Having looked like it might be raining all week, we suddenly got a clear day and decided to seal my completion of the Wainwrights by revisiting my very first Wainwright - Silver How - and thus "completing the circle"

I don't know exactly how old I was when I climbed my first Wainwright - probably only 3 or 4 - but I am 99% certain that it would have been Silver How. We used to stay every year at Glenthorne Guest House, in Grasmere, and Silver How was right behind it - most if not all holidays would start with an ascent to get the legs working.

However, I had not re-climbed it since my teens - too busy climbing new ones - and was interested to see how much I remembered.

Parked in Grasmere

We parked up in Grasmere, and headed off up the road towards Allan Bank.

Silver How from Grasmere

The path across the field from Allan Bank to Glenthorne is new - it used to be a very muddy exercise in dodging cowpats!

The path to Glenthorne

Glenthorne looked just as I remembered it from 40 years ago.

Glenthorne and Fairfield


Glenthorne Annex

The path up towards Score Crag seemed very familiar, though the cottage at the end of it seemed in much better state than in my memories of it.

Seat Sandal

The stretch of path between the walls also brought back some memories.

Path between the walls

Sour Milk Gill looked splendid across the valley.

Sour Milk Gill

After a while the path diverged, with the right fork heading along the Blea Rigg ridge and the left fork heading for the summit of Silver how - after first crossing a small stream.

Crossing the stream

The streams were all pretty swollen today though, and crossing was a little trickier than usual. In the end it was a case of "trust your boots and walk quickly" which seemed to work.

Silver How summit

The summit was as I remembered, and fine views in all directions

Silver How summit view

We hadn't particularly planned to carry on up the ridge, but we were not ready to head down just yet and the weather seemed to be holding, so we carried on towards Blea Rigg. Lorraine was even eying up Pavey Ark as the nearest Wainwright still on her todo list - could we get that far?

Blea Rigg

Spotted this interesting shelter in the rocks just before the summit of Blea Rigg - looked like it could be useful if the rain came sooner than forecast.

Interesting shelter


Tarn near Blea Rigg summit


Tarn near Blea Rigg summit

We paused at the top of Blea Rigg for lunch and to discuss options. Pavey Ark was tempting but we decided we would probably run out of energy, good weather, or water if we continued, so we decided to head back down. Last time we were up this way we descended via Belles Knott and Codale Tarn, and didn't particularly enjoy it, but the time before we used Blind Tarn Moss and found it delightful - so Blind Tarn Moss it was to be.

View from Blea Rigg


When I grow up I want to be Easedale Tarn


Blind Tarn Moss


Blind Tarn Moss


Blind Tarn Moss


Blind Tarn Moss

The path down via Blind Tarn Moss is not always very distinct - and at times was almost completely obscured by bracken. But every time I checked we seemed to still be on the path that the GPS showed on the map.

Waterfall on Blind Tarn Beck

We reached the valley near a small cottage and crossed the fields towards Easedale Beck. The RAF had been having fun all day, and a couple of planes flew past at low altitude heading towards Dunmail Raise.

Low flying plane

Walking down beside Easedale Beck we remembered a previous holiday spent at Little Parrock.

Little Parrock across the bridge

Coming up to the road we hit a bit of a problem, as the Easedale Beck had burst its banks and the last 50 yards of the footpath - including the crucial bit through the gate, was now a raging torrent 8 inches deep.

Flooded path

We managed to get to the wall beside the gate with almost dry boots, then climb across via the gate and complete the journey walking along the top of the wall.

Or is it a river


Tricky gate

After that it was an easy stroll along Easedale Road and the new footpath to Allan Bank, then back into Grasmere to join the queue at the gingerbread shop.

A very enjoyable walk, and full of good memories.