Pasture Beck Skyline

[johnkaysleftleg]

With the weather being to good to miss it was over to the Lakes once again to add to our tally of Wainwrights. I decided that we'd have a go at a round I've looked at for a while, the Pasture Beck Skyline from Hartsop.
We arrived at the rapidly filling car park on a beautiful but hazy morning, a stark contrast to the thick fog we left back on the East coast.

Hartsop Dodd

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We set out in a clockwise direction with Hartsop Dodd the first target. The path follows the wall initially but once beyond it winds it's way nicely (and steeply) up the North ridge with increasingly fine views that could have been even better with less haze.

Dovedale

Aerial view of Hartsop

On the ridge with Brothers water below

Helvellyn and Catstycam behind St Sunday Crag

Visibility was still good enough however to see the last few patches of snow stubbornly clinging to Helvellyn and in all honesty the haze does add a different atmosphere to the fells. It was hot work in the unseasonably warm conditions but eventually the ground levelled off and we bagged the first of the day marked unceremoniously with an old weathered fence post we named the summit stick. A far grander summit adornment was clearly visible across Threshthwaite in the shape of the Thornthwaite Beacon but before that we had another top to bag.

Grace at the summit stick of Hartsop Dodd

The walk from Hartsop Dodd to Stony Cove Pike will never make it into anybodys favourites but at least it's easy enough and pleasant on such a lovely day.

Mine workings

Following an easy stroll with the almost constant accompaniment of Skylarks we arrived at the summit of Stony Cove Pike. It's difficult to know just what this top has to justify the tag of "pike" but it proved a pleasant enough place to have lunch before tackling Thresthwaite Mouth.

Looking across Threshthwaite Mouth

The path down is rough but entertaining with a little bit of downward scrambling which was just the thing following the dullness previously on Cauldale Moor. The views opened up also with the Ill Bell ridge looking as impressive as ever.

Ill Bell ridge

Troutbeck Tongue

Looking back across Thresh'et

Looking down Pasture Bottom

Fortunately the scree path up Thornthwaite Crag turned out to be nowhere as steep as it looked from the other side and we were soon enjoying a cup of coffee under the imposing summit cairn.

Grace at Thornthwaite Beacon

The ridge from here to Grey crag turned out to be way better than the approach to Stony Cove Pike with it being sufficiently narrow and steep sided to offer fine views down to Hayeswater to the East and the unfortunately named Pasture Bottom to the West.

Grey Crag with The Knott across Hayeswater

Hayeswater

Grey Crag's crags above Pasture Beck

Grace and Hughie on Grey Crag summit

Hazy fells

Once we were confident that this ridge was sheep-less Hughie had been enjoying his freedom. Unfortunately Hughie loves all things about sheep, and guess what he managed to find on the way down. After a thorough scalding to which the reply looked to be "I don't care it was worth it" he found out that it wasn't with a good wash for the usually hydrophobic hound in the Hayeswater Gill.

Bad dog!

Sad dog!

Another great day in the fells was completed by the appearance of an ice cream seller back at the car park, perfect.

Grey Crag

A last look up to Threshthwaite Mouth

[SusieThePensioner]

An interesting walk, John, and again some wonderful photos. The weather has been unbelievable for March, let's hope this isn't the summer!!

[L-Hiking]

Nice round that JK, you are right about that initilal pull up Hartsop Dodd, its hard work worth it though,

Thanks for the report and pics, hope that ice cream van is there next time Im over there!!

Cheers

[johnkaysleftleg]

An interesting walk, John, and again some wonderful photos. The weather has been unbelievable for March, let's hope this isn't the summer!!

Following our luck with two stunning weeks in Scotland last year I admit I'm getting worried about out week on Skye. We may not even see a hill let alone climb one

Nice round that JK, you are right about that initilal pull up Hartsop Dodd, its hard work worth it though,

Thanks for the report and pics, hope that ice cream van is there next time Im over there!!

Cheers

No problem.

[ChrisW]

Lovely stuff JK, incredible weather in a beautiful location, what more could someone want. Love the scenic photos but my favourite by far is the 'sad dog' pic where Hughie learned "rolling in the sheep" (is that a song title ) wasn't worth it

[SusieThePensioner]

Following our luck with two stunning weeks in Scotland last year I admit I'm getting worried about out week on Skye. We may not even see a hill let alone climb one

When are you off to Skye? We were there the first two weeks in October last year, had a lot of wind, quite a lot of rain but, only two days when we didn't see the sun

[johnkaysleftleg]

Lovely stuff JK, incredible weather in a beautiful location, what more could someone want. Love the scenic photos but my favourite by far is the 'sad dog' pic where Hughie learned "rolling in the sheep" (is that a song title ) wasn't worth it

At least Sheep mess isn't to smelly. He has found some truly foul piles of random poo to roll in over the years.

Following our luck with two stunning weeks in Scotland last year I admit I'm getting worried about out week on Skye. We may not even see a hill let alone climb one

When are you off to Skye? We were there the first two weeks in October last year, had a lot of wind, quite a lot of rain but, only two days when we didn't see the sun

First week in June. We try and go to Skye every year around then. Sounds like you had typical Skye weather in October. Hopefully we'll get a chance of climbing Bruach na Frithe to complete our round of the three "easy" cuillins.

[SusieThePensioner]

First week in June. We try and go to Skye every year around then. Sounds like you had typical Skye weather in October. Hopefully we'll get a chance of climbing Bruach na Frithe to complete our round of the three "easy" cuillins.

Wonderful time to go! We will be in the Trossachs at the beginning of June, a late 40th wedding anniversary celebration so we're staying in a hotel by Loch Ard

[garyhortop]

Great report JK - some cracking photo's and some brilliant weather!! It's also nice to know that someone else suffers with the poopy pups!! What is it with dogs and stinky stuff to roll in!! Enjoy!!

[colgregg]

Great report JK. I was over that way on Sunday (high Raise, Angle Tarn - report to follow) and the weather was Similar to yours. Am assuming the Cairn terrier is yours, I saw one on my way from High Raise to Kidsty Pike and my immediate thought was "I wonder If that was Jonnykay with his dog"

[johnkaysleftleg]

Great report JK. I was over that way on Sunday (high Raise, Angle Tarn - report to follow) and the weather was Similar to yours. Am assuming the Cairn terrier is yours, I saw one on my way from High Raise to Kidsty Pike and my immediate thought was "I wonder If that was Jonnykay with his dog"

He's a Westie not a cairn. He loves the hills as much as I do and there's a chance you might bump into him one day.

[colgregg]

Great report JK. I was over that way on Sunday (high Raise, Angle Tarn - report to follow) and the weather was Similar to yours. Am assuming the Cairn terrier is yours, I saw one on my way from High Raise to Kidsty Pike and my immediate thought was "I wonder If that was Jonnykay with his dog"

He's a Westie not a cairn. He loves the hills as much as I do and there's a chance you might bump into him one day.

Not great on Dog breeds but it looked like yours anyway