We planned a 3 nighter over Easter and on Good Friday we got the 12.10 bus into Keswick and 2 more buses later we started our adventure from Elterwater at 14.50.
Beefy on the way up the lane through Sawrey's Wood
We were going to pitch on Lingmoor Fell the first night. The weather was better than forecast with sunny spells and very little wind, although stronger winds were forecast for later
Beefy at Banks Quarry
It was very warm and we were soon down to our base layers. The packs were feeling very heavy with 4 days worth of food and wine for 3 nights in them. We weren't as fast as we normally are and we stopped a few times on our way up, thankfully it was just a short walk for the first day. We reached the ridge wall and took the trod below the ridge wall path that leads to the disused quarries near Busk Pike. There are a few wow moments when Wetherlam, Swirl How and Great Carrs come into view and then again when Crinkle Crags and Bowfell are seen.
Wetherlam comes into view
Pike O'Blisco, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell
We found a perfect spot at the old mine buildings to pitch the MSR and we hoped it would shelter us from the strong wind that was forecast for later on.
The MSR near Busk Pike
The water source was nearby, we had the perfect view and a flat pitch. It was sunny and warm and we had a fantastic time.
The MSR with a great background view
We had our tea and waited for the sun to set and had some wine.
Pike O'Blisco, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell again
Wetherlam, Swirl How and Great Carrs
We got a good sunset, very unexpected we thought it would be too cloudy.
The sun setting from inside the MSR
The sun going down behind Pike O'Blisco
The sky begins to change colour
It gets darker and redder
Pike O'Blisco and the Crinkles
What a great first night it was, we were very lucky with the weather. Day 1 was Elterwater - Sawreys Wood - Banks Quarry - Busk Pike - Quarries nearby. 4km with 450m ascent.
The wind had picked up overnight as forecast and we were pleased to be sheltered from the worst of it behind the quarry ruin. The MSR still got a battering. We left just after 8 to go onto the summit of Lingmoor Fell
Beefy on Lingmoor Fell top
Blea Tarn from the descent of Lingmoor Fell
It was snowing and the wind was bitterly cold.
Side Pike from the descent
The terrain isn't easy descending from Lingmoor Fell when you have a big backpack. It is rough terrain and was slippery and wet in the snow showers
Bleamoss Beck
We'd not seen anyone at all since the day before near Elterwater until we saw some people here on the path from Blea Tarn. We stopped for some food and a brew behind a rock sheltering from the wind.
Bridge End
What a nice house this is. That is Pike O'Blisco behind. We were making our way to Tilberthwaite, we wanted to pitch somewhere on the Yewdale Fells, we'd never been on them before. The snow showers had more or less stopped by now but the wind was still blustery and annoying.
The view into Tilberthwaite from our ascent around Goats Crag
What a lovely place this is, the scenery was wonderful. I remember reading on the Zip Off Thirlmere facebook page someone saying that Honister or Tilberthwaite would be a more suitable area than Thirlmere for a zip wire. I just don't understand this reasoning at all. These magical places would be ruined by zip wires and their screaming participants.
On the way up the footpath by Goats Crag
We found a pitch, dry and quite flat out of the worst of the wind and got the MSR up. It was a bit early just before 3pm but we were cold and fed up of the wind. We were well away from the main path and we only saw 2 people on the path down to Coniston after we'd pitched. We got some water from a stream about 5 minutes walk away then had a brew and some tea.
The MSR on Coniston Moor
Coniston Old Man from our pitch
We were in the wrong place to see the sunset but it was too cloudy anyway. We had some wine and got into our bags. The wind died down so we would get a peaceful night. Day 2 was Quarry pitch - Lingmoor Fell summit - Blea Tarn - Fell Foot - High Tilberthwaite - Goats Crag - Coniston Moor 12km with 525m ascent
Day 3 and 4 to follow
