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Following the strong winds last week, the forecasts were far from good across the board, but I was determined to get out into the hills no matter what. I’d spent so much time scouring the maps and trying to plan not-too-suicidal routes, and in the end opted to pop across to Keswick for two days and try to bag some more Wainwrights. Two trains and a bus later, I was in Keswick and set straight off to get the legs stretched on Latrigg. I followed the popular path so far up, but then turned sharp right on the slopes of Latrigg and took the steep track through the forest. Before long I emerged near the summit, and a very windy summit it was!
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Next up, the path across from Latrigg and on to the ‘tourist path’ up to Skiddaw. About half way up, I veered over to the smaller path which runs up to the source of Whit Beck, and on up to the fence which leads up to the summit of Lonscale Fell. The wind was really strong up here, and the mist was pretty thick so visibility was poor, but it’s an easy (if a little boggy) walk up to the cairn.
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Retracing my steps back down to the Flag Pots on the map, I stayed with the fence and soon ascended Jenkin Hill, by which point the weather really turned. Well,actually it stayed the same - I suppose I was just encroaching on its territory and it wanted to remind me of what it could do
Still something of a novice hillwalker, I’ll be honest I was mildly terrified at the very strong wind that I leaned into on the way up to Skiddaw Little Man, and visibility was very poor. I didn’’t hang around long at the odd-shaped cairn, and continued up to the summit of Skiddaw. Very exhilarating stuff, but I soon realised my plans to walk over to Carl Side and continue to Ullock Pike etc were not going to work out. Neither of the paths were even visible, and though I initially started off down one of the paths towards Carl Side, I decided to turn around and rejoin the tourist path down from Skiddaw. Gutting, but wise, I thought.
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Once down past Jenkin Hill once again, things calmed down and by the time I got near the gate towards the bottom of the Skiddaw path, I was able to sit and enjoy the view back across Derwentwater - the only view since leaving Latrigg, pretty much
it was cold, but what a beautiful place to be.
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Walking in The Lake District by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
I took the path around Latrigg and soon found myself back in Keswick, where a wander and a night at the YHA awaited. I’ve done plenty of walking in bad weather (walking and wild-camping the Hebridean Way in strong wind and constant rain for example), but this was the first time I’d been up a height in cold weather and strong wind. It was a little scary, but naturally I can’t wait for more