Sharkey's Dream

It is true, that as of late there has been an on going issue with the unpredictability of the wet, & indeed wintery weather that Cumbria & indeed the whole of the UK has been experiencing – with the best of the weather frustratingly enough, occurring during midweek when most of us are at work. We are mid May & should be rolling up the sleeves & thinking about bringing the shorts out, okay the temperatures have increased slightly & maybe the snow has all but melted but it simply isn’t summer weather is it?

Right now I would settle for Spring to re-appear.

My head has been over worked, the elastic band came off after these past few weeks I simply cant think Lakeland & my beloved fells because people need their cars back on the road & its up to me to get them there. I dream of winning the lottery & buying some humble two up two cottage that’s in need of a white wash nestled away in the deepest of some wind swept valley.

It’s not too much to ask is it? Okay it is, I’m never going to find myself in the paint isle looking at Brilliant white am I? so instead I’ll settle for what we all know as life.

Bugger.

Back to my walk which hosts some ten summits of which I have only visited a handful less than once since bagging my Wainwrights some two years ago & back then you guessed it, it was raining then too.

 

 

ASCENT: 4,007 Feet, 1,221 Metres

WAINWRIGHTS: 9, Beda Fell – Angletarn Pikes – Brock Crags – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Rampsgill Head – High Raise – Wether Hill – Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa)

SUMMITS VISTED: 10, Beda Fell – Beda Head – Angletarn Pikes – Brock Crags – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Rampsgill Head – High Raise – Wether Hill – Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa)

WEATHER: Some Drizzle, Calm & Very Muggy, Highs Of 14°C Lows Of 11°C

PARKING: Parking Spaces, Martindale New Church

AREA: Far Eastern

MILES: 12

WALKING WITH: On My Own

ORDNANCE SURVEY: OL5

TIME TAKEN: 7Hrs

ROUTE: Martindale New Church – Martindale Old Church – Winter Crag – Beda Fell – Bedafell Knott – Angletarn Pikes – Brock Crags – Satura Crag – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Rampsgill Head – High Raise – Raven Howe – Red Crag – High Street Roman Road (Course Of) – Wether Hill – Brownthwaite Crag – Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa) – Birkie Knott – Lanty Tarn – Martindale New Church

Wainwright Guide Book Two

The Far Eastern Fells

Rest Dodd

The steep-sided ridge that divides Martindale into the secluded upper valleys of Bannerdale and Rampsgill rises first to the shapely conical summit of The Nab and then more gradually to the rounded dome of Rest Dodd, which dominates both branches.

Ullswater reflections.

I couldn’t resist to stop & admire the still & calmness of early morning Ullswater as I approached Pooley Bridge, those lingering low clouds look like they may be in for the day, but, I say to myself there’s hope, as the forecast was for any low cloud to lift as the morning transpired.

If I had a penny for every time they’d got it wrong I’d be typing this from inside my newly furnished Lakeland hideaway.

The Western Belle.

Sleeping Pooley Bridge.

Martindale New Church.

It is here nestled by Martindale New Church that my walk starts, I am not the first to arrive as two more cars take up the off road spaces.

I open the car door & expect a slight morning chill but nothing could be further than the truth, the morning air is mild, mild enough to de-layer even as I set off with just the one mid-layer as I zip up. The hat & gloves get left in the lid of my pack.

Winter Crag & Beda Fell’s north ridge not revealing too much of her summit as I leave Martindale Old Church.

Just a short walk over my shoulder sits Hallin Fell which offers some of the best views of Ullswater & its surrounding fells, but not this morning, this morning with only an altitude of 1,272 Ft Hallin Fell summit top is cloaked by low cloud, I keep my gut feeling that this cloud will rise throughout the course of the morning.

I don’t know which one looks the comfiest.

