The Lord's Seat Five

[johnkaysleftleg]

Last weekend was our final chance for a while to get over to the Lakes for a walk so we headed for the Whinlatter Pass to bag the five Lord’s Seat fells. It was a fine if somewhat overcast as we set off along the forestry road past Darling How. The first mile or so couldn't be simpler for this round with a very gradual ascent on a surfaced road. Things took a dramatic change following this simple start however as we needed to get up a steep bank of forestry land to gain access to the open fellside. Some internet reports on other websites had great swathes of the trees on this fellside having been cleared, unfortunately much of it has been replanted and strong young saplings are sprouting up hindering progress. There are traces of a path next to a broken down wall but despite this we still had to force our way past some springy branches on our way up to the fence that marks the start of Whinlatter’s heathery upper slopes.


An Easy Start by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


On the way up Whinlatter by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

An initial attempt to cross the unstable fence almost ended in yours truly suffering a mischief so we continued further up and found the broken wall had been modified to provide a makeshift stile. The going was still quite arduous for a while as we made our way up the pathless heather that characterises this fell before we stumbled across a trod that took us up to the Wainwright top, Brown How. This isn't the highest point of Whinlatter but in AW's defence he did point out in the chapter devoted to this fell that the Eastern top looked higher despite what the ordinance survey showed on its maps of the era.


Hughie in the Heather by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


On the way up Brown How by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Grace and Hughie on Brown How by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Brown How on Whinlatter by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Looking up Hobcarton Gill by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We continued over the real top of Whinlatter before making our way back into the forestry land. Following a few inevitable wrong turns (is it only me that has bother in forestry land?) we made our way onto the boggiest section of the walk towards the truly bizarrely named Barf.
Barf, it turned out, was the highlight of the whole day with a quite magnificent summit view which we enjoyed for a while before retracing some of our steps on the boggy trudge to the high point of the day, the grandly named Lord’s Seat.


Lord's Seat catches some Sun by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Barf by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Basenthwaite by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Looking towards Derwent Water by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Causey Pike Mono by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


View from Barf by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Lords Seat with a strange adornment by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

It might be grandly named but it’s a fairly ordinary fell in all honesty. Today it was sporting an unusual device that was something to do with the cycling event to be held on the Sunday. From here the reward for our efforts was a nice easy stroll across the top of Broom Fell and a short ascent up to Graystones.


Broom Fell by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Looking back at Lord's Seat by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Grisdale Pike by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

As with Brown How, Graystones isn't the high point of the fell but it’s certainly the best top with a cracking view across the Vale of Lorton. We admired this, enjoying the sunshine which was now unbroken, before heading down the very steep descent down to Scawgill Beck.


Grace, Nicola and Hughie on Graystones by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Vale of Lorton from Graystones by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Steeply down from Graystones by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Fields by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Grisdale Pike across the Whinlatter Pass by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Following this toe crushing, knee shattering fun we followed the short diversion to see Spout Force. This is an impressive falls but the view point provided by the forestry commission leaves something to be desired with trees restricting the view somewhat. Better than Wainwrights day however where he reported being able to see the top few feet of the falls only.


Scawgill Beck by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

These fells are perhaps some of Lakelands most ignored hills with only Barf (understandably) having any real foot traffic during our visit (we saw only two other walkers on the other four fells combined). For those seeking a quiet day they have considerable merit however it’s difficult not to have your eyes wander to the defined ridges and lofty summits across the Whinlatter pass to realise just why you might be alone.

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[clivegrif]

That looks a lovely day out, the views are terrific. This is not an area I have been to, but it definitely looks worthwhile.

....oh, and by the way, your pictures are okay as well.... (serious envy creeping in here - why can't I take pictures like that....)

[Ibex]

Glad to see that others are envious of your photographic skills.
The photo's make it look really sunny and warm, but I seriously doubt that was the case. Hope its still like that next week, as I hope to get up there and do a bit of walking myself...............just got to convince the wife its a good idea now. Ahem.

Hughie looks so happy in the heather there.

[colgregg]

It's a pleasant little stroll apart from the tramp through the forested bits. It's a pity about the restricted view of Spout Force. The F.C. make it seem spectacular, car park named after it, good path from Scawgill Bridge to the viewing point only to find it, as you did, obscured by trees, I was very underwhelmed. We even ventured up the ravine but getting a pic was tricky.

[johnkaysleftleg]

That looks a lovely day out, the views are terrific. This is not an area I have been to, but it definitely looks worthwhile.

....oh, and by the way, your pictures are okay as well.... (serious envy creeping in here - why can't I take pictures like that....)

Thanks Clive

Glad to see that others are envious of your photographic skills.
The photo's make it look really sunny and warm, but I seriously doubt that was the case. Hope its still like that next week, as I hope to get up there and do a bit of walking myself...............just got to convince the wife its a good idea now. Ahem.

Hughie looks so happy in the heather there.

It wasn't too bad at all, quite a nice temperature for walking. Not sure the weathers been too good this weekend, hopefully you'll get up to the Lakes soon.

It's a pleasant little stroll apart from the tramp through the forested bits. It's a pity about the restricted view of Spout Force. The F.C. make it seem spectacular, car park named after it, good path from Scawgill Bridge to the viewing point only to find it, as you did, obscured by trees, I was very underwhelmed. We even ventured up the ravine but getting a pic was tricky.

P1030534 (1024x768).jpg

I've seen a canny pic from the ravine before but who ever took it must have put the work in because they are very close to the falls. I nearly got lynched by Grace and Nicola for dragging them along for not alot

[colgregg]

My pic from the ravine. I must admit I was very careful and my brother even more so as he had £300 camera in hand as we negotiated our way. Typically it's spoilt by the foreground of all the debris thats been washed down by floodwater.

[SusieThePensioner]

I enjoyed your report and some lovely views
We've attempted to get to Spout Force from the top car park but found it was better walking from the bottom one by the bridge.

[johnkaysleftleg]

I enjoyed your report and some lovely views
We've attempted to get to Spout Force from the top car park but found it was better walking from the bottom one by the bridge.

Thanks Susie The path from the bridge was certainly a bit better than the one named car park which as quite over grown, had some very tasty brambles however