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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: April on 19:40:16, 02/07/19

Title: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: April on 19:40:16, 02/07/19
We got the bus to Whinlatter after a walk to Hope Park and back from the bus station to give Squeaky a rest from buses. The weather was very hot, humid and hardly any wind. The views were very hazy so not a good day for photos.

Leaving the forest for the Whinlatter ridge
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172505072_f1d393958b_z.jpg) (http://)

Grisedale Pike from Whinlatter
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172462622_29324f5657_z.jpg) (http://)

On Whinlatter East top
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172352941_c8a2109af6_z.jpg) (http://)

It seemed to take ages to get here the heat was stifling and our packs seemed to be double the weight they normally are.

On Brown How the AW Whinlatter top
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172619552_bab02afe8c_z.jpg) (http://)

We had run out of water and the nearest water would be Willybrag Gill but it meant descending to the Aiken Plantation. We had planned to retrace our steps to the Whinlatter Forest to ascend Barf but the water source there was further away. So we descended to the Aiken Plantation. It was a mistake because the descent took ages, the ground is rough and if only we had remembered we had put this descent on the never again list last time  ::)

On the forest road toward Ullister Hill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172484716_9578be4509_z.jpg) (http://)

We stopped to top up our water at Willybrag Gill and we also stopped for lunch. We were feeling pretty tired with the heat, we decided to miss Barf out and go up Lords Seat next. It started raining a little but it didn't last for long.

Beefy and Squeaky on Lord's Seat
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172540437_3d94634bf8_z.jpg) (http://)

A hazy Skiddaw seen behind.

Broom Fell is our next fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172616671_fc624a42a7_z.jpg) (http://)

On Broom Fell
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172672757_c0bcba8b55_z.jpg) (http://)

If we had found any water we would have found a place to pitch here. We were really tired but we carried on to Graystones which was the fell we had planned to pitch on.

On the AW Graystones top
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172564981_0c47ab9f5a_z.jpg) (http://)

We had to find a pitch out of the wind that was set to increase later and also on high ground. Heavy rain was forecast too.

The MSR on Graystones
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172681371_9091471489_z.jpg) (http://)

We found a pitch and we'd spotted water in Sware Gill that we had used the last time we had camped here. However we had to drop down quite a way to get running water and we had a steep climb back up. We were cream crackered, we had walked further than planned with dropping down to Aiken earlier. We had our tea and we had no hope of a sunset. The cloud had built up even more and it started raining very heavily. We had some wine and were falling asleep before the sun was due to set. Our route was Whinlatter Centre - Whinlatter east top - Brown How - Aiken Plantation - Ullister Hill - Lord's Seat - Broom Fell - Graystones - pitch 600m ascent, 14.5km.

It was really windy next morning and we struggled to put the tent away without it being blown away. We'd sacked doing Ling Fell and Sale Fell, we were too tired after yesterday. The high pollen also was making us feel ill too.

On the way down to Tom Rudd Beck
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172652596_3d640750f5_z.jpg) (http://)

Orchid
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172782682_a323fb9046_z.jpg) (http://)

There were lots of these on the long grass. I await pleb telling me these aren't orchids  :)

Looking back at our descent route
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172800026_38111f29ba_z.jpg) (http://)

We ended up in long grass and lost the trod we had been on. Luckily the ground was quite dry although there were a few boggy areas. It was hard going and time consuming.

Bracken and more long grass to contend with now
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172905962_3f22670c5b_z.jpg) (http://)

Looking back again at our route
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172741311_8d3d5aabff_z.jpg) (http://)

We were pleased to be on the track and it was all to be easy walking to Dubwath.

On Green Lonning
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172909291_5cae344f9d_z.jpg) (http://)

Wythop Mill
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48172948542_205057b448_z.jpg) (http://)

This is a really lovely little hamlet   

Baby Swallows, Swifts or House Martins
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48173002342_4836c83a3b_z.jpg) (http://)

These were near Dubwath, the adults were too fast for us to see what they were. Our route was Graystones - Tom Rudd Beck - Green Lonning - Wythop Mill - Routenbeck - Dubwath. 8.9km with 150m ascent. A tiring but very nice night out. We got back to Keswick and we had time to go to Mrs F's for coffee and cake, I had vegan apple cake and I managed not to break anything this time  O0
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: beefy on 19:52:29, 02/07/19
Another great trip report, great pics, and a great weekend of fun and shenanigans
I think we better take bug spray this weekend  ;D
Fancy a wc :D

Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: karl h on 22:24:00, 02/07/19
Great Tr April. O0


Saturday and Sunday were like two different seasons. We were freezing in the shelter on Nan Beild  on Sunday but a wild camper who had been on the eastern fells told us that he could hardly walk on Saturday due to the heat and humidity.
Did you see the trees have gone at Widow Hause ? .......looks really strange
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: Ridge on 00:48:21, 03/07/19
Aiken Plantation is a whole new circle of hell.


Good report and pics, we are having some strange weather at the moment.
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: April on 05:53:39, 03/07/19
I think we better take bug spray this weekend  ;D

We won't need to take any  :D  :-[

I have a few bites  >:(

Did you see the trees have gone at Widow Hause ? .......looks really strange

Yes we saw this last year when we were there. Thanks Karl  :)

Aiken Plantation is a whole new circle of hell.

 :) It is quite nice walking through the valley from the Darling Plantation up to Lord's Seat. The descent from Brown How is hellish mind.

Thanks Ridge  :)
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:15:54, 03/07/19
Good photos despite the haze, April. I don't know these quieter hills to the north of Whinlatter.
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: Mel on 10:29:02, 03/07/19
Enjoyed reading that, and nice photos too, despite the haze  :)
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: adalard on 10:31:44, 03/07/19
Another great report, as usual, April.  :)  I've seen a lot of orchids this year, some in places I haven't seen them (or noticed them!) before. It seems to be a good year for them.
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: pleb on 10:34:09, 04/07/19
Yep thats an orchid. :)
You little git!  ;D  With the swallow pic I mean, talk about stealing my thunder! GRRRRRR
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: forgotmyoldpassword on 11:14:01, 05/07/19
Enjoyed this, some good pics too.  Like Richard I don't know this area particular well - what was the plan for day 2 after doing Ling and Sale - then head to the Lakes Distillery or try to work your way alongside Bassenthwaite lake through the woods to the south?
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: sunnydale on 11:32:29, 05/07/19
Great pics & report April O0   Hard work in the heat & humidity, I bet.
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: April on 12:52:39, 05/07/19
Thanks Richard, Mel, adalard, pleb - me a git?  ;D


Forgotmyoldpassword - ling fell and sale fell would have been enough for geriatrics like us  :-[


Thanks Sunnydale  O0
Title: Re: TR wild camp on Graystones Sat 29 to Sun 30 Jun 19
Post by: vghikers on 16:04:47, 07/07/19
An interesting report and pictures again O0 - the Aiken descent duly noted.
That descent route to Dubwath also noted, might come in handy.