free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
In case you are puzzled about the title, I always try and come up with something different, don't always succeed but I usually spend most of the walk trying to come up with something. As Larriston isn't particularly exciting so I had to try and attract readers another way. My last outing was a couple of Munro's near Dalmally, hence Munro to Marilyn.
Left Cheshire at 8am with the idea of beating all the 'Bank Holiday' drivers, I suppose it worked but the M6 was busier northbound than I have ever seen it. The quantity of traffic reduced quite a bit after passing the Lake District.
My plan was to tackle Larriston Fell, then after a brief drive Blackwood Hill, was a good plan until I discovered that my Camelback had leaked in my rucksack leaving me with hardly any juice.
Having read Inca's report I was going to follow his route and as I knew there was a track up to the mast I had my bike in the back of the car.
Parking is rather limited, in fact more improvised.
Improvised parking and bike all ready to be cycled for a few metres, then pushed for 4km
The way ahead
The bike was certainly a hindrance on the ascent only cycled about 100m, the rest of the time I was pushing it. The ascent on the track isn't steep but it is fairly constant.
Look carefully, you can see the mast in the distance
Looking back with plenty of timber ready to be uplifted
Looking back from a bit higher up
Looks like they missed a tree, kind of stands out a bit
Plenty of wood chippings, not quite sure why they are there, possibly been bagged up for resale
After the wood chippings, the track reduces in size, still pretty good
The way ahead, nearly above the forest line
Rather odd area near the mast, large concrete slabs, possibly ex military, not sure why there is a crash barrier?
The mast and the way ahead
Nice spot to park my bike, didn't even bother to lock it, hope it appreciated the good view
I stopped a few times as the sun was beating down and I was overheating rather alot and I finished what was left of my juice just before I reached the mast. Inca mentioned the walk from the mast to the summit and it wasn't what I would describe as enjoyable. Whilst trampling across the tussocky knee deep heather and grass I likened it to walking in snow, I had no idea how far my boot was going down and it isn't fun lifting my feet higher than usual. Luckily the heather was bone dry, there are a few patches that look like they hold plenty of water when the time arrives. I was in my Salomon boots as I knew the ground would be dry.
Now the real fun began, I doubt if anyone enjoys walking through knee deep heather and tussocky grass
Looking back to the mast
And here it is the summit trig on Larriston Fell
Looking back to the mast
Selfie with my phone
The summit was a welcome relief but the summit area covers a huge area which doesn't make for decent photo's.
The trudge back to the mast for some strange reason seemed much easier, maybe it is psychological and the bike was still where I left it.
Back at the bike and still no sign of anyone else
Now for the descent, I am anything but a cyclist and having a bike without suspension is absolute torture. The good thing was I didn't have to pedal at all on the descent, gravity did all the work for me. It literally took me 20mins and I was literally shaken almost to bits. I would imagine a proper cyclist on a decent bike could descend in less than 10mins.
When I arrived back at the car I had already made up my mind to head home rather than tackle Blackwood Hill. Walking up a hill in the baking sunshine would be stupid, so decision was made. I will endeavour to visit Blackwood next month on my return home from my next trip down south.
This was my first time using 'Smugmug' to upload my photo's, I have to say it was by much better than any other method I have tried. They 10 million dollar question, would I return to Larriston Fell and like previous visitors and am sorry to say that is a negative.
For any future visitors if you have a bike and don't mind pushing it uphill, the descent can be supersonic.