Passing by Martindale Old Church along my route, circa 1266

The Birkett Tomb

Lying at the south east corner of the church is the tomb of Richard Birkett who was the first ‘Vicar’ at the Parish of Martindale. Richard Birkett died on Christmas day in 1699 after 66 years of loyal ministry.

I had to take a look inside…

The Font is certainly thought to be Roman which was brought down from the roman road off High Street over 500 years ago.

If walls could talk…

Winter Crag Farm.

Talking about beautiful white washed cottages tucked away in far away hamlets… I wouldn’t even have to paint this one.

Winter Crag Farm now resides as a holiday cottage.

Taking on the Nickles (my ascent route onto Beda Fell)

It was clear so soon into the walk just how muggy the air felt, I thought maybe this might change the higher I got so until then I roll my jacket sleeves up & zip-down the vents in my walking trousers.

Here looking back on Martindale with Hallin Fell summit under the low cloud. Martindale Old Church can be seen at the bottom of the picture on the right hand side.

On the ridge now looking down onto the opposite side of Beda Fell north Ridge, here looking down on the Boredale Valley with Winter Crag at the northern end of the ridge.

Taking on the ridge with sleeves rolled up, it looks as though I am about to lose the…

Views.

With visibility no less than fifty yards I am about to get a lesson yet again in relying on senses  rather than sight.

One of two cairns found along the ridge, sadly this one is not the summit… that’s the third one & a wee climb away yet.

Don’t ask me what happened to the first cairn, I must have walked clean by it.

Looking less substantial than its counterparts, Beda Fell summit cairn.

Back off into the cloud I go.

It may not look it but I was having a whale of a time here, yes I admit I do not have the views, but what it lacked in views made up in just how atmospheric & moody this walk was turning out to be…just like the author of this here blog.

Grumpy guts.

Beda Fell Knotts appears through the cloud.

It was important to navigate south along the ridge to take on my next summit of Angletarn Pikes, in doing this after the small ascent of Beda Fell Knott I had to keep left & navigate the rim of Beck Head. Heading right after Beda Fell Knott will take you towards Boredale Hause.

Both routes will lead you to Angletarn but this route was on my agenda, it’s not a route I would consider the inexperienced walker to tackle in conditions as I had today, it’s not so much the danger although it isn’t to be ruled out, more so, on just how there is nothing to take a fix on & just how all your surroundings look the same.

Angletarn Pikes north (main) summit cairn.

Well, it was bound to happen as I seamlessly continue along a grassy path & neon miss the Pikes through the mist, here I had to back-track a little over pathless bog…even the experienced get bitten on the arse…or that might be just me!

Angletarn sister peak lies not twenty yards due south…but I cant see it, even so I make the small trek over.

Angletarn south summit cairn.

I wonder why the south cairn looks more summity than than the north cairn? yes you’ve guessed it, sadly no one visits the south cairn as much as the north.

Angle Tarn.

Angle Tarn is my favourite Lakeland Tarn of them all because Angle Tarn was my first ever walk up a Lakeland Fell (regular readers I apologise for continuingly repeating myself) way back in 1997, today I cannot see the reason which turned me into the fell walker I am today & that made me a little sad.

To take my mind off things I listen to the squabbling geese fighting it out somewhere out there… If my mum was alive I mutter…she’d bang yer bloody heads together

Navigating Angle Tarn via the stepping stone like path.

It’s Brock Crags next & what is fast becoming the norm…I cant see it.

Morning ears.

Yes I’m thinking the same too my friend.

Leaving the path for Brock Crags.

I know to wait until I come across the small cairn indicating the narrow grassy path that leads you Brock Crags bound…but the cairn is nowhere to be seen which is just as well I spotted the turn through the mist.

Brock Crags summit cairn.

It has been over four years since I was last here which in actual fact made this ascent feel fresh & new, if only I had the views.

I can hear the faintest of traffic traveling along the Kirkstone Pass, it is a slight comfort, more so are the voices I can hear coming from across Angle Tarn, I hear laughter & people talking.

