Walking Forum
Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: April on 19:18:50, 27/03/19
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It was touch and go whether I would get out walking or not on Saturday. On Friday I'd tried to lift/push the dustbin with my left leg to get my recycling box and pulled something on the back of it. We had been invited to go walking near Twice Brewed with Karl and Sue over the weekend and we were going to go wild camping Saturday night and walk either Saturday or Sunday with them. We didn't want to spoil their trip if I turned up and couldn't walk very far so it was best we didn't go to meet them :( On Saturday my leg was still hurting but we got the later bus into the Lake District ready to turn around if I couldn't walk far. We'd still taken the wild camping gear with us that was already packed. We walked along the shore path at Derwent Water to test my leg. The weather wasn't bad, not much wind and we had a few sunny spells. Past Cat Gill we stopped for our lunch and decision time. Was I able to carry on or should we go home? My leg was hurting a bit but not as bad as it had been on Friday night. We decided to carry on up to Ashness Bridge and onto Dodd and High Seat.
Smoke below Kings How
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7822/46750507284_862db515a0_z.jpg) (http://)
Squeaky next to the Bob Graham memorial on the way up to Ashness Bridge
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7895/32531918007_cbbee53e29_z.jpg) (http://)
Beefy and Squeaky on the way up from Ashness
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/40507631683_fd6186c023_z.jpg) (http://)
Some views from the climb up to Dodd
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7822/46558529855_94082ff38c_z.jpg) (http://)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7856/40507704543_e27ab4dc28_z.jpg) (http://)
On Dodd summit
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7830/47473876191_6a14fdbf0d_z.jpg) (http://)
This is the Ashness Fell Dodd, not the Skiddaw Dodd
Beefy asked how my leg was, not bad was the answer. It was odd my leg actually hurt more on the flat bits than it did on the climb up. We carried on toward High Seat.
The view west from the path to High Seat
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7924/40507763673_ea2d72bd31_z.jpg) (http://)
Beefy and Squeaky on High Seat
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7813/46558577515_aa38ab6e43_z.jpg) (http://)
It was quite blustery up at this height and really cold in the wind. We'd been looking for possible spots to pitch on the way and there were a few about but they had been in the wind.
We went onto Man and looked about there
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7842/32532003187_5142496a5b_z.jpg) (http://)
Too windy here too but we found a spot out of the wind by dropping down on the eastern side of the fell. We got some water to filter from a tarn nearby and put the tent up. It was 4pm and there was nobody about.
The MSR on the eastern side of High Seat
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7920/40507809063_9d1045da1b_z.jpg) (http://)
We had our tea and rested our bodies. I have a few sore things on my body at the moment, not just the back of my left leg, my left knee is also hurting me when I kneel down on it, my right elbow is also stiff and sore and it hurts when I try to lift anything with my right hand. I struggled with pouring the hot water from the pot we use when we are camping. I need a new body I think :(
We had some wine and I hobbled up to the skyline (Beefy was feeling lazy) to see if the sunset was any good. The sun had gone down without being seen as it was cloudy. There was a bit of a pink tint but not very distinct, not worth the effort of the climb up or worth staying any longer.
Looking north toward Skiddaw from Man
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7829/33597359838_ab71a654ea_z.jpg) (http://)
I descended toward the tent to report no sunset but had a look back before I reached it. I saw red :o So I hobbled back up to the ridge and onto Man.
The sunset was rather good after all
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7863/40507779253_6e5ef064fd_z.jpg) (http://)
Too late to go back to Beefy to tell him or both of us would have missed it.
A few more shots of the sunset
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/46558666755_b2aa144840_z.jpg) (http://)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/46558657075_8dfcacab3f_z.jpg) (http://)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7916/47421066662_6ff26f68be_z.jpg) (http://)
I was wondering how many sunsets we might have missed by not being patient and getting back inside the tent too early. These colours didn't appear until 10 minutes after the sun had gone down.
I got back to the tent and we poured more wine and we looked at the sunset pics. It was really peaceful and quiet where we were, no wind noise, no noise at all. We really enjoyed the camp, it was great to be back out.
We slept well overnight but the wind had changed a bit and it was buffeting the tent a bit by dawn. We had some breakfast and a couple of brews before packing the gear away.
Squeaky emerging from her sleeping bag
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7838/40507897413_bc90b77b05_z.jpg) (http://)
We were away by 8.30 and we were off to Bleaberry Fell first, then Walla Crag and back to Keswick.
View toward Catbells from the path to Bleaberry Fell
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7860/46750715254_915246fd63_z.jpg) (http://)
Looking back at High Seat
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/47421103982_582bf4fdac_z.jpg) (http://)
Beefy and Squeaky on the way to Bleaberry Fell
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7881/47474103671_dbe88192d1_z.jpg) (http://)
My leg was feeling ok, still sore but no worse than it had been thank goodness. The wind was much worse though, much stronger and it was driving me mad :tickedoff: Trying to keep my hair in my hood was proving hard to do.
High Rigg lit up by the sun
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7804/47474089781_4168716e78_z.jpg) (http://)
Beefy and Squeaky on Bleaberry Fell summit
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7871/46558721515_c84ae21332_z.jpg) (http://)
The view to the west from Bleaberry Fell
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7831/32532208957_c8247ea2be_z.jpg) (http://)
On the way down Bleaberry Fell
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7878/33597564268_3c29da3397_z.jpg) (http://)
View from Walla Crag
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7855/33597531088_fdba3f7211_z.jpg) (http://)
Beefy and Squeaky on Walla Crag summit
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7845/33597591038_a94e0d1352_z.jpg) (http://)
We stopped for a brew and some food well away from the summit and the path hoping to get out of the wind but it was swirling about and we didn't stop for long. We got back to Keswick in time for the bus at 1.30 but not enough time to go to Mrs F's for cake :( We had an apple from Booths instead :angel:
It was a good wild camp and I'm relieved my leg was okish. Day1 was Keswick - Derwent Water shore path - Ashness - Ashness Bridge - Dodd - High Seat - Man - pitch below. 9.25km with 607m ascent. Day 2 was Pitch - Bleaberry Fell - Walla Crag - Springs Wood - Castlehead Wood - Derwent Water at Strandshag Bay - Keswick. 10.9km with 154m ascent
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Great report and photos April, brings back memories of one of my first Lakeland walks O0 That view of Derwent water from Walla crag is one of my favourite aerial views :)
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Great pics Ape O0
Was a good wild camp,
Fancy another this weekend? ;D
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Another great TR and pics, not a bit narcissistic ;D
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Great outing and pics. It's always cheering to get a good sunrise/sunset and the occasional struggle to get there is well worth it - we sometimes suffer a little for our art!.
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Lovely pics and report April, hope your leg is OK now.
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Super photos April :) Thanks for sharing them! :) Love the pic of Squeaky in her sleeping bag
Hope your leg is better soon
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Some lovely photos there, April.
And looks as if you found an excellent pitch!
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Thanks Henry :)
Thanks beefy, wild camp ruckie already packed for weekend O0
Another great TR and pics, not a bit narcissistic ;D
:) Thanks phil
It's always cheering to get a good sunrise/sunset and the occasional struggle to get there is well worth it
It was worth it :)
Thanks Ridge, my left leg is fine now :)
Love the pic of Squeaky in her sleeping bag
Thanks Dovegirl :)
looks as if you found an excellent pitch!
It was slightly sloping but dry and out of the wind. We did think we might struggle to find a dry pitch in that area especially since it's been rather wet lately. There was a lot of boggy wet areas but there were dry spots about :)
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Good stuff April but when I tap on your photos to see them bigger it takes me to "about:blank#blocked" (instead of showing them bigger). Is it supposed to do that?
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Very enjoyable TR, as usual, April - some great long distance pictures of the fells... But I think that one of Squeaky peeping from her sleeping bag wins first prize, what a lovely face! :)
Glad your leg problem didn't mar the weekend too much. O0
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Good stuff April but when I tap on your photos to see them bigger it takes me to "about:blank#blocked" (instead of showing them bigger). Is it supposed to do that?
Thanks Rob :)
I don't know if anyone's pics on here enlarge when you click them? :-\
I think that one of Squeaky peeping from her sleeping bag wins first prize, what a lovely face! :)
Thanks adalard, Squeaky is lovely :)
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Lovely stuff April - love the picture of Squeaky in her bag! Love the sunsets, the clours are fantastic.
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Thanks pdstsp O0
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Remember doing this route (the other way around) starting at 6am in the morning from Keswick and bombing down the whole range in the snow in December. Loved it, but you're spot on about the wind being intense up there at times.
Sunsets were sublime and I'm itching to get out in the fells for a few of those this year! Good tr!
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Sunsets were sublime and I'm itching to get out in the fells for a few of those this year! Good tr!
Thanks forgetmyoldpassword O0
We are off out camping again this weekend, I've just got to decide where :)
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I do like that photo of Squeaky emerging from the bag.
Have never bothered with our dog, but then she is a bit of a hairy beast!
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Thanks Richard O0
Squeaky feels the cold so I made her a custom made sleeping bag and also a quilt from an old winter sleeping bag. As soon as we get the tent up she dives inside :)
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Fabulous squeaky shot O0 sunsets not bad too. :)
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Thanks pleb :)