Well it's been a while coming, hasn't it?
Friday was a chance to reacquaint with the fells so I made an early start to nab two Wainwrights towards my second round, Whin Rigg and Illgill Head. I have never previously had a view from these two, so the forecast was even more promising. After waking at 4.15 - a whole 45 minutes before the alarm was due, I set off from home at 5, arriving at the small car park under Irton Pike at 7 - and I was first there which was nice. The path climbs straight from the car park, through woodland below Irton Pike before reaching a gate giving access to the open fell.
Through the gate the views begin to hint at greater things to come.
The slope is not severe, and though a little muddy in places, the route is on beautiful open fellside leading to Whin Rigg.
The path skirts the gully of Greathall Gill which I remember as a very steep descent last time I was up here.
Whin Rigg summit is soon reached, and gives superb views of the surrounding fells. Illgill Head straight ahead, and on the left Middle Fell, Haycock, Pillar, Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable make a breathtaking view for an early morning flapjack break
A wonderful easy short descent precedes the climb up to Illgill Head, and one path crosses the open fell, while the second hugs the top of the cliffs and screes above Wast Water. Wonderful steep drops and a feeling of airiness,
This is a wonderful path, and from this direction you are walking into fantastic scenery, among the best in Lakeland
From Illgill Head the views keep opening out - here the bulks of Kirk Fell and Great Gable
From Illgill Head I followed the faint path which cuts Southwards and gradually steepens as it curves round toward Burnmoor Tarn, with great views of the Scafells and Lingmell
Here the path curves round the fellside, staying above Tarn level. The path was pretty dry and virtually flat - wonderful walking down to Miterdale with a lovely view back up to the tarn, Sca Fell and Slightside.
I followed the path for quite a while before dropping down at the first wall, to cross the stream at a ford, where \i sat for some time enjoying a ham and pickle butty and watching the River Mite as it gently tumbled over the rock. The colours were mesmerising, so much so that I was mesmerised and didn't take any photos.
Continuing down the valley I suddenly remembered where I had left my wheelbarrow
Near the foot of the valley I turned right, or westish, to cut through Miterdale Forest - bits of this were very nice, bit other parts seemed to be lacking a bit of management and there were a couple of clambers needed, though I did not follow the yellow footpath signs so probably my fault,
Finally a few hundred yards down the road to the car.
Wonderful day, and really enjoyed this route. GPS had it at a couple of hundred yards short of 11 miles with 750m of climbing.
Just to add - carpark at Irton Pike was full when I returned, and there was plenty of action in the Wasdale carparks but I saw only two people on my whole walk, and they were at the farm in Miterdale.