Yewbarrow

A strong, cold north easterly was forecast with cloud on the eastern fells. So we headed south west for , hopefully, the best weather. It clouded over but we did stay out of the cloud.

Scafell, across the valley, was also out of the clouds but everything further north was cloud capped.

We did not linger on the summit but scooted along the top until there was an "off road " escape to the valley and somewhere warm to eat the sandwiches.

Beda Fell

This must be my least visited area of the Lakes. It's quite a drive and I've never liked the narrow lane down the side of Ullswater. I parked on the hill above Martindale walked across the bridge and up onto the ridge.

This is an attractive ridge with good all round views. Martindale forest across the valley looks worth exploring.

After the summit and a few sandwiches I descended to Dale Head farm and the road. There's a gate just north of here with a track across the valley. If you wanted to explore the forest or climb Gowk Hill you would cross the valley here. Unfortunately walkers are forbidden.

The excuse seems to be that it's a deer park. The real reason seems to be that the Bungalow is a Holiday cottage. So the cottage occupants don't seem to be upsetting the deer.

I guess if you went up the valley past the Bungalow deer might be encounterted, but to cross the valley north of the bungalow to climb Gowk hill would disturb nothing.

Interesting door lintel spotted on road side.

Winter Preparation

I had a bad cold at the weekend so took the opportunity to put the new cover on the campervan. I dont know how well these work , but we sustained frost damage to the water system last year. I've drained it more thoroughly this time.

Congratulations

I received an e mail and