Day 1: Skiddaw and Blencathra
The day began like the one before (when I was travelling) had ended: with a cloudless deep blue sky. Roger and Ann Hiley took me to the Ravenstone hotel near Bassenthwaite, where we started a walk up the Ullock Pike ridge. At Carlside, Ann and Roger left me and returned to the car via Dodd. After climbing Skiddaw summit, I descended via Skiddaw Little Man and Lonscale Fell down to the footbridge over Glenderaterra beck. There I met John Patterson who had his lunch nearby with Jayne Hill. Whereas Jayne had to return home, John guided me up Mungrisedale Common and further on to Blencathra summit. There we decided to climb down Sharp Edge. After about 8 hours nearly continuous walking I arrived at Scales farm. 8 Wainwrights in one day!
A little morning stroll in Loweswater, enjoying the sun, the view to the fells and the flowers along the road.
Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens)
Yellow poppies (papaver species, I could not identify it closely)
Fields - Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)
Loweswater church and Melbreak
Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea)
Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell
Loweswater Fell
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Loweswater and Burnbank Fell
Panoramic view of Loweswater, far left the Buttermerre valley, then Melbreak, Hen Combe, Gavel Fell, Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell, far right is Loweswater Fell. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.
Zooming in to Hen Combe, which is intended to be the last summit on my big round walk.
Cow Parsly (Anthriscus sylvestris)
The Buttermere valley with a glimpse of Crummock water, Rannerdale knotts, Melbreak far right. In the distance is Great Gable.
The village hall of Loweswater
Our walk starts near the Ravenstone hotel.
Bassenthwaite lake and Sale Fell
Roger in good mood
Bracken ...
... in the morning sunshine.
Ann Hiley is walking up the path
Causey Pike, Sail and Crag Hill behind Bassenthwaite Lake
Panoramic view of the northern half of Bassenthwaite Lake. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.
Binsey
Much fun to walk in the sunshine!
Looking up to Ullock Pike and Longside Edge
Bassenthwaite Lake
The Newlands Valley, on the horizon behind is Crinkle Crags, Bowfell Esk Pike, Scafell Pike, Great End and Great Gable - all peaks to be climbed this week!
Soothern valley and Skiddaw summit, behind to the right a glimpse on Skiddaw Little Man
View from near Ullock Pike summit
Dodd and Derwent Water
Ullock Pike
Southern valley and Binsey
Harry and Bethan on Longside edge, Skiddaw summit behind.
After climbing Carlside, Ann was leaving, Roger just went the few metres with me down to Carlside tarn to let the dogs swim.
The Ullock Pike ridge and the foot of Bassenthwaite Lake behind Southern Valley. Nobody could explain to me why this valley, leading from Skiddaw to the north, is called like this. Is there anybody out there?
Carl side from the steep path up Skiddaw.
Keswick moutain festival celebrated a fine meal on Skiddaw summit in these tents. I suppose there have been more camera men and women than eating guests!
The shelter on Skiddaw Northern summit
Looking from Skiddaw´s northern summit to the southern, Skiddaw Little Man to the left, behind is the Helvellyn ridge.
Keswick and Derwnt Water, with the High central and southern fells behind.
Skiddaw Little Man
Now looking to Blencathra, my last objective of the day. Quite a distance to tackle still.
Once more Keswick and Derwent Water.
The Ullock Pike ridge to the left and Skiddaw summit to the right, as seen from the summit of Skiddaw Little Man.
Zooming in to the Ullock Pike ridge.
Keswick and Derwent Water. For some reason, this view always looks like as if Derwent Water would be going to flow to the left side. Must be some kind of optical illusion.
Looking down to Latrigg, in the distance Helvellyn ridge, right behind Latrigg summit is the central ridge, tomorrow´s goal.
Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head, climbed in my 2006 Lakeland week
Walking down to Lonscale Fell
Samm tarns ("Flag Pots") between Jenkins Hill and Lonscale Fell.
Viewing back to Skiddaw summit ...
... and looking south
Skiddaw from Lonscale Fell
Now starting the steep descent from Lonscale fell. In about the place of the centre of the shadow area, I branched off to the right to the footbridge over Glenderaterra beck.
Looking back up Lonscale fell
Lonscale fell from near down to the bridge.
Glenderaterra Beck. Here met John Paterson and Jayne Hill.
Lonscale Fell and the footbridge.
Small cascades of the beck at Sinen Gill
Cloven Stone and my first break for some lunch
Tarns on Mungrisdale common, Blencathra summit not so far now.
Spot Polly taking a bath!
John is leading the ascent
Foul Crag and a glimpse on Sharp edge. Great Mell Fell in the distance.
Looking back to Skiddaw confirms the far distance I have walked today.
John now advertising our next plan: Sharp edge. Originally, I hesitated a little bit: if I would have been too tired after that long walk, and/or if there would have been wet conditions, we would have chosen Halls Fell ridge. But, after a short weak period on Mungrisdale Common, I felt quite well to tackle the rocky section.
Polly is waiting patiently while John is talking on his mobile phone.
Looking southwest to Blease Fell and the distant Derwent Water.
"Come on now, let´s do it!"
Scales Fell ridge, the easiest alternative.
Polly in Blencathra summit tarn
Now looking down Foul Crag and Sharp egde, Scales Tarn to the right. Nothing for mollycoddled beginners!
Sharp edge from Foul Crag.
The slippery rocks, called the "Bad step"
John tackling the "bad step"
--- done! ---
A few delightful rocky sections left.
"Now, it wasn´t that bad, was it?"
On the descent, already having left Glenderamackin valley.
Gorse on the way down
John Paterson´s cottage at Fornside, where I got accomodation for the night. Thank you very much, John!
Gorgeous yellow azalea in the garden behind the cottage
Rhododendron
