this looked like an album cover


Great Rigg – part of the Fairfield round from Grasmere; apparently I’d been up that way as a child!


Reaching the top of Fairfield I was fortunately early enough that there weren’t too many people there yet. The Helvellyn range was looking stunning from this angle


Jaxter pose on Fairfield


Windermere


I didn’t want to start heading down just yet so decided to go for a wander. I headed towards Great Rigg which gave a nice view over towards Hart Crag and Dove Crag


Rydal Fell from Great Rigg


As the day continued I started meeting more and more people. I wandered back up to Fairfield and decided to wander out towards the crags. It was worth it for the view towards Helvellyn from this angle


Scrubby Crag from Hart Crag


I think this is the Buttermere Hills


Wetherlam and pals


High Stile and Fleetwith Pike


Is this Scafell?


As I walked back to Fairfield from Hart Crag I met a group of cyclists. I say cyclists, they were carrying their bikes But as I arrived at the summit of Fairfield they rode off down towards Great Rigg where they said they could ride all the way down


Fairfield was now very very busy and after a few photos I decided it was time to get outta there

The Eastern side of Fairfield is pretty impressive…


It was a wee bit hands on as I descended towards Cofa Pike




Helvellyn


Fairfield crags again


Grisedale Tarn


Cofa Pike was more exciting than I remembered it being but that’s probably because I scrambled right over the top this time

Looking back to Cofa Pike


I started the climb up St Sunday Crag and bumped into more people, some of whom where friendly. Looking back to Grisedale Tarn


Fairfield from St Sunday Crag


Arriving at the top I walked into a party in full swing as hunners of people were bantering away. Always up for a laugh I joined in, happy for abuse to be hurled my way

Bowfell


Striding Edge


People on Striding Edge


Hunners of people of Helvellyn


Helvellyn and Striding Edge


It was finally time to head down. The rain was forecast at about 3ish anyway so I made my way along the ridge.

Ullswater


There were some steep sections and I met some people heading up who were having a tougher time of it than me on the way down

Looking back to St Sunday Crag


I continued along the ridge and decided to go up and over Birks, because why now…. The steep descent after it was less fun, and it started to rain so I had to put my waterproofs back on.

Deciding that walking back via Lanty’s Tarn would be nicer than the road, I headed for the bridge and then a very tired uphill

Back at the car, boots off felt amazing! After sorting my stuff I decided to wander around to the shop where I treated myself to an ice cream before the drive to Langdale for a shower, an actual bed, and a home cooked meal

The welcoming Langdale Pikes




The next day

Welcome to England.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.9932931,-3.0487518,3a,75y,116.06h,95.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swl8EHM54cYY52JvfR4bRlQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Skyelines wrote:Welcome to England.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.9932931,-3.0487518,3a,75y,116.06h,95.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swl8EHM54cYY52JvfR4bRlQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I stand corrected!! I've never seen that before

Sneaking across the border, eh? Hope you remembered your passport...

Lovely part of the Lakes that, though you'll rarely be alone. Great looking place to camp though, really special.

I think your "Is this Scafell?" is probably Pillar.

Nice round . This was more the sort of scale of walk I had in mind when I stopped off with my parents in the lakes a week or so earlier - weather soon put the lid on that though .

Surprised you had been banned from Swirral Edge as a kid - I would've thought that Striding Edge was the more dangerous, marginally at least.

Mal Grey wrote:Sneaking across the border, eh? Hope you remembered your passport...

Lovely part of the Lakes that, though you'll rarely be alone. Great looking place to camp though, really special.

I think your "Is this Scafell?" is probably Pillar.

Haha aye a wee border raid.... I think being up there overnight is the only way to ever be alone up there! Lovely spot though.
I'll trust you on Pillar - it was zoomed so I've no point of reference. doh!

malky_c wrote:Nice round . This was more the sort of scale of walk I had in mind when I stopped off with my parents in the lakes a week or so earlier - weather soon put the lid on that though .

Surprised you had been banned from Swirral Edge as a kid - I would've thought that Striding Edge was the more dangerous, marginally at least.

Ach the weather eh....should have done your sun dance It's hard to judge as it was so long ago I did Striding Edge but I thought Swirral felt easier than what I remembered of Striding. That being said I've been to Skye in between

Enjoyed this and you got some nice weather for it.

Yeah, the pic is defo Pillar.

At least you enter England and Cumbria together - at Coldstream there's a weird gap where you're in England but apparently not in Northumberland yet!

I had the summit of Helvellyn to myself, but it was about 8pm on a June evening after a very wet day which had dried up about 5. And I've got a photo somewhere of similar hunners of people on Ben Lomond
I know what you mean, but I'm always surprised how easy it is to get places to yourself in the lakes just by doing something slightly different (or staying out after 5pm!)

Nice read, and well done on great walks and photos

Broggy1 wrote:Enjoyed this and you got some nice weather for it.

Yeah, the pic is defo Pillar.

Aye it was pretty decent weather other than the storm overnight
Pillar it is....looks like a good hill

nigheandonn wrote:At least you enter England and Cumbria together - at Coldstream there's a weird gap where you're in England but apparently not in Northumberland yet!

I had the summit of Helvellyn to myself, but it was about 8pm on a June evening after a very wet day which had dried up about 5. And I've got a photo somewhere of similar hunners of people on Ben Lomond
I know what you mean, but I'm always surprised how easy it is to get places to yourself in the lakes just by doing something slightly different (or staying out after 5pm!)

Weird....no man's land
Ha aye popular/easy hills are going to be busy...unless you're there at a weird time I found the same thing on Skye in the summer - mad busy in the popular spots but you don't have to go very far off the beaten track to be completely alone

trailmasher wrote:Nice read, and well done on great walks and photos

Thanks - I'm loving the new supercamera