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A couple of days prior to the walk poor old Hughie managed to cut his foot on some glass while out for a potter. There was a time when the council would attempt to clear up broken glass but no more it seems.The streets and paths of Seaham are littered with it to such an extent I'm amazed this hasn't happened more often. Hughie's foot has recovered but not in time to join me on this walk so it was a genuine solo effort without the unstinting moral support normally given by my canine companion.
I arrived in Patterdale, a place I hadn't walked from for quite a while and following attempting to remember just where the path started from behind the hotel I was soon making my way up Arnison Crag on a cloudy day brightened by the occasional splash of sunshine. I arrived at the summit to be blessed with a beautiful view of sunshine picking out the green fields of Hartsop in dramatic fashion.
Looking Across Glenmara Park by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
A Splash of Sunshine on Keldas by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sunlit Hartsop by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Arnison Crag Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
A brief respite from climbing took me to Trough Head where there is no option other than to head straight up the unrelentingly steep flanks of Birks by the ruined wall. Birks is not a memorable fell and this feels a lot of effort to attain a very un-glamorous grassy top with a small cairn. The payoff is the view across Grisedale to the dramatic Eastern aspect of the Helvellyn range.
Climbing up from Trough Head by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the Flanks of Birks by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Moody Helvellyn Ridge by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sunlight on Nethermost Cove by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Catstycam over Striding Edge by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Across the Ridges by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
I chose not to head directly for St Sunday Crag Summit and veered off on the obvious path to Gavel Pike. This is a super little perch and a superb place to sit and have an early lunch. I watched the clouds pass by creating endless variations on the landscape as shafts of sunlight caressed the hills, illuminating crags, valleys, ridges and fell tops. The observant will notice quite a few similar images from this spot, believe me I took many more. I could have happily sat there for a couple of hours and just set off back down but there were more places to visit so I reluctantly dragged myself away up to St Sunday Crag's main top.
Watching the World Pass By by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Link Cove and Hart Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Shifting light towards Red Screes by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ray of Light by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
On the Final Climb to St Sunday Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
More changing light towards Red Screes by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to Gavel Pike by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Striding Edge and Beyond by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
St Sunday Crag Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sunlight on Nethermost Cove by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
I took in the views on the top wondering what to do with the remainder of the walk. My full itinerary was to include Cofa Pike, Fairfield and Seat Sandal but I wasn't feeling very sprightly and was a bit behind time so something had to give. Cofa Pike's intimidating appearance and a sudden picking up of the wind on the ridge to Deepdale Hause made my mind up and I was off down the path to Gresdale Tarn leaving Cofa Pike for another day.
Heading off St Sunday Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Dollywagon, Nethermost and Helvellyn by
Anthony Young, on Flickr (click for big version)
On the Way to Deepdale Hause by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to St Sunday Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Cofa Pike, one for another day by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Falcon Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
The sights of upper Grisedale are easily enjoyed as you make your way down from the pass with Falcon Crag in particular looking very grand indeed. I made my way around the tarn before coming face to face with the very steep pull up Seat Sandal, I mentioned previously I wasn't feeling very sprightly, this was probably down to being a bit dehydrated and this was confirmed as I got cramps in one of my legs on the way up the steepest section. I managed to find level enough ground to stretch out my leg before the cramp really took hold but it was a slow and wobbly legged climb up Seat sandal and a relief once the summit plateau was attained. I took in the extensive views on what had turned out to be a quite spectacular day in Lakeland with sun and shade scattering the landscape beautifully.
Grisdale Tarn from the Very Steep Climb up Seat Sandal by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to St Sunday Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking down Grisedale from Seat Sandal by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hole in the Sky by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Towards Windermere by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Seat Sandal Summit by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
The walk back to Patterdale was quite long but fortunately easy. Grisedale is a beautiful valley as it cuts its way between the spectacular Eastern aspects of the Hellvelyn ridge and the towering slopes of St Sunday Crag. It would, in all honesty be a worthy walk in its own right and proved to be a pleasant end to the outing.
On the way down Grisedale by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ruthwaite Lodge by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking up Ruthwaite Cove by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Eagle Crag by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back up Grisedale by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sunlight at Breasteads by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Last Look Back by
Anthony Young, on Flickr