Half a Lucky Horseshoe

[johnkaysleftleg]

Please note walk completed in early November in compliance with the regulations of the time

Last Lakeland catch up report of what will probably be my last hill walk till the spring at the earliest, depressing thoughts but other than plodding on with life what can you do? If I'm a bit light on route details that's because Trailmasher completed a fine report fairly recently on a very similar route.

The large layby on the A591 at Grasmere must really upset the national park authority as it provides off road parking at no charge. I'm sure they'll find a way of making walkers pay for the privilege at some point but for the time being it enables people to walk from a honeypot without paying through the nose.

I was one of the first to turn up here on what looked like it was going to be a great day for walking. Intermittent cloud cover and some wonderful autumnal colours set the scene and with Hughie my Westie in tow I set off up towards Alcock tarn.


First light on Silver How


Greenhead Gill


Greenhead Gill again higher up

There was some beautiful light play over the Vale of Grasmere as we made our way steeply upwards with the Coniston fells also being blessed by the morning light. Slow and steady was the call with my knees complaining, thanks in part to lack of recent use, at the effort involved but as ever one foot in front of the other gets you there. We arrived at Alcock tarn to be greeted by more fine views to the South with layered ridges and wisps of morning mist between, stretching away to infinity.


Looking back to Helm Crag


Early light on the Coniston Fells


The Central Fells Across the Vale of Grasmere


Grasmere Village


Hughie strikes a pose


Along the wall to Alcock Tarn


Butter Crag with Great Rigg beyond


Gateway


Alcock Tarn


Layers of Lakeland


Winter is coming


Alcock tarn panorama

I thought about having breakfast here but couldn't really find any shelter from the cool breeze so set off up the diagonal path up onto the the main ridge. A small drop down took me to Nab Scar and here we broke our fast enjoying the ever changing conditions. Well I did, Hughie spent his time trying to find something to roll in By the time we had finished a very light rain had started, enough to create some rainbows but scarcely enough to warrant any waterproofs.


Looking south


Helm Crag


Glorious Grasmere


Lord Crag mono


Windermere


Nab Scar Summit


Hughie

The Fairfield horseshoe is popular not only for it's great views but also because it provides some nice easy walking with a comfortable plod taking me up to the next summit on the ridge in the shape of Heron Pike. At this point Fairfield itself looked fairly grim so I decided to leave the decision till atop of Great Rigg as to whether I would include it in todays itinerary.


Light on Loughrigg


Rainbow over Grasmere


Looking back down the ridge to Windermere


Gloomy over Fairfield


Glorious light over Rydal Beck


The magnificent Earn Crag with a hint of Rainbow


Heron Pike


Hughie over the Rydal valley

We stopped before Great Rigg and ventured a little off the path to sit overlooking Rydal Beck and consume some rations. To be honest I was feeling quite tired, I have found hill fitness impossible to attain this year never mid maintain but the nagging feeling looking at the ever rising number of infections and hospital admissions provided me with enough motivation to make the most of this day, unsure as to when the opportunity to visit these wonderful hills would next present itself.

I slogged my way up Great Rigg to see that Fairfield was now sun kissed and cloud free. Complaining knees and lack of fitness be damned! I wasn't going to waist this opportunity, looking back I'm very glad I took it.


Langdales looking superb


Conditions clearing


Boots!


Light on the Greenburn Fells


Rydal Head


Looking down Greenhead Gill


Looking back to Heron Pike


Looking down to Stone Arthur from close to Great Rigg


Rydal Beck


Seat Sandal


Hughie finds some snow!

The slow plod I had fallen into got me there in the end and I made the most of being up here and explored a bit before sitting and having another snack. Fairfield has been very kind to me over the years, every time I've visited the conditions have been glorious, as a result it's one of my favourites. I love some of the views from the edge of the plateaux and still have one last route, via Cofa Pike, to explore. Part of me was tempted to go that way now but that would leave Stone Arthur sat smugly un-bagged on round two so steps were retraced towards Great Rigg and down the ridge to the last "top" of the day.


Looking towards Deepdale from Fairfield


Helvellyn and friends


St Sunday Crag


Ill Bell Ridge from Fairfield


Ridges


Alcock Tarn and Heron Pike


Illuminated

One day I will have to actually climb up to Stone Arthur, that way it might actually feel like a fell rather than a brief levelling of a ridge. Still the views are nice and with the weather continuing to be superb it was a good place to stop for a while. I'm not sure we took the correct route off as it involved several down scrambles but soon it was back on level(ish) ground and back to the car.


Stone Arthur


Grasmere from Stone Arthur


Compression


Light splashing near Helm Crag


Grasmere Village


Helm Crag from the A591

So an end to Lakeland adventures for another year, a year that will live in all our memories for the wrong reasons. My deepest condolences to those who have lost somebody in 2020 and sympathies to those who have suffered far worse than me and mine during this terrible pandemic.

Half Fairfield.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[trailmasher]

Another fine report JK, albeit mostly pictorial, photos taken with your usual care and attention showing the day in all its glory and moods The Alcock Tarn route is a great way to reach Fairfield and fair play to you for taking the pain of bad knees and lack of fitness to complete the walk , fitness that I think many of us will be lacking once we are able to start up again

The climb up to Stone Arthur is quite a steep one and a bit of a slog but as you know worth the effort for the views once you get there Hughie looked in fine fettle JK

[johnkaysleftleg]

Another fine report JK, albeit mostly pictorial, photos taken with your usual care and attention showing the day in all its glory and moods The Alcock Tarn route is a great way to reach Fairfield and fair play to you for taking the pain of bad knees and lack of fitness to complete the walk , fitness that I think many of us will be lacking once we are able to start up again

The climb up to Stone Arthur is quite a steep one and a bit of a slog but as you know worth the effort for the views once you get there Hughie looked in fine fettle JK

Thank you once again TM. This was a really glorious day to be out, good job as it's going to have to sustain me for a while
I think my initial return to the hills (when allowed) may well be something a bit more gentle than the Lakes. I fear even Roseberry Topping will seam like a true mountain once we get the go ahead.