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This is the final report, finally! From the weekend of 2/3/4th March 2013. Wainwright numbers 210 & 211 the ones above Wastwater.
After Sunday’s exertions on Haycock and Seatallan today’s trip was quite short if a little uphilly. Leaving the car at YHA Wastwater I set off down the road towards the western end of the lake and located the signpost attached to a wrought iron kissing gate (didn’t get kissed!) and left turned down the obvious path.
- The obvious path
The weather was great, if a little chilly and the ground nice and dry. The path was well signed and soon increased in upward gradient in true Lakes fashion.
- On way up
- Still going up!
Puffing and panting apart, I was rewarded with superb views down the length of Wastwater and eventually made the ridge joining the path from Miterdale in the west, turned left and headed for Whin Rigg
- The Ridge
- Whin Rigg I think!
Whin Rigg was one of those hills with multiple summitty look a likes, so to be on the safe side I visited the lot, finally settling down on the one with the nice view of Buckbarrow and Middle Fell to have a well earned brew and, because I was solo, a caramel wafer! I could wax lyrical about the virtues of a Tunnocks gobful of exquisiteness, but I’ll let the product do the talking
Suitably refreshed and satiated, I set off along the ridge for Illgill Head in the distance, passing a couple and dog coming towards me and commenting on the wind which had got up nicely enough to be cold.
- Illgill Head, Scafells in the background
Illgill Head is not the most striking of hills as can be seen but it gives great views of the Scafells, Great Gable, Yewbarrow etc etc
- Summit cairn Illgill Head
Illgill Head was not a place to stop for long, mainly because, although the sun was shining, the wind was knife-like in its penetrability factor and to tarry was to freeze!
I reversed my route and headed back towards Whin Rigg
- The way back
Strange how things /scenery change in the space of a few hundred yards when going the other way, the drop from Whin Rigg felt considerably worse going up than it did going down!
I met two other couples on my way back to the right turn down off the ridge, both of whom, were enjoying the weather and rightly so.
A ninety degree right and the downhill bit got progressively steeper, I’m sure it wasn’t this steep on the way up, but the moment was broken by the arrival of two helicopters.
- View going down
- Spot the Chopper!
I watched, photographed and listened as they made their way up towards Wasdale Head and disturbed the peace by circling the valley, clearly checking out their walking route for next weekend, before disappearing noisily back towards the coast. Only wished I’d been up there with them the views must have been great!
I stopped one last time to admire the view of my trip the day before
- Yesterdays Hills
Before making my way back to YHA Wastwater (Nice place to stay!), the car and a three hour drive home, via Tesco to buy ‘dearly beloved’ flowers and chocs, it was her weekend off and I’d been missing!! Sometimes you have to suffer for your passion, it lasted about three days!!!!
Only three left now!