free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Another fine day in the Lakes, but we wanted to stay below the snow line as we don't have the equipment. The nearest appropriate unclimbed hills seemed to be to the west, and so Grike, Crag Fell and Lank Rigg were duly selected.
The drive around from Eskdale Green to our starting point was lovely, especially the last stretch along the Cold Fell Road. We parked near the ancient (well, it's nearly a hundred years old now) stone circle at Kinniside, and set off up the old mine road towards Grike
Some nice views over towards Blake Fell brought back memories of a previous holiday when we stayed in Lamplugh.
The path up through the remains of the forest was very easy, with gentle gradients and a good surface.
The neat rows of stumps in the felled areas almost looked like archaeological remains.
Even at these low altitudes most of the puddles were ice-covered, and there were some spectacular icicles and ice-curtains in places.
After following the mine path for quite a way, the path set of upwards across a field towards the top of Grike.
Wainwright had promised that the stile to cross the last fence before the summit would be visible from the mine road - and so it was. Unfortunately it was also broken, so the dogs had to be lifted over.
For humans, the fence was climbable, with care.
From there it was just a few easy yards to the top, with a fine cairn and a large shelter (which unfortunately was facing into the wind and thus rather ineffective).
After a short chocolate break we set of down the hill towards Crag Fell. The path here would normally be pretty boggy, but all were frozen solid making it a much easier and more pleasant route than it could have been.
It was a very pleasant surprise at the next stile to find not only a fully working stile, but also provision for dogs to pass through - no lifting required. Something I've often wished for but never before seen in the Lakes.
Pretty soon we reached the top of Crag Fell, and were rewarded with views of a snow-covered Pillar.
Looking back, we could see Grike where we had been a few minutes earlier.
We could also see our final target of the day - Lank Rigg - across the valley. It looked a fair way away, but the going was very easy (or at least had been so far!)
We dropped off the top to find a more sheltered spot for lunch, and found one very close to this stile - a lovely spot, with great views and a sun-drenched heather bank to lie on.
At this point my camer batteries ran out - I had forgotten to switch for a freshly charged one before setting out. May be able to get some pictures off the iPhones later...
The path to Lank Rigg starts off through a small wood, and then up beside a wall. At a bend in the wall the path is supposed to fork - one goes to Caw Fell, and the other to Lank Rigg - but there was no sign of the latter path. We set off across open country undeterred.
Soon we found a large patch of snow, on a gentle slope, that seemed like a safe-enough venue to test out just how necessary crampons might be in these conditions. Sure enough, Thomas managed to slide (unintentionally) half way down it as we crossed.
We soon found the path - wide, soft, and very easy gradients again. We skirted the top of Whoap, and soon saw Lank Rigg ahead - and a depressingly large drop between us and it - I think we had been spoiled by just how easy this walk had been so far.
The climb up to Lank Rigg was really pretty easy, and we were soon at the top - More nice views, including Blencathra in the distance.
We had read that Wainwright had concealed a coin under a stone near the summit, and that (while the original was long gone) walkers had been placing coins there for subsequent visitors to find ever since. Sure enough, when we looked under the flat stone near the summit we found the princely sum of 4p, which Thomas kept as a souvenir, and which I replaced with 50p for the next visitor.
We retraced our steps down to the col, then followed a long but very easy path down the flanks of Whoap then alongside the River Calder, and back to the road.
A slightly longer walk than yesterday, in terms of distance, but rather gentler in terms of the ascents and the terrain. Another glorious day for walking.
