Sunday 8th February - A walk for the dogs!

Saturday 7th February - A walk with the dogs...

Despite winter having arrived several weeks ago, today was the first chance that we'd had to make the most of some amazing conditions - and the sun shone as well!

An early start saw us away from the fell gate and up into Boulder Valley in bright sunshine and not a whisper of a breeze. From the top of Boulder Valley the view across Levers Water to Swirl How and Wetherlam was fantastic...

Swirl How and Wetherlam across Levers Water

... but we cracked on, contouring above the tarn until the path to Levers Hawse crossed ours where we declared a coffee break.

We followed the Levers Hawse route for a while then hung away left up into the cove below Brim Fell and up behind Raven Tor; the snow firming up to solid neve and slicked with the occasional patch of water ice.

Sue in Gill Cove


Kicking up toward Brim Fell Rake (skyline, centre)

Probably not Dougal's favorite place in all the world (red dot marks the spot)

Sunday 1st February - Liverpool CC and the usual suspects

Paul realised that he could come out to play despite his shifts and, so it was, that the two of us turned up at Newby Bridge to meet with a team from Liverpool Canoe Club, bright and early(ish), keen to get out after last weeks aborted plan. Once coffee was drunk and cars, kit, boats and bodies rearranged, we were off to the Leven with Mark, Keith and Helen from the 'pool.

The river was at a tidy medium level; plenty of features to play on, break-outs to make, weirs and waves to keep us entertained. The drop under Backbarrow Bridge, inspected during the shuttle, was run straight from the eddy with no surprises, other than meeting another paddler, Dave, from Ulverston who hooked up with us for the rest of the river.

We were off the Leven early enough to go for more; Paul had to go but Dave didn't and so we shot across to the Kent for the usual float and drop down to Force Falls...

The first bouncy rapid on the Kent

Reappearing after Force Falls

Dave attacking the drop

Saturday 31st January - High Dam and Stott Park

So much variation in such a short walk; from the church at Finsthwate, up through the fields and woods past High Dam then across rolling fellside to the craggy little top of Stott Park Heights with the fantastic view along Windermere. In just 3 1/2 miles and a series of short ascents (only 700 ft in total) it takes in just about everything - except for a valley bottom walk - that the Lakes can offer.

Dougal raring to go...

...while Bruce and Sue bring up the rear

Altar and windows in Finstwaite church

Sunday 25th January - Almost but not quite...

Despite having made plans for a paddle and there being plenty of water about, plans changed and it was off on a mission with Sue. Not hard-core whitewater or slogging up a hillside through snow drifts, nor even finger jamming on some sheltered crag; suffice it to say that the boss eventually found the dressing gown she was looking for, though not in the right size, at a shop in Cartmel. Neither could we find the potted plant to quite match the decor in the conservatory despite searching through the entire stock of Hayes in Ambleside.

We headed off to Tarn Hows for a wander in the sunshine where Bruce hoovered abandoned sandwiches from the carpark and Dugal found - and vanished in pursuit of - yet more sheep.

No worries though, we still had shopping to do; the picture "that would be perfect for the downstairs loo" and had been playing on her mind was still there, in Poppi-red, Hawkshead, though not for long! A browse through the bookshop before continuing with my post-Christmas diet by scoffing a clotted cream tea brought our swanning around to an end and we headed home as the sun set on a lazy day in the Lakes.

Sunshine breaking through at Tarn Hows

Brrrrrruce

Sunday 18th January - Lune

There had been some huge water on the Lune prior to John, Nige and I arriving; the tide mark on the road bridge above the get-in must have been 5 or 6 feet above the bottom of the bridge, so up to 8 feet above the level show here! While a couple, or even 4 feet of extra water would have been fun, 8 feet.... well, Stangerthwaite weir might have been really interesting!

Three boats waiting for their pilots...

Saturday 17th January - Cautley Spout

Tuesday 13th January - Newlands Beck

Rain! At last; water in something other than solid form. Paul's shifts and my frustration demanded a cheeky days leave and some paddling action. Sorted.

Meeting in Keswick for a pre-paddle brew, it was clear that there was water about; the Greta was well up on the bottom step at Fitz Park so we decided to haul over to the Newlands valley and get on the beck at Little Town.

What a blast, not at all complicated by a missing spray deck, open drysuit zip, dodged strainers, upside down moments and the usual antics of an early season splash. No cobwebs left on either of us by the time we arrived at the Adventure Centre and hopped off the water, much to the amusement of some elderly walkers. Happy that they were happy!

