walkhighlands

This board helps you to share your walking route experiences in England and Wales... or overseas.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

A Grey, Grey Day

A Grey, Grey Day


Postby johnkaysleftleg » Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:14 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Blake Fell, Burnbank Fell, Gavel Fell

Date walked: 17/11/2013

Time taken: 4.25

Distance: 10.5 km

Ascent: 640m

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Following last weeks missed :( sun and snow extravaganza in the Lakes we were keen to get over asap. Unfortunately this weekend's weather wasn't anywhere near as good, but with Sunday looking the better, with a promise of a weather window before the next front came in we headed over the A66 towards Loweswater for the next installment of our round.

The sun shining on the Pennines gave us a clue that the weather was in advance of the forecast and once we got into the Lakes the Bank of cloud to the South West confirmed that the sunshine was not going to last much longer. It was as the last vestiges of this warming glow left Carling Knott that we set of walking on what was already now a grey day.

Image
Carling Knott by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Autumn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Mellbreak and Grasmoor by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
High Nook Tarn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Heading up by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

For full screen version follow the link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkaysleftleg/10960643553/in/photostream/lightbox/

Image
Veiled Grasmoor by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Moody Buttermere by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Looking towards Hen Comb by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The ascent of Gavel Fell starts quite promisingly with a defined ridge heading up at a nice angle. The views back towards Loweswater, across to Grasmoor and friends and up Buttermere are very nice and on a sunny day in late August with the heather in bloom this would be a quite idyllic start to the walk. As it was it stayed fairly clear until we reached High Nook and the clag started to roll in. The ridge also loses all semblance of definition at this point so it was a largely viewless trudge up to Gavel Fells summit.

Image
The Joy of Fellwalking by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Grace and Hughie on Gavel Fell by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We paused long enough to don our water proofs as a fine misty rain had also started, before following the fence towards the days high point, Blake Fell. From what I saw Blake Fell looks quite impressive as it thrusts up to its height of over 1800ft. I can't speak of the views however as we saw none. :( One thing we can recommend is the summit shelter when the wind is blowing from the South West as it provided an excellent place for lunch. This was a good job as the light winds forecast were now whipping up nicely.

Image
On the way to Blake Fell by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Pretending to be happy on Blake Fell by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We left the shelter somewhat reluctantly and headed off into the clag to find the nondescript summit of Burnbank Fell.
This is another of those mystery fells in the round of 214, quite why it's included is hard to say, especially as Carling Knott or Carling End would probably provide a far better objective. AW chose to include them as part of Blake Fell so fair enough I suppose.

Image
Once more into the Clag... by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Image
Final top of the Day by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

By the time we were heading down from Burnbank the rain had set in quite persistently (so no more pics I'm afraid) which made the steep grassy descent quite interesting to say the least. Upon reaching the terraced path around the side of the fell a reason for it's inclusion perhaps became apparent as this high level traverse, with the superb colours of Holme Wood and Loweswater below, is really beautiful, even in the rain. We finished off by walking through the stunning Holme Wood with a mind to return on a sunny Autumnal day at some time in the future.

I would have to say we certainly didn't see the best of this round which is a pity as I feel on a really nice day it would have considerable merit.


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Last edited by johnkaysleftleg on Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby Ibex » Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:51 pm

Great photo's there as usual. Love the one of Grasmoor with the clag swirling around its head. Very moody!

Glad to see your still at and about over the colder months, bagging those hills.
There was something different about Gracie though, that took me a while to clock. No glasses! 8)
User avatar
Ibex
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 473
Munros:16   Corbetts:1
Hewitts:130
Wainwrights:214   
Joined: May 30, 2012
Location: Cumbria

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby clivegrif » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:51 pm

Another cracking set of pictures there Anthony, love the atmospheric black & white pics with the swirling cloud.

..and you even managed to extract decent colour out of a real grey day.

Excellent stuff.
User avatar
clivegrif
Rambler
 
Posts: 1452
Munros:282   Corbetts:37
Fionas:15   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:6   Hewitts:194
Wainwrights:50   Islands:3
Joined: Nov 28, 2010
Location: Worcester

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:14 am

Ibex wrote:Great photo's there as usual. Love the one of Grasmoor with the clag swirling around its head. Very moody!

Glad to see your still at and about over the colder months, bagging those hills.
There was something different about Gracie though, that took me a while to clock. No glasses! 8)


We found out that in many ways the best walks are in winter. even some small fells can be transformed by a bit snow. As for Graces glasses they were rendered a bit pointless by the mizzle and clag :lol:

clivegrif wrote:Another cracking set of pictures there Anthony, love the atmospheric black & white pics with the swirling cloud.

..and you even managed to extract decent colour out of a real grey day.

Excellent stuff.


Cheers Clive, it was a bit of a challenging day for photography. Shame it was raining persistently as we descended as Holme wood really was a stunning array of colours.
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby mrssanta » Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:50 pm

Lovely autumn colours, I think this year is especially beautiful. Glasses can be a nuisance in drizzle but they do keep your eyes warm in a wind!
User avatar
mrssanta
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3132
Munros:281   Corbetts:12
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:12   Hewitts:43
Wainwrights:41   Islands:13
Joined: Jul 18, 2011
Location: north yorkshire moors

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:34 pm

mrssanta wrote:Lovely autumn colours, I think this year is especially beautiful. Glasses can be a nuisance in drizzle but they do keep your eyes warm in a wind!


Cheers Mrs S
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby SusieThePensioner » Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:48 pm

Shame about the weather but still an enjoyable walk :D
Some lovely photos and the black and white ones are impressive :thumbup:
User avatar
SusieThePensioner
 
Posts: 1543
Munros:6   Corbetts:3
Fionas:4   Donalds:7
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:107
Wainwrights:156   
Joined: Sep 7, 2011
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:38 pm

SusieThePensioner wrote:Shame about the weather but still an enjoyable walk :D
Some lovely photos and the black and white ones are impressive :thumbup:


Thank you Susie, most kind :D
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby CharlesT » Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:14 pm

Nice report on an underappreciated part of the Lakeland Fells. Hardly ever met anyone on these hills and they offer lovely views and opportunities for quiet contemplation often lacking from the more frequented hills.

Like the black and white photos - took me back to the old photo books my family had of Lakeland - very atmospheric.

Hughie looks to be enjoying himself - more pics please, he's a fine wee fellow.
User avatar
CharlesT
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 4502
Munros:156   Corbetts:2
Hewitts:262
Wainwrights:214   Islands:2
Joined: Dec 22, 2011
Location: West Oxfordshire

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:02 pm

CharlesT wrote:Nice report on an underappreciated part of the Lakeland Fells. Hardly ever met anyone on these hills and they offer lovely views and opportunities for quiet contemplation often lacking from the more frequented hills.

Like the black and white photos - took me back to the old photo books my family had of Lakeland - very atmospheric.

Hughie looks to be enjoying himself - more pics please, he's a fine wee fellow.


Thanks Charles, Hughie loves the fells but not posing for pictures so much :lol: Certainly these fells were quiet on this day as we didn't see another soul on the tops, probably down to the less than clement weather.
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby ChrisW » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:08 pm

Great use of the black and white shots JK really makes the best of a grey day :clap:
User avatar
ChrisW
Rambler
 
Posts: 4941
Munros:18   Corbetts:5
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:6   
Joined: Jan 25, 2011
Location: Cochrane- Alberta - Canada

Re: A Grey, Grey Day

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:11 am

ChrisW wrote:Great use of the black and white shots JK really makes the best of a grey day :clap:


Thanks Chris, most kind
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3340
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Outside Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests