It was another day walk for us on Saturday, a low level walk, the weather forecast was atrocious for the fells with rain and strong winds that would continue overnight. Not weather we would want to be camping out in. We got the bus to Aira Force and the plan was to walk up by the waterfalls then on to Dockray, along the Old Coach Road and leave it for Newsham and Threlkeld to get the bus. It was raining a little when we got off the bus but the wind was quite calm in the woods. We had Lady with us this weekend, Beefy's daughters dog.
The autumnal colours on the way up to Aira Force
Aira Force
More colours on the way up by the beck
As soon as we left the woods further on from High Force the wind and the rain got worse and it was heavy rain now. I didn't take any photos for a while, the camera was put away. We sacked the idea of going along the Old Coach Road when we got close to Dockray, the wind would be even worse along there. We took the footpath toward Ulcat Row, hoping to find some shelter for some lunch. We got almost to the road at Ulcat Row before we found somewhere and deployed the storm shelter. We had a quick stop to eat some food.
We were quite wet and I have to say I am disappointed with the Rab Downpour jacket. It does let in water and it is not that waterproof. It might be showerproof but it doesn't handle heavy Lake District rain. My top was wet near my neck like last time, my hair was wet and my arms were wet at the bottom. The jacket had absorbed a lot of water and was very heavy with all the rain. I wish I'd got another Marmot Precip in hindsight. I thought I was buying a better jacket paying more for the Rab one
We retraced our steps to Aira Beck, with the wind right in our faces going back. In hindsight we should have turned around at the footbridge after High Force, staying where it was sheltered in the woods. We wouldn't have got as wet and had a nicer day. We stopped for another break in the Aira Force car park sheltering under one of the buildings. We decided to walk to Glenridding as the next bus was in an hour and a half, too long to wait. There were no views at all as the cloud was as low as the lake, an awful day really.
The camera came out when we got close to Glenridding. The trees were magnificent here, amazing autumn colours and the rain wasn't as heavy in the woods.
Trees near Seldom Seen
Almost at Glenridding
Our route was Aira Force bus stop - Aira Force - High Force - Ulcat Row - High Force - Aira Force bus stop - Glencoyne Car Park - Glenridding 12.9km with 321m ascent. A wet miserable day but the colours on the trees near Glenridding made a nice finish to the walk.