free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A three and a half month exile from the Lakes can seem like forever so it was great to head across the 'oh so familiar' A66 on a gorgeous winters morning. With the threat of ice on the roads I'd not driven over too early and picked a parking spot close to main routes to minimise the risk of putting my car in a ditch, so with this in mind me and my faithful mut, Hughie pulled into the Great wood car park just outside of Keswick. For those who were not members of the National Trust it was a freebie as the over night frost had done for the ticket machine which was as unresponsive as a teenager when you ask them to tidy their room. Suited and booted Hughie and I set off for some shock therapy on the steep path up by Cat Gill. This can often be made a bit tricky by ice as it was the last time we'd made it up here but this time ice was at a minimum with nothing of note until after the views had started to open up across Derwent Water.
Soon enough we reached the top of the Gill and broke out into a crisp winters light for the easy walk up Lady's Rake. It was a truly glorious morning to be out, the views were superb in every direction with the stupendous panorama over Derwent water from the top of Walla Crag taking top billing, I lingered for a while taking it all in, tracing the ridges, recalling walking up the ones I'd previously visited and wondering about the few I hadn't.
Out of Great Wood by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way up Lady's Rake by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
The Scafells and Gable looking wonderful by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Grisdale Pike by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Almost at the summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Morning Light by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Skiddaw and Keswick by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Endless Possibilities by
Anthony Young, on Flickr (click for bigger version)
Hughie on Walla Crag Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Eventually I dragged Hughie and myself away and set off across the largely frozen ground towards Bleaberry Fell. Much of this is on a well built path making progress easy with the amazing views back to Dewent Water, now complete with a fine reflection of Cat Bells, being the biggest impediment to progress. Onwards we plodded however and topped out on Bleaberry's large summit to take in yet more fine views. We didn't linger long and headed off onto new ground in the form of the broad ridge to High Seat.
Shadow Selfie looking back to Walla Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Blencathra from the Large Sheep Fold by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way up Bleaberry Fell by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Fellside by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Cairn and Blencathra by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sublime View by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Dodd Crag leads the way to Blencathra by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Dewent Water and Bassenthwaite by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Almost at Bleaberry Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Capturing the Glory by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Bleaberry Fell Summit Shelter by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
There are several confusing place names in the Lakes but perhaps Three footed brandreth inscribed just to the north of High Seat on the 1:25,000 map takes the top honours. A three footed brandreth is a tripod used for cooking over an open fire and also gives it's name to the fell named Brandreth close to Buttermere. In this case the vaguely three ridged fell fits the bill physically but also in the case of it possibly being used as a beacon in the past which is another suggested source of the name. In the case of this place the reasoning is hard to figure out, this is a very broad boggy ill defined ridge full of lumps and as such in no way a sutable location for a beacon, surely that would be atop High Seat a very short distance to the South. So what on earth is it? I kept my eyes peeled as I crossed the ridge labelled with this odd title and saw very little in the way three footed things, I did see a craggy lump with three protuberances but remained unconvinced as I ascended the final pull up to High Seat.
Ground well Frozen by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way to High Seat by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Where is it? by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Three Footed Brandreth? by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Rocks by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Up there Dad? by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
High Seat summit is a very fine place despite all the boggy ground surrounding it and we sat and had lunch pondering what to do next. The sensible thing, considering my lack of fitness and still niggling injury, was to take the obvious path down to Ashness Bridge and make it a nice easy short day. Perhaps it was the sunshine and the glory of the views but I simply didn't want to head down yet so my thoughts turned to the two less than stella fells to the South. Given that I've decided to crack on with a second round the chance to get rid of High Tove and Armboth here and now was just too tempting. The ground had been well frozen so far but there had been a few indications that a slight thaw was underway. I set off for what is probably the worst mile in the Lake District with a little trepidation.
High Seat Trig Point by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
View to the South West by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Is it lunch time yet Dad? by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
High Seat Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking up Borrowdale by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Before I even got to the fence I encountered some very wet unfrozen ground, Thoughts of turning back crossed my mind but I ignored them and crunched/splodged off down the fellside. The next mile to High Tove became a game of frozen ground roulette, with several collapses under my weight damaging my confidence in the terrain. The thought of going through ice up to my waist was not a possibility I was willing to contemplate
so progress slowed as I picked my way around the worst. A frustrating amount of time later we trudged rather dispiritedly up to High Tove.
A bad Place by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Stuck in the middle with you by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Eddy Garve Stake apparently by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Gable from High Tove by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Helvellyn from High Tove by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
The last time I was on High Tove there was a good covering of snow but this time the trod to Armboth was clearly visible so off we trundled over the half frozen ground which was somewhat like plodding through wet snow. This wasn't much of a problem going down hill and soon enough we reached Armboth's summit rocks. I was feeling tired at this point but other than Helvellyn looking quite fetching in winter garb there is not a lot to see so I plodded over to AW's clearly lower top before setting off back to High Tove. This isn't exactly a tough walk but the going over the defrosting terrain was poor so by the time I pulled myself to High Tove I felt well beat. I'm not sure if others count ascending a fell twice in a walk as two ascents or one? If so this was possibly the fourth time I'd bagged High Tove, I may not be back
Armboth Fell High Point by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
High Seat from Armboth Fell by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Wainwright's Summit on Armboth Fell by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Even though I was knackered, down hill seemed more attractive than allowing my aching legs to cool down and tighten up so down we went to Watendlath. I somehow stayed on my feet on the steeper drop down to the hamlet, feeling mocked by Hughie's surefootedness as I slipped and slithered on the ice patches. I had considered the footpath on the west side of the beck but as it was an unknown I thought it prudent to just stick to the road all the way, as its not as if the scenery is much different.
Gable from the way down by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the way Down to Watendlath by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
How Green is my Valley by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Watendlath by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Reecastle Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
An Unsurprising View by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Afternoon Light by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Thwaite House by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
It was a largely uneventful walk down the road delayed by waiting for Ashness bridge to clear of cars, tourists and walkers so I could take a photo. The easy going on the road had been quite threaputic to the old limbs and in all honesty I felt a lot better once I got back to the car. It had been great to be back in Lakeland and bagging fells once again, I have decided to attempt to get here at least a dozen times this year to push on with round two which stood at 72 following this outing.
Ashness Bridge by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Derwent Mono by
Anthony Young, on Flickr