Once off and changed, we drove up over Newlands Pass; I'd seen the b&w photo (below) on a photography site and wanted a closer look at the lower part of the beck it captured - Sail Beck. The photo shows the upper part of the beck which runs down past the top of the Pass; my thinking was that it would be feasible to drive to the top of the Pass, hoof boats cross-country down to the beck and run it to Buttermere.

Upper Sail Beck (from the 'net)

From what we could see of it, much of the beck falls steeply through open fellside with a couple of steeper drops / small falls. Certainly tight, twisty and technical, it will need some heavy rain to bring it up to anything other than plastic grinder level. It eventually disappears into a wooded steep sided valley, verging on a ravine. At least one steep, twisting slot / drop could be seen through the trees and deadwood strainers are most likely to be a problem. Definitely interesting but needs a half day with boots and bowsaws before a full on paddle methinks...

Friday 2nd January - Jack's Rake

Another fine, bright (if early) morning and our kit was already packed so we were well ahead of the crowds as we pulled into a field and parked opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale. Stopping in the bar to use the loo - sorry - to pay the parking fee was the only delay before heading up the path which parallels Stickle Ghyll and leads up to the tarn. Well, that and the fact we couldn't find our way out of the pub garden...

I just put my head down and pushed myself up the "made" path, criss-crossing the frozen beck and pausing every so often for Sue to catch up (and for me to catch my breath). Before long we could see queues of cars heading into the valley delivering more bodies who, like a row of ants, were soon wandering up the path behind us.

Before long the path narrowed, entering a confining gulley, and we crossed the beck on frosty, snow covered rocks before pulling up and into the hollow where Stickle Tarn sits, reflecting the south east facing crag of Pavey Ark.

Pavey Ark across Stickle Tarn

After a few minutes admiring the view and deciding not to walk straight across the frozen tarn, we were off again, around the tarn to the foot of the crag. It was at this point we enjoyed a philosophical discussion regarding the concepts involved in walking, scrambling and climbing. When I say enjoyed, it was perhaps more of a matter of enlightenment. For me. I subsequently had a crystal clear understanding of just what parts of my anatomy Sue was going to remove should this walk turn into a climb rather than a scramble. And I was sure, no, certain, that there would be ice on Jack's Rake. Jack's Rake being our route to the top of Pavey Ark and, as famously described by A W Wainwright, the limit to what a walker should reasonably attempt.... I was convinced that while we'd get to the top, perhaps not all of me would be coming down again!

Sue SMILING at the foot of Jack's Rake

Technically, not Walking but Scrambling. Definitely not Climbing!

Excellent progress was made right up until we found the icy section. Photographs are now noticeable by their absence; I was busy with the rope which came out to give Sue a little confidence, secured from a first rate rock-spike belay where I could sit and watch the rope with my legs firmly crossed. We were both safe!

Once over this minor hiatus all was good, scrambling up the long slanting groove come ledge to finish with a steep rising traverse across a clean slab. Success - we were at the top, no epics and physically intact. Just in time for lunch.

Phew - I think that I got away with it!

Crinkle Crags to Great Gable - the heart of the Lakes

Below Thorn Crag on our way back to the NDG

Thursday 1st January - Hampsfield Fell

My first blog entry of 2009 and so a Happy New Year to one and all, may it be kind and bring you and your loved ones much happiness.

Sue had left me dragging my mouse all over Memory Map with instructions to find us a wander somewhere. Just as well I'm motivated by strong women (hahahahahaha)....

Anyways, between MM and Google, I became aware of a "Hospice" built "to provide shelter for travellers" on top of Hampsfield Fell, aka Hampsfell, sitting above Cartmel and surrounded by limestone pavement and the Priory should be light from inside as dusk falls. Hmmm - not too far to drive, nor to actually walk and plenty of interest. Now I just need to convince Sue...

"Oh, the hospice on Hampsfell" she said as she wandered downstairs, "Yes, that's a good walk, been up there a few times...." Doh! I shoulda known. We were soon off, dogs keen as ever, Broccoli and Stilton soup, rolls and treats in the bag and the camera over the shoulder.

The Hospice on Hampsfell

From inside the Hospice...

North west across the limestone pavement

Let's be off then

Now, I can usually manage with a map, especially when I know where I am and can see where I want to go. On this occasion however, barbed wire, farmers gates and some large, hairy livestock convinced me otherwise! A bit of a back-track saw us evade the beasts in Borwick's Aynsome (the farm), nip around the walled garden and through the grounds of Longlands Hall. I can live this down - thankfully - as there was a footpath sign on the "other" side of the farm; though the farmer and his livestock were welcome to it!

Cartmel Priory - sadly closed to visitors this evening