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Sooner or later the pull of the lake District was going to prove too much and I finally relented for this weekend. The forecast looked OK if a bit murky early on but as my lack of fitness probably ruled out the higher fells that was hardly a big issue. Hughie and I arrived at Church Bridge just outside of Troutbeck at just after 8 AM to find a fairly full car park. The roads on the way over had been really empty but the number of visitors who walk the fells seemed to be at a fairly normal level.
We set off on a morning that couldn't make up it's mind if it was going to rain or not but given it was very warm an humid in the valley, waterproofs hardly mattered. We made out way through the deserted Limefitt holiday park and onto the Longmire Road to stride out towards the days first fell.
Foxgloves close up
On the Longmire RoadIt was really great to be back and perhaps the misty conditions were better than a blue sky day to get that Lakeland atmosphere I've missed so much. We had made our way so far along before coming across a field of cows and a bull, Part of the reason they are here is to help with the regeneration of the valleys flora, which is a very good thing but I didn't fancy passing through with a dog so I back tracked a little and dropped down to Ing Lane.
There were a few other walkers on this track but the general feeling of peace and tranquillity was maintained as we huffed and puffed up the steep little climb to the top of Troutbeck Tongue.
We had breakfast overlooking an atmospheric scene towards the Kirkstone Pass a little way from the summit, with the wind it felt quite chilly so we were soon retracing our steps back towards the valley bottom where the sun was starting to break through. While on the summit I'd had a bit of map study and decided the best way to get to the next target was to head up around the area of Long Green Head, which I had observed as being fairly bracken free.
Sun on Lowther Brow
Bridge over Hagg Gill
On the Flank of the Tongue
Verdant
Ready for Action
View along Troutbeck
Life and Death
Kirkstone Pass
Troutbeck Tongue Summit
High Great Knott
Hazy View of Windermere
WansfellIt was true that the going was good underfoot and I didn't have to plough through bracken at any point but blooming heck it felt steep! Torturous progress was made up the open fellside as I dreamed of the Garburn Road coming into view. When finally, following way more photo stops than was in any way necessary, I reached the wall I exclaimed loudly to nobody in particular; "F*****g Hell that was a slog!" only to see a rather alarmed fell runner staring at the rude sweary individual who had just appeared behind the wall
I uttered an embarrassed "morning" and allowed him to trot away before moving along the now steady and far more hospitable incline.
Sun breaking through
Troutbeck Village
Another photo stop you say?
Higher ground starting to clearCompared to the open fell side the route to Garburn Nook and then the trod to Sallows summit was a doddle. We sat and had lunch, enjoying the breaking up of the clouds as patches of sunshine made their way over the fell tops. I sat quite a while as in all honesty there wasn't much more walking to be done for my planned route.
The Garburn Road .......at last!
Garburn Nook
Red Screes
Sallows Summit
Kentmere Horseshoe
Big Skies over Red Screes
Windermere from SallowsI followed the trods along the broad curving ridge to the other oddly named top that is Sour Hows When you get here there is an obvious lump with eroded footsteps up it and a small cairn, is this the high point? most people seem to think it is but personally I think it's more likely to be this spot height marked on the map as 483m and according to Hill bagging website it is. Not that this particularly matters as the more popular lump makes a better top. We didn't linger and headed off for the last fell of the day, Capple How.
Red Screes close up
Ill Bell Ridge
Thresthwaite Mouth
The assumed summit of Sour Hows
Hughie on Sour Hows
High Fells from Sour Hows
The assumed summit from the actual one?The sun was out on Capple How so it made for a nice place to linger and finish off rations before retracing my steps to the fence that forms the boundary between this and Sour Hows. I had a memory of a stile over the wall from my last visit a few years back so I contoured around the fell side and managed to find said stile quite easily. From here it was a case of following the trod, over another couple of ladder stiles either side of the Garburn Road and back to the car via The Howe. There was the lightest sprinkling of gentle rain on the way back to the car but nothing to warrant waterproofs.
Sunshine on Capple How
Over the wall to Windermere
Glorious day in Lakeland
On the way down
Coniston Fells
Troutbeck Village backed by the Southern FellsIt was great to return to Lakeland and enjoy the fells once again, even if it was a trio of unheralded tops. Numbers on the fells were really as one would expect but given these are hardly the busiest tops keeping distance wasn't an issue.
