Loughrigg - a lonely rarity?

[old danensian]

A brief report for a brief walk, for a fell that must be one of the most accessible and visited in Lakeland: but for all that, it still deserves its place.

As is so often the case, the weather was going to turn out worse than the initial forecast had suggested, and than the early morning blue sky had promised. A quick stroll over a lower fell was going to be the order of the day (or morning), and then I could head south in safer daylight.

Helm Crag and Seat Sandal

The car was left in a lay by on the A591 and a finger-freezing wander across to the village and beyond to the other side of Grasmere slowly got the circulation going. Rather than staying on the lane into Redbank Wood, I dropped down to the water’s edge and followed it round to the bridge where Grasmere flows through to Rydal Water. A solitary, and most probably hungry, robin kept me company for the whole length of the walk along the shore, finally realising I had no sandwiches from which crumbs would be dropping.

Nab Scarr and Grasmere

The zig-zag up to Loughrigg Terrace appeared a further four or five hundred metres along the path, and then the succession of frosty and empty memorial benches was passed while the western arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe gradually disappeared into the cloud. Another zig-zag on reaching the wood, and then there was the final climb to the top. The question was: who would get there first? The cloud base or me? We pretty much arrived there together – and I still hadn’t seen a soul. Scanning the lattice-work of paths and tracks that criss-cross the top, I realised that this must be a rare event.

Gloomy prospects above Loughrigg

It hadn’t been that photogenic for the first part of the morning, but now any image could be faithfully reproduced by simply staring at a blank sheet of off-white paper. With no particular route in mind, I then just meandered my way eastwards to a point where I could drop down towards Rydal Water and then met the path that returned to Loughrigg Terrace where other walkers were finally seen.

I was back to the car and well-warmed up in a couple of hours. Then it was back to the sub-tropical south and a wrestle with the windscreen washers – reduced to opening the window and squirting water in time to the sweep of the wiper blades.

[mountain coward]

It is usually very busy up there. I wasn't keen on the fell myself as there were just too many summits and I don't remember it being obvious which was the required one for ticking it off as a Wainwright (when I was collecting them). Must be very few days when there's noone up there!

[Red Peak]

I think it's the only fell in the Lakes I've actually got lost on! As mountain coward says, there's too may summits, and in thick mist it becomes a bit confusing. Nice little hill though, and one of the first I ever did in the Lakes.

[mountain coward]

My Mum and I did it and had a fairly eventful day... we ended up coming back down through someone's very steep and wild back garden in the near dark I read a mountain rescue report about someone being rescued from a wild back garden in that area last year - perhaps it was the same one Also on the same walk, on Loughrigg Terrace, in front of hundreds of other walkers, my mother decided to trip and fall flat on her face on the ice. Because the ground was so hard there was a huge clatter of wooden walking stick when she fell and everyone was looking at us. I was thoroughly embarrassed and totally unsympathetic and ordered her in a mutter to 'Just get up - everybody's looking' - she hasn't let me forget that! We also forgot our flasks and sandwiches my Dad had kindly made us (as in left them at home - it was winter) so raided the ice-cream van for all his choccies and a warm drink

[icemandan]

I read a mountain rescue report about someone being rescued from a wild back garden in that area last year - perhaps it was the same one

Possibly not the most embarassing rescue incident on Loughrigg. A few years ago, the Mountain Rescue had to rescue a guy on Loughrigg Fell who'd tried to get up on a mobility scooter (he should have tried Dodd or Binsey). Apparently some passers by had helped him up the first step and left him there.

[mountain coward]

Wish I'd read that one! The year I read the one I put above was the same year some girl was 'rescued' after crashing into a tree sledging on a car bonnet! (not sure why that had to be the mountain rescue and not just the ambulance team though as it was only in a roadside field!)