I’m either going to miss them or they are going to miss me by the time I get back on the main path.

Satura Crag, And I don’t think I’ve missed them.

This was just a small section of the party of walkers walking the C2C, behind this group was another & ahead of it yet another.

I make my way through the pack passing on my mornings, as I get to the front I am met by a boisterous walker who by rights was keeping the rest of his group in tow…let him pass he laughs, he doesn’t want to get caught in the riff-raff!! members of the group laugh as do I politely, he’s been there done that he goes on… I again laugh slightly as I try to make some headway between me & the group.

This was tiring!

 

Rest Dodd summit cairn.

I am met by a fellow solo walker, he is from Leeds & looks as fit as a fiddle, from where he appeared I do not know as he gained some advantage on me from nowhere, we chat briefly on the low cloud but more so on just how muggy it was, I ask him does he not walk more in the Dales rather than the Lakes? I love the Dales but I prefer the Lake District he answered, I just cant get here enough he says, by now I am tucking into a breakfast bar as he wishes me a good walk before walking off into the mist, nice chap I thought.

Talking on The Knott.

It was whilst on the ascent did I have to de-layer, by now I had coped with what felt like ‘lack of air’ but my body, more so my head & the banging within it was struggling.

There are three walkers behind me who at first I thought were walking together, it later turned out they were strangers also struggling to cope with the mugginess in the air…as I de-layer one of the walkers passes me his head & torso covered in sweat…I get one glance why am I here but fair do’s to the guy…he carry’s on regardless.

The Knott summit cairn.

More walkers are on their way up & High Street bound, non of them follow me to The Knott Summit.

As I make my way back down the path I spot more & more walkers, I wait for a break in the line & head east over a pathless ascent on my next summit of Rampsgill Head.

Rampsgill Head summit appears through the cloud.

It was now time to roll down the sleeves as a cool breeze had got up, this was as far as I got to the main summit cairn without a passing glance…was the lack of views now starting to take its toll on me I wonder?

Regardless I press on with a sandwich in hand, I make for my seventh summit of the day, High Raise.

High Raise summit cairn.

The thought of the cloud shifting before my walk is set to be over fades, I tell myself that I’m in it for the duration, I try to make the best out of a bad situation & I think I cope with this well…

Walking in cloud sets the senses alive & this has always given me a buzz.

In search of Red Crag.

I was set to leave the main path in search of Red Crag, a summit I had yet to find not through want of trying, Red Crag is a Birkett & right now I’m in no hurry to complete this summit, I guess the only reason I am trying again today is because it beat me the last time I was here.

You could try in better circumstances one mutters.

Just as I make the decision to leave the path I turn around & spot this guy on his mountain bike, he gets off his bike…is the path any better than the one by the wall he asked? I have to think about this one a while, Its not mate, its a lot less obvious, in essence I think (possibly) he just wanted to see a friendly face, it worked on both accounts.

Red Crag summit cairn.

Possibly thee best summit of the day for me, you cant beat that feeling especially under the circumstances.

Wether Hill summit cairn.

The traverse after leaving Red Crag to Wether Hill was possibly the most difficult to navigate throughout the whole of the walk, here I lose the path on more than one occasion back tracking a few steps to meet back on the path, I deem I have a good eye for a faint path but here the cloud was winning.

Before I summit Wether How I spy two walkers off the path, I try to catch their eye but they weren’t looking in my direction so I carry on presuming that they are ok, with my next glance they are walking over to me hurriedly saying excuse me, excuse me, it is a guy with his daughter looking for Wether How summit…Is it that way? or is it that way? (pointing west to east)

The guy is from Huddersfield & talks with a posh accent, I have to question why he is here in the first place as he is only carrying a Wainwright guide using it word for word…it says here…let me stop you there, the summit is this way I explain, you can walk with me its only a few yards (this explaining just how dense the cloud is)

He thanks me & proceeds to walk to the north summit as this is considered to be the true summit or so the guide says.

For me it’s time to leave the ridge & head down, my route is pathless & testing on the knees.

Steel Knotts ridge, a welcome sight & the first I have seen in six hours.

Steel Knotts from the old ruined hut.

I’m on my last summit of the day & out of the cloud, for this I am thankful but I can feel rain in the air.

Looking back on the low cloud that has dominated my day along with Wether Hill & my descent via Groove Gill.

Rampsgill on the left & Bannerdale on the right, separated by the dominance of The Nabb.

It was time to make my final ascent of the day.

Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa)

The Rock Tor, Lakelands sharpest summit A.W

A band of rain was approaching from the north as I felt it start to hit me, this was Lakeland telling me she wasn’t finished with me just yet.

Martindale New Church.

Back at Martindale New Church as the sun came out.

The Western Belle as it leaves Howtown jetty.

Today is my Birthday, the day I turn 39 & get ever closer to that dreaded 40 But what’s all the fuss about? I’m probably fitter now than I was when I was in my 20’s (who you kidding) well you know what I mean.

Today I will be embarking on my annual Birthday walk, of which I have to thank my boss Ian Dowd, because right now we are in the middle of changing business location & I should be deep up to my elbows in grease, oil & paperwork, a weird combination I know.

Around two weeks ago during a wet spell I undertook around five A4  size pages full of new routes & walks that I’d either read about, forgotten about or were just plain new to me the day I penned them.

On page 4/5 I’d carefully hand written this route, Catstye Cam via the north west ridge with a descent via Striding Edge & a further descent via Birkhouse Moor north ridge, in all, a four or five hour round trip tops, then back in time for Birthday celebrations.

Although my intended route never came off, I still managed to partake on one of thee finest ascents that Lakeland has to offer, it’s just a pity I didn’t get to see it! (more on that in a little while)

 

 

ASCENT: 3,678 Feet, 1,121 Metres

WAINWRIGHTS: 6, Catstye Cam – Helvellyn – White Side – Raise – Sheffield Pike – Glenridding Dodd

SUMMITS VISTED: 9, Catstye Cam – Helvellyn – Helvellyn Lower Man – White Side – Raise – Green Side -Sheffield Pike – Heron Pike – Glenridding Dodd

WEATHER: Low Cloud & Drizzle to Start, Turning Bright & Sunny, Highs Of 14°C Lows Of 6°C

PARKING: Parking Spaces, Stybarrow Crag, Ullswater (F.O.C)

AREA: Eastern

MILES: 9.8

WALKING WITH: On My Own

ORDNANCE SURVEY: OL5

TIME TAKEN: 6Hrs 40 Minutes

ROUTE: Stybarrow Crag – Lake Path – Greenside Road – Greenside Mine – Glenridding Beck – Keppel Cove Dam – Catstye Cam North West Ridge – Catstye Cam – Swirral Edge – Helvellyn – Helvellyn Lower Man – White Side – Raise – Sticks Pass – Green Side – Nick Head – Sheffield Pike – Heron Pike – South East Ridge – Glenridding Dodd – Stybarrow Crag

Catstye Cam; The North West Ridge.

Walkers with red blood in their veins should give their attention to the north west ridge. This looks formidable (from White Side it looks imposable) but is actually an easy uphill walk without any difficulty other than steepness. The finish is delightful, the cairn remaining hidden until the last moment.

The best approach to the ridge is by the bridle path as far as the dam; cross the beck here and slant along a natural terrace to the base of the ridge.

Wainwright Guide Book

The  Eastern Fells

Ullswater,Gowbarrow Fell & Place Fell from Stybarrow Crag 07:20 6°C

The promise of starting my walk today without getting wet wasn’t looking too good, even as I drove along the Lake Road sporadic showers kept me on my toes, I lift off the gas figuring this might bide me some time for the showers to pass, this works.

I kit up alone in at a empty car park as the cyclist that I passed earlier rides by at full speed, I get a faint morning nod & I return the same.

My pack is re-packed after my Crown Round episode last week of which I only carried food & hydration, as a result my pack is heavier this morning. Also laden is my elastic-bandaged right ankle where I picked up some hefty blisters & scarring last week, the blisters are high around my ankle & I’m hoping they wont cause me too much trouble other than a niggling itch.

Pack shouldered I make for the Lake Path.

Down by the lakeside.

The start of the Greenside Road.

Rouge young Deer flank the hedge rows as I take on the delights of what now looks to be a promising day on the fells.

Birkhouse Moor dominates the initial start of the walk.

Here I can clearly see my intended descent via Birkhouse Moor & its north ridge, I eye up a rather worrying bull-nose crag of which I would have to negotiate along the top of the ridge but other than that, its an unusual exit on an otherwise alternative days fell walking.

Striding Edge Hostel.

I take in Greenside Road with great expectations of what is to lie ahead, a niggle from my blister on my right ankle sticks in the back of my mind but as you would say…I try to walk it off.

Here the Hostel is busy with a car park full to brimming, morning walkers kit up outside as I pass through a gate & follow a path marked Sticks Pass Kepple Cove & Helvellyn.

 

Catstye Cam from Glenridding Beck.

This was  my first proper view of Catstye Cam & indeed its north west ridge (right) the ridge from here looks pretty steep & formidable so I try to psych myself up for the ascent between here & reaching Kepple Cove.

It was only until the last minute did I change my route to reach the base of the north west ridge, you can gain the ridge as I did here by following the path that runs into Kepple Cove (keeping right)  or you can cross Glenridding Beck & follow the course of Red Tarn Beck, then flank the lower reaches of Catstye Cam via a faint path & an old disused water leat (L to R) & pick up the ridge there.

Looking back on Glenridding Screes & a distant Place Fell from the track.

It all goes dark from here on in.

The approach to Kepple Cove.

My scenery was changing dramatically & with it went the view of my ascent via the north west ridge (left) Although the cloud came in quickly & was mesmorising to watch, I couldn’t help but feel gutted that my ascent was going to be under thick mist.

Kepple Cove Dam (Breached)

Kepple Cove dam sits close to the site of a much older dam which lies on the embankment of what now is known as Kepplecove Tarn (Dry) then a reservoir in 1927 when it collapsed during a freak cloudburst flooding the valley of Glenridding causing great damage, subsequently creating a new ravine along its course.

A new dam was built which later breached in 1931, it has never been repaired.

Kepplecove Dam wall.

I took this photo after reading a warning sign displaying not to go near the un-sound structure. I figured after all these years the dam wall was safe enough to cross, this is not something that I condone nor recommended after my own personal crossing of which exposure, wind & rain nearly got the better of me.

A faint path leads the walker across a grassy terrace to the bottom of the ridge & the start of the ascent.

Here even in conditions as I had today the path was easy to follow to the base of the ridge, here is evidence of more faint paths that lead up the steep ascent, try as I did to stick to one path which makes the ascent less conflicting & confusing than trying to follow more fainter paths.

Steep but manageable.

Is that the summit?

Here I fix myself a target, say a large boulder forty or so yards away, all I had to do was find the easiest way to get between me & it…I found this worked out better than to keep looking up the daunting ascent.

Talking about daunting…if your a newbie to the north west ridge as I was, it may come with great pain that there are two false summits along the ascent, this one being the first!

A brief break in the mist reveals the steepness of the climb along with Kepplecove Dam.

I pick up a well divined path after the first false summit & follow it onto the next one, after this the main summit is revealed almost through the rain & mist.

Although I would of preferred to have made my assent in finer weather the mist & light drizzle offered a different kind of feel to my ascent, its something that the walker will experience nowhere else.

The cairn remaining hidden until the final moment A.W

Here I lay my claim to the cairn by adding a stone before leaving along a drizzle covered path & Swirral Edge bound.

Leaving Catstye Cam summit for Swirral Edge.

With Red Tarn to my left & Brown Cove to my right I take on the path as a fierce wind bites at my exposed skin, this is to last for the next hour or so.

Fix the fells, Swirral Edge.

As I approach the start of Swirral Edge I am confronted by bag loads of stone used to mend the pathways, it is here I am reminded about a notice that I had read attached to a gatepost back on Glenridding Common – that there were three sites used for Helicopter drops to bring in the stones by.

The map used was vague to say the least but I think I’ve just stumbled upon said site.

On any other given time I would always traverse Swirral Edge by the Red Tarn side or (left side) of the edge, here I am given no option other than to tackle Swirral Edge via the right path, on a personal note I figure this is the more adventurous route with plenty of four point contact & crags to climb, not something I am wholly comfortable with given the conditions.

Swirral Edge…its out there somewhere.

Helvellyn summit trig point.

The climb was exhilarating to say the least & I was glad to find myself at the summit, the wind is biting at my skin so I make my way over to the summit cross shelter to try & get on the cold wind.

Helvellyn summit cross shelter.

Here I tuck in & make myself confortable as the wind billows above my head, I was in search of breakfast as it had only just gone 10:00am so I take out three pieces of Soreen spread with butter. I am soon joined by two fell runners competing in the GL3D (The Great Lakeland Three Dayer) We chat briefly as they explain that they are on their way to Grasmere, meanwhile I type in a status into my Facebook account ‘Is sat in a very blustery Helvellyn summit cross shelter eating birthday Soreen for breakfast’

From here on in my walk itinerary has changed, my intended traverse of Striding Edge was clearly not advisable given the conditions, so I make with my plan B route; descent via Sticks Pass (Given my erratic mind this route could change between here & there…and it did)

Looking back on Helvellyn summit as more fell runners brave the bitter cross winds.

Helvellyn Lower Man summit cairn complete with the GL3D waypoint marker.

Whilst on route to White Side I got this brief break in the clouds, it shows just how much the wind is doing up here today & was the first view I had seen in the past hour, could this be the start of things to come I wonder.

Not quite yet, but were getting there.

Here there wasn’t much to see as I reached White Side summit cairn & shelter, I soon press on towards Raise where my prospects seemed to becoming clearer.

Raise beckons.

The cloud lifted in what seemed like seconds, It was roughly around forty or so minutes since leaving Helvellyn’s summit & well over an hour since leaving Catstye Cam, if only I had set off an hour later eh.

Never mind…I fear another change of plan is coming on.

Raise summit cairn.

I had opening views to my north & east although again I am cloaked by low cloud briefly while at the summit of Raise, thankfully it was momentarily & as quickly it came, it went.

Stybarrow Dodd & Sticks Pass as I leave Raise behind.

It was here my change of route occurred, firstly I planned to take on Stybarrow Dodd then descend via Green Side, then I thought maybe this would take up too much of my time, then I spotted the diagonal path that flanks Stybarrow Dodd heading east.

Green Side as I approach Sticks Pass.

Leaving the path for Green Side was the best decision of the whole day (more on that later)

Green Side & Sheffield Pike from Sticks Pass.

I had that slight belly wobble in that within the last few moments I had re-jigged my descent route taking in Green Side, Sheffield Pike & hopefully given good time, Glenridding Dodd, thereafter will then drop me almost on top of Stybarrow Crag car park.

The day can only get better…And it does.

Green Side ahead.

The walk from leaving Sticks Pass to Green Side was really pleasant & inviting, yes it was a little wet underfoot but just look at how the weather has panned out.

Raise, Catstye Cam & Helvellyn from Green Side summit cairn.

The razor edge of Catstye Cam can clearly be seen now that the cloud has lifted.

Bearing down on Sheffield Pike via Glencoyne Head.

The Glencoyne Valley with a deep blue Ullswater beyond.

What happens next just made my birthday even greater as I stumble upon…

David & Jennifer Hall.

For those who do not live on planet earth David Hall is to Lakeland Fells what David Beckham is to the English game of football, and what Muhammad Ali is to boxing.

As I left Greenside for Nick Head I spot two walkers heading up towards me, I am head down concentrating on a steep grassy descent so I only lift my head to pass on an Hello…Is that…is that David Hall I ask myself? Behind the two walkers was a woman in blue wearing a red hat.

This confirms it because the woman in blue is Jennifer Hall who is more commonly seen on David’s website than David himself.

I cannot let this moment pass as I politely stop Jennifer & ask her, excuse me, is that David Hall? yes, yes it is…David, David Jennifer Shouts, David retreats down the grassy slope hand aloft as I reach out my hand & proceed to tell David that I owe my walking career to him, without David Hall & others like him, I simply would not be where I am today.

How can you thank a man for that?

Nervous conversation proceeds on my behalf, we chat for a few moments on our routes & so on as David comments on my ascent, are you local, you sound local? No sorry, I’m just a broad Wiganer!

We pass more comments before shaking hands & a quick photo, at the age of 39 I have just been made to feel like a young boy who has just met his childhood hero.

David, if you do read this I couldn’t help but wonder after me telling you about this blog where I got the name for my blog from as Sharkey’s Dream sounds as detached from Lakeland as it possibly could.

Sadly David has had to take away his contact email address on his website due to overwhelming popularity, I just needed to confirm one thing so David if you read this…

Sharkey is my surname, the Dream part came from my dream of completing all 214 Wainwright’s as I never thought I could have accomplished this.

Without the help of you & your website, I simply wouldn’t have.

Me & David Hall. You can visit David’s website here Walkthefells

Looking back on ground covered from Sheffield Pike summit, taking centre is the unmistakable Catstye Cam now completely cloud free.

Glencoyne Head with Hart Side (centre right & David’s next fell) The dark fell in the background is that of Great Dodd.

The iconic summit boundary stone marker.

Sadly the stone was lying flat on its back & in danger of being buried within the stone cairn itself, I really wish I would of had the time to stand the marker upright but time was not on my side today.

Maybe next time.

I press on towards my last summit of the day under glorious midday heat.

Ullswater from Heron Pike’s south east ridge.

A close up of the bulk of Birkhouse Moor, Catstye Cam, Striding Edge (far left) & Helvellyn, the peak to the right of Catstye Cam is Helvellyn Lower Man.

The Rhinoceros & the Shark.

Birkhouse Moor & a glimpse from Catstye Cam from Glenridding Dodd summit cairn.

You get great views of Glenridding & the south end of Ullswater from the summit of Glenridding Dodd, here taking in the far eastern fells with Place Fell in the foreground.

My next issue is which way to descend Glenridding Dodd, I have more than three options two of which are available, I could track back the way I came & drop down onto Glenridding Common & skirt myself back around the fell to Stybarrow Crag, or I could try a route that I have never tried before.

I leave the summit with views of the whole length of Ullswater taking on a steep descent through wood & marshland, the path looks old & in parts I’m in fear of losing it as it is scattered with dead wood & fallen trees, to my amazement a woman walker is heading up my route down, we pass on our hello’s as I continue to negotiate the steep path, it’s not the best path in the world but it will lead me all the way back to Stybarrow Crag car park.

The path offers fine views too.

Ullswater from my wooded descent.

The car is less than ten minutes away where I am greeted by the hustle of the A592, cars are stacked & badly parked, motorbikes roar in succession as kids laugh & play on the shores of Ullswater.

This is summertime in Lakeland yet not ten minutes away the mind can escape beyond a windscreen or an ice cream van into open fell land & beauty beyond the wildest imagination, lets hope not every transition takes place.

None of which can take away such a memorable Birthday walk.