Wild Camp Hayeswater 20-21 June 2020Dusted down my 30 year old Wild Country Trisar tent and went for a micro-adventure with my youngest son, a wild camp at the head of lonely Hayeswater.
The view up to Threshthwaite Cove, Grey Crag to the left, Raven Crag to the right
I found this vegetated barn very appealing - any excuse to stop and have a rest whilst climbing the steep track above the south bank of Hayeswater Beck!
The elderly Trisar at the head of Hayeswater - note the interesting moraines
It was quite a slog up to Hayeswater - I was carrying significantly more weight than usual, and I had stupidly left my walking pole in the boot of the car. We continued along a faint path that skirted the steep western shore, and found an excellent pitch on the flat ground at the head of the lake. But upon opening the tent, I was dismayed to find some nasty mould stains on the groundsheet - and I'm usually so good about drying off tents when I get home
(a scrub with diluted Nikwak Tech Wash once back home did a good job of removing the worst of the stains).
We cooked and ate our dinner outside, and then settled in for the night; a few rounds of Knockout Whist whilst the light faded. I like the Trisar, despite it's weight - it is nice and roomy for two people, and is reassuringly stable. We were up briefly in the middle of the night - the stars were stunning (but my phone camera was certainly not capable of capturing them).
Morning view from the head of Hayeswater. After packing up, we crossed the boggy ground and stream at the head of the lake, then returned along an indistinct path that skirted the eastern shore.
View from where the stream enters the southern end of Hayeswater - gorgeous reflections
The eastern flank of Grey Crag reflected in the still waters - I was up there a week ago.
Looking back southwards towards the head of the enclosed valley - High Street to the left, Thornthwaite Crag to the right
Heading back down the valley. We had joined the well used High Street path. Catstycam is the pointed hill in the centre, Helvellyn to the left, then broad St Sunday Crag far left.
We took a steep path that dropped down to a footbridge before passing an old water board building. Hayeswater Beck drops in a succession of fine cascades and waterslides.
Hart Crag, Fairfield and St Sunday Crag from near the Water Board building. From here on the way down was easy, following an old access road which descended at a reasonable gradient back to Hartsop.
Just a short trip - 2 miles there, and 2 miles back again! But Hayeswater is really quiet - there is no path climbing out of the head of the valley, so it is a dead end, not visited by many walkers, judging by the indistinct paths along the shore - most people head on up to High Street before reaching the lake.
Disclaimer for the benefit of LDNPA - Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental