It was posted in the meets section by Ramblingpete and I thought I will have a go at that one as it's an area I haven't done for a very long time. So I contacted Pete who very kindly offered to put me up the previous night in castle Rambling. So I drove up to Manchester and the weather was gorgeous on route and I was thinking "it's going to be a great day tomorrow with fantastic views".
So I arrived at Castle Rambling and the consuming of a few bears took place. After a good nights sleep Mrs RP made us some bacon sarnies (very nice they were too thanks Helen). After breakfast we set off in weather that could be described as moist (it was hammering it down) anyway undeterred we arrived at Tilberthwaite near the disused quarry.
The planed route was Wetherlam, up the prison band to Swirl How across to Grey Friar, back to Great Carrs then back down the ridge via Little Carrs and Hell Gill Pike to Greenburn Beck.
Time to don the waterproofs that were to stay on all day long. Here's Pete getting ready with a smile on his face.
We walked up the side of Yewdale Beck which was in full force and excellent to see and hear.
The water was pouring off the hills in all directions, apart from up of course.
This was our path off to the right onto wetherlam ridge and the summit.
Pete on the ridge texting the weather gods I think, for the rain to stop and some views to see.
The very misty summit. At this stage I think the weather gods must have got Pete's text because the rain eased off a bit.
Unfortunately the wind and low cloud was still with us and despite using a GPS we had great difficulty finding our way off Wetherlam, but we did eventually. It all adds to the fun though.
I think this is looking up towards Swirl How from the Prison Band.
From Swirl How we headed across to Grey Friar passing the wreck of LL505 a Halifax bomber that crashed in 1944 with 8 crew members loosing their lives. This was quite a eary and sad place because of the low cloud and the fact the wind was much calmer here.
The summit of Grey Friar.
Then it was back to retrace our steps to Great Carrs and down the beautiful ridge to to valley bottom and Greenburn Beck.
One man and his camera.
The way down the ridge.
looking back to where we were earlier in the day, but couldn't see when we were there. At least we were getting some views now.
The valley floor from the ridge.
Eventually reaching Greenburn Beck and the little footbridge we had to cross.
The beck was a great sight and sound with all the water in it.
It was a fairly gentle but long walk back to the car from here.
With 11.3 miles and what we calculated to be around 3650 feet of accent (it seemed like a lot more though) we had a great day and some great views when the clouds lifted long enough to see.
Of course we had to stop for the obligatory pint, this time in the Eagle and Child at Staveley. A nice pint in front of a roaring fire, a really nice way to end a great day on the hills in great company.
Pete and myself have promised ourselves to do this walk again in good weather so we can see what wee missed out on.
