First day out for a while and it was all white.
Wainwrights: Bannerdale Crags, Bowscale Fell
Hewitts: Bannerdale Crags, Bowscale Fell
Date walked: 05/12/2023
Time taken: 4.15 hours
Distance: 11.5km
Ascent: 601m
We had a little break booked mid-week, I've retired, well, from full time work, I may look for a part-time job in the spring, Denise works part time so hopefully we'll have a bit more time to do this sort of thing
Weather watching we saw there was a fair bit of snow forecast for the southern lakes, we'd booked a little cottage just off the A66 so were hoping it wouldn't be too bad further north, fingers, legs and anything else crossed
As it turned out the morning we set off the forecast was very favourable, all roads except the high passes were open so plans went unchanged
We set off at 7.15am Tuesday bound for Mungrisdale, apart from the usual morning hold ups around Manchester our journey was ok, we arrived in the village at 10.00 got ready and were on our way by 10.20.
It was a bit dull and overcast but the forecast was for the weather to improve by lunch time, the coolish breeze was to get less as the afternoon wore on so we were hoping it would be a decent little foray into our favourite part of the Lakes, the planned hills were Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags probably just right for the time we had left and there was snow up there too
We walked along the road past the church and left it to use the hill path that goes steeply up and around Raven Crags.
It's very steep and a bit of a shock to the system after a long break from the hills, it certainly gives the heart a good solid
work out
After the initial climb of about 250 meters fighting our way through Gorse and dead bracken as we went, it started to get less steep so we had a short break and I took a few pics while the old ticker was settling down at this height the ground was frozen solid so any soggy bits were like concrete
After about another 50m of ascent we reached the snow
not much to start with, looking ahead, however, it looked a bit more interesting
Looking across to High Pike
Looking back
We didn't have our ice axes or crampons with us, just poles and micro spikes, we had no plans to go any higher than Bowscale Fell so we carried on and decided to re-assess when we reached the shelter on the summit.
A bit higher up, a bit more than a sprinkling
The snow was soft and probably about 4" deep so no problem there, the thing that was a bit concerning was the mist so we had to keep our eyes on the map, the mist was just thin enough to make out the edge of Bannerdale Crags so we carried on.
The final climb to the shelter was a case of keep going up until there's no more up, there was no sign of the path but, as if by magic and a bit of luck too, we arrived at the summit shelter just as the mist lifted and unveiled a wonderful view
Blencathra looked fantastic with its white jacket on, we could see Great Calva, Knott, High Pike and Carrock Fell all appearing from the mist, the way forward to Bannerdale Crags was plain to see, we were glad we carried on and now that the mist had lifted
Now it was a case of a nice steady plod taking care not to find any hidden holes under the snow.
On our way, Bowscale Fell shelter behind us, it was a nice view point
There was a couple ahead of us in the distance and a solo walker off to the left, these were the only people we saw until we were passed by a young woman and dog who were on their way down from the summit of Bannerdale Crags.
We arrived at the summit and the views were superb
Back to Bowscale Fell with the crags below
View to the northern fells
Sharp Edge and Hallsfell Top to the left (Blencathra)
The crags
I think we were at the optimum height where there was enough snow to make it safe and interesting, however, any higher it would have been a bit daft without the proper equipment, Blencathra is another 180m higher so there could have been another 6" of snow on the top, we could see people on their way up Sharp edge, by now it was nearly two o'clock so they'd have to get a wiggle on
From the summit we set off south east to descend via White Horse Bent,
I knew there was a path down this way I was just hoping it was snowless because it's steep the lower you get No problem, by the time we'd got to the 500m contour or there abouts there was very little snow
As we were getting closer to the foot bridge across the River Glenderamackin we saw a Kestrel sitting on a boulder taking a rest, he looked pretty plump so he must be finding his grub
Down on the path we took a rest, had something to eat then set off on the walk back to Mungrisdale
r
This path follows the Glenderamackin all the way, in parts it's great, nearer the village it's really soggy, the ford at NY35072947 (Bannerdale Beck) was interesting, enough water in it to make you think any more and it would have been a bit difficult to cross, good job the snow wasn't melting
Back at the car we had a late lunch and a nice hot flask of coffee then we were on our way to our little holiday cottage.
By now the sun was getting low
We enjoyed our time out, during the summer it's a nice walk, today, it had a little more interest, the snow made it a little more alpine-ish
Weather watching we saw there was a fair bit of snow forecast for the southern lakes, we'd booked a little cottage just off the A66 so were hoping it wouldn't be too bad further north, fingers, legs and anything else crossed
As it turned out the morning we set off the forecast was very favourable, all roads except the high passes were open so plans went unchanged
We set off at 7.15am Tuesday bound for Mungrisdale, apart from the usual morning hold ups around Manchester our journey was ok, we arrived in the village at 10.00 got ready and were on our way by 10.20.
It was a bit dull and overcast but the forecast was for the weather to improve by lunch time, the coolish breeze was to get less as the afternoon wore on so we were hoping it would be a decent little foray into our favourite part of the Lakes, the planned hills were Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags probably just right for the time we had left and there was snow up there too
We walked along the road past the church and left it to use the hill path that goes steeply up and around Raven Crags.
It's very steep and a bit of a shock to the system after a long break from the hills, it certainly gives the heart a good solid
work out
After the initial climb of about 250 meters fighting our way through Gorse and dead bracken as we went, it started to get less steep so we had a short break and I took a few pics while the old ticker was settling down at this height the ground was frozen solid so any soggy bits were like concrete
After about another 50m of ascent we reached the snow
not much to start with, looking ahead, however, it looked a bit more interesting
Looking across to High Pike
Looking back
We didn't have our ice axes or crampons with us, just poles and micro spikes, we had no plans to go any higher than Bowscale Fell so we carried on and decided to re-assess when we reached the shelter on the summit.
A bit higher up, a bit more than a sprinkling
The snow was soft and probably about 4" deep so no problem there, the thing that was a bit concerning was the mist so we had to keep our eyes on the map, the mist was just thin enough to make out the edge of Bannerdale Crags so we carried on.
The final climb to the shelter was a case of keep going up until there's no more up, there was no sign of the path but, as if by magic and a bit of luck too, we arrived at the summit shelter just as the mist lifted and unveiled a wonderful view
Blencathra looked fantastic with its white jacket on, we could see Great Calva, Knott, High Pike and Carrock Fell all appearing from the mist, the way forward to Bannerdale Crags was plain to see, we were glad we carried on and now that the mist had lifted
Now it was a case of a nice steady plod taking care not to find any hidden holes under the snow.
On our way, Bowscale Fell shelter behind us, it was a nice view point
There was a couple ahead of us in the distance and a solo walker off to the left, these were the only people we saw until we were passed by a young woman and dog who were on their way down from the summit of Bannerdale Crags.
We arrived at the summit and the views were superb
Back to Bowscale Fell with the crags below
View to the northern fells
Sharp Edge and Hallsfell Top to the left (Blencathra)
The crags
I think we were at the optimum height where there was enough snow to make it safe and interesting, however, any higher it would have been a bit daft without the proper equipment, Blencathra is another 180m higher so there could have been another 6" of snow on the top, we could see people on their way up Sharp edge, by now it was nearly two o'clock so they'd have to get a wiggle on
From the summit we set off south east to descend via White Horse Bent,
I knew there was a path down this way I was just hoping it was snowless because it's steep the lower you get No problem, by the time we'd got to the 500m contour or there abouts there was very little snow
As we were getting closer to the foot bridge across the River Glenderamackin we saw a Kestrel sitting on a boulder taking a rest, he looked pretty plump so he must be finding his grub
Down on the path we took a rest, had something to eat then set off on the walk back to Mungrisdale
r
This path follows the Glenderamackin all the way, in parts it's great, nearer the village it's really soggy, the ford at NY35072947 (Bannerdale Beck) was interesting, enough water in it to make you think any more and it would have been a bit difficult to cross, good job the snow wasn't melting
Back at the car we had a late lunch and a nice hot flask of coffee then we were on our way to our little holiday cottage.
By now the sun was getting low
We enjoyed our time out, during the summer it's a nice walk, today, it had a little more interest, the snow made it a little more alpine-ish
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-
martin.h
- Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Occupation: Retired
- Interests: Mountaineering, Photography, History, Historic Buildings and sites, all of Scotland
- Activity: Mountain Walker
- Pub: Helwith Bridge Inn
- Mountain: An Teallach
- Place: Isle of Harris
- Gear: Paramo Windproof
- Member: National Trust
- Camera: Olympus/sony compact
- Ideal day out: A good long walk taking in several summits,varied terrain and brilliant views.
- Ambition: Compleat the Munros
- Walk wishlist
- Munros: 223
- Corbetts: 25
- Fionas: 15
- Donalds: 15+2
- Wainwrights: 214
- Hewitts: 151
- Sub 2000: 4
- Islands: 29
- Filter reports
- Trips: 16
- Distance: 257.5 km
- Ascent: 12013m
- Munros: 6
- Corbetts: 3
- Fionas: 1
- Donalds: 7
- Sub2000s: 1
- Hewitts: 4
- Wainwrights 3
- Trips: 24
- Distance: 322.45 km
- Ascent: 16169m
- Munros: 6
- Corbetts: 4
- Fionas: 2
- Donalds: 1
- Sub2000s: 3
- Hewitts: 9
- Trips: 17
- Distance: 230.4 km
- Ascent: 12544m
- Munros: 4
- Corbetts: 2
- Fionas: 2
- Hewitts: 2
- Trips: 14
- Distance: 190.45 km
- Ascent: 11745m
- Munros: 4
- Hewitts: 2
- Wainwrights 1
- Trips: 19
- Distance: 283.5 km
- Ascent: 19806m
- Munros: 14
- Corbetts: 1
- Hewitts: 12
- Wainwrights 20
- Trips: 23
- Distance: 361.05 km
- Ascent: 24526m
- Munros: 26
- Hewitts: 20
- Wainwrights 35
- Trips: 25
- Distance: 347.5 km
- Ascent: 25223m
- Munros: 16
- Corbetts: 5
- Hewitts: 18
- Wainwrights 43
- Trips: 21
- Distance: 448.7 km
- Ascent: 27019m
- Munros: 42
- Corbetts: 1
- Hewitts: 9
- Wainwrights 26
- Trips: 31
- Distance: 468.95 km
- Ascent: 32049m
- Munros: 42
- Corbetts: 2
- Donalds: 4
- Hewitts: 12
- Wainwrights 25
- Trips: 28
- Distance: 395 km
- Ascent: 27479m
- Munros: 44
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- Donalds: 3
- Hewitts: 15
- Wainwrights 26
- Trips: 7
- Distance: 72.7 km
- Ascent: 3243m
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