A Perfect Day in the Far East

[johnkaysleftleg]

It had been about three weeks since my last day out in the hills so they were calling once more. With my last visit to the lakes being seemingly ages ago I decided that this one man and his dog expedition would revisit a few Far Eastern Fells and take in a Birkett or three to add some new ground to proceedings.

A fairly early start saw me make my way up the mini Honister pass to the parking area just outside Martindale New Church well before it had filled up. It had been a good while since I'd walked up Hallin Fell and Steel Knotts so this seemed as good a place to start as any. Leaving my pack in the boot Hughie and I set off up the inoffensive grassy slopes on a wonderful lakeland morning, the type where the fells seem to glow with life and vitality. One the way up I passed a family with a really young child who was making a great fist of getting up this mini mountain without any help from mum and dad. It made me think of the early days in the hills with Grace, I hope this family has as many brilliant days out over the next few years as we did.

The summit with it's fine obelisk and even finer views was soon reached but I didn't linger long and headed back to the car to pick up my pack and head towards the next target of the day. Quite a bit of height is lost to reach the North ridge of Steel Knotts but it's worth it.

Beda Fell from the start of the walk by Anthony Young, on Flickr


On the way up Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Towards Rampsgill Head by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Ullswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Hallin Fell Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Obelisk on Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Northen Ullswater from Hallin Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

This is a fine little ascent as the path winds it's way up through crags with the odd mini scramble before the pleasant ridge is attained and you can stroll easily along to the wonderfully named summit tor, Pikeawassa. I had a bit of a sit on Lakeland's sharpest summit and read about the remarkable third All Blacks/Lions test before continuing along the increasingly broad ridge towards the main bulk of the High Street ridge.

Starting up Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Martindale New Church by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Cairn on the North end of the ridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking back along the ridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Pikeawassa by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking towards the Nab by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Hughie taking a breather by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Looking down Fusedale by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Another of Pikeawassa by Anthony Young, on Flickr

We continued along the increasingly broad and ill defined ridge taking in the undistinguished Birkett tops of Brownthwaite Crag and Gowk Hill before dropping down to the slightly moist head of Fusedale.I considered my options; one to make a bee line up open fellside towards Wether Hill or two, take the longer route up the obvious diagonal path. The fact it was really quite warm made my mind up so I took the easier option of the path.

Looking down to Martindale by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking back to Steel Knotts by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Steel Knotts and Martindale by Anthony Young, on Flickr

On top of Brownthwaite Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking acorss to Helvellyn et al by Anthony Young, on Flickr (click on pic for big version)

A glimpse of Ullswater with Blencathra Behind by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Five minutes Dad by Anthony Young, on Flickr

On Gowk Hill by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking to the Nab and beyond by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Once the ridge was attained it seemed rude not to continue onto Red Crag, a Birkett top, before Wether Hill. I don't know who decided this lump should be called Red Crag for as far as I can see it has no crags at all let alone red ones I tromped around it's unimpressive top a bit and headed back north up the ridge.

Helvellyn from Red Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Red Crag summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Heading back towards Wether Hill by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Wether Hill came and went, scarcely more impressive than Red Crag to be honest, before I used the stones around the remnants of Loadpot Hall to have lunch. A nice repast in the sunshine later we climbed the few remaining meters to Loadpot Hill. This is another less than impressive top but it does have a little more sense of occasion than the previous four Birkett/Wainwright tops I'd covered. It's a strange oddity that the fells on the walk so far made worse view points the higher you go

Weather Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr


Mono Bog by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Loadpot Hall by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Loadpot Hill Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

The walking to the next top couldn't have been easier, following a good path down hill just about all the way to the sizable cairn that marks Arthur's Pike. I Had a sit before meeting a very friendly collie dog and saying hello to her owner, I set off before Hughie got too jealous for the final Wainwright top of the day. With the loss of height the best views had returned so I sat and consumed the remainder of my rations sat next to Bonscale Tower looking down on the deep blue waters of Ullswater which looked far more exotic than usual in the stunning weather, somewhere in Northern Italy springs to mind. I had I little check on my phone app so see if there where any more Birketts close by and discovered the most thorough Mr Birkett had endowed Swarth Fell with individual status so a small grassy climb later so the tenth top of the day was bagged, most satisfactory

Ullswater with the Northern Fells in the distance by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Arthur's Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Bonscale Pike Summit by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Cairns on Bonscale Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Bonscale Tower by Anthony Young, on Flickr

On the way to Swarth Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr

It's often the case with fell walks that the unpleasant bits tend to get put to the back of your mind, this had been the case with the descent down to Howtown last undertaken around seven years ago. Presence of a walking poll to ease the stress on my left knee which has been Gypping me of late had no effect and I have seldom felt more relived at concluding a descent than I did when I reached the level path past Mellguards. It was now a nice simple walk back to the car as the knee throbbing faded away.

Knee crushing descent by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Mellgaurds by Anthony Young, on Flickr

This was a most enjoyable walk on a simply perfect day for hill walking, not to warm and with superb visibility and almost totally dry underfoot given the recent dry weather.

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[poppiesrara]

Great photos once more, JK I was struggling a bit with the amount of bracken until I saw we were remembering the height of summer! Definitely agree that the lower fells around there are the better ones, until you get up to and past High Street.

Are you going for the full Birkett list now, or a bit early to think that?

[johnkaysleftleg]

Great photos once more, JK I was struggling a bit with the amount of bracken until I saw we were remembering the height of summer! Definitely agree that the lower fells around there are the better ones, until you get up to and past High Street.

Are you going for the full Birkett list now, or a bit early to think that?

Cheers Poppie, I'm well behind on my reports so welcome memories of summer it is for now. As for the Birketts I'm hovering them up when close and have currently reached 314 so still way short of 541. Perhaps if I end up close I'll try to finish them.

[trailmasher]

Oh what a good walk with plenty of sunshine, great little hills and some superb photos I often wondered what the old building just before the climb up the graded path was used for as it looks like it could have been a dwelling for a smallholder in its day
I see that you are picking off the Birkett's on your second round of the Wainwright's so well done you. If you continue to do them I can assure you of some really good walks and views from some of these lesser fells

Great photos as usual

[Alteknacker]

The usual stunning photos . I think you'd make practically anywhere look good! I really need to look a bit more closely at the photography lark, rather than just pointing and clicking....

[johnkaysleftleg]

Oh what a good walk with plenty of sunshine, great little hills and some superb photos I often wondered what the old building just before the climb up the graded path was used for as it looks like it could have been a dwelling for a smallholder in its day
I see that you are picking off the Birkett's on your second round of the Wainwright's so well done you. If you continue to do them I can assure you of some really good walks and views from some of these lesser fells

Great photos as usual

Cheers TM, Loadpot Hall was a hunting lodge unsurprisingly. The full chimney was still present in AWs time but has long since collapsed. I suppose the test when it comes to the Birketts will be once I tidy up the ones in the main areas of the fells. Time will then tell if I have the motivation to tick off the others.

Edit: Not sure if you were taking about Loadpot hall or not now I've re-read you comment, so ignore if I'm telling granny how to suck eggs

The usual stunning photos . I think you'd make practically anywhere look good! I really need to look a bit more closely at the photography lark, rather than just pointing and clicking....

Thanking you kindly Not really that hard on such a stunning day in a beautiful place.