Saturday 27th May 2023 - Fairfield Horseshoe - Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Hart Crag, Dove Crag, High Pike, Low Pike

Another glorious day in the lakes, 11 miles around the Fairfield Horseshoe, one we've been looking forward to a while and it didn't disappoint!

We set off from Ambleside and walked briefly on the road and then a lovely walk through Rydal park all the way to Rydal Hall.

A steepish climb at the beginning up to Nab Scar and Heron Pike and from there a lovely ridge top walk and then heading down the ridge taking in High Pike and Low Pike ticking off 8 more wainwright's altogether.

It was pretty busy up there but a great walk still and very easy to follow plus we were very lucky with the weather. Pretty exhausted by the time we got back to Ambleside for a well earned sit down and a pint!  

 

Friday 26th May 2023 - Black Fell

Finally picked off this lovely little fell on a gorgeous sunny day, an easy to follow path from Skelwith Bridge...up and down in an hour and a half with lovely views and even time for some yoga at the top!

 

Sunday 15th May 2022 - Red Screes,Middle Dodd, Little Hart Crag & High Hartsop Dodd

We followed the path from the campsite all the way along the edge of Kirkstone Pass which was actually a really nice walk in itself although a little longer than we had expected! Once we reached the Kirkstone Inn we turned right away from the road and followed a steep but fairly straightforward path to the top of Red Screes - with just a couple of vertigo inducing moments on the way! From the cairn we dropped down and followed an easy path to Middle Dodd which took less than 10 minutes and has to be one of the easiest Wainwright's we've ever bagged!

We retraced our steps and followed a path to the right up Little Hart Crag before following the ridge to a tiny cairn on High Hartsop Dodd. From there it was a steep but short descent right back to Hartsop hall and the campsite at Sykeside farm. A beautiful days walk in glorious sunshine finished off with a very refreshing dip in Brotherswater to cool down at the endow the day. All in all a lovely day of walking with some beautiful views down the valley. 

These fells will forever stay in my memory as my beloved mum passed away later that day and as lovely as it was they will always be a bittersweet memory for me. Rest In Peace Eileen Lumb, I will always think of you when i'm out on the fells and hope you're watching over us every step of the way. 💜

 

 Sunday 25th July 2021 - HartsopDodd, Caudale Moor

Just got back from a cracking weekend away in the lakes...seriously, we couldn't have asked for better weather! I was slightly worried that it would be ridiculously busy after lockdown but we managed to find ourselves a little corner of paradise in the form of Sykeside Campsite near Brothers Water. Already decided its our new favourite campsite and as we have a lot of Wainwrights still to bag in this area, I'm sure we'll be back again very soon! 

We managed a couple more Wainwrights this time, Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor, walking straight from the campsite to Hartsop before crossing Pasture Beck over a footbridge and heading fairly steeply alongside a wall to the summit Of Hartsop Dodd and then a steady ridge walk along to the top of Caudale Moor. Beautiful views, a picnic at the top and then back to Brothers Water for a spot of wild swimming..what more could you ask for?

Also very pleased that this takes us to 115 which means we're into single figures...99 to go!!

Mon 3rd Feb 2020 - Lingmoor Fell

We originally tried this fell on the saturday but the weather was so awful and we got so soaked (to the point where i was pouring water out of my boots!) that we abandoned it and went back on the monday.  I was so glad we did because it was a beautiful morning and the views were spectacular so it would have been a shame to miss out on them!

We parked at the NT carpark in Elterwater although there are a few spaces along the road too and it was a very straightforward path to follow up to the summit, it wasn't even the usual steep slog at the beginning just a gradual incline with some great views over the surrounding fells. It was very windy at the top though, making for some fairly hilarious summit photos!

Wed 3rd July 2019 - Carrock Fell, High Pike, Knott, Great Calva

Up in the lakes again and we were so lucky to have such amazing weather, blue skies for this beautiful ridge walk, we really couldn't have picked a better day.

We followed Route 25 from the Stuart Marshall book and apart from a (slight!) mishap at the beginning it was a fabulous days walk.

Just don't do what we did and end up going the wrong way up Carrock Fell unless you're really up for some scrambling practice, in which case then go right ahead!

We ended up probably adding an extra hour on to the walk scrambling up the scree slopes and then wading through knee deep heather and gorse(my legs were cut to ribbons!). 

Once we'd finally got to the top it was really easy going, a lovely ridge walk with great views of the surrounding fells. We carried on crossing the Cumbrian Way(the only time we saw any other hikers all day) and onto the summit of High Pike with its memorial bench to a local boy ' He is a portion of that loveliness that once he made more lovely".
From here it was a steady walk on the Cumbrian way track, past the Lingy hut and down to Grainsgill beck which was pretty dry and easy enough to cross. A short uphill to the summit of Knott and then a fairly straightforward hike up to the summit of Great Calva.

The route down to the river wasn't the most pleasant as the path is very overgrown with heather so took longer than anticipated but once we'd crossed the beck it was a good track through the Caldew Valley along the river. We even ended up having a little paddle in the river...very nice at the end of a long days hike. It was about 14 miles or so by the time we arrived back in Mosedale bridge where we'd parked by the road, a fab walk on a beautiful day in the lakes. 4 more Wainwright's in the bag too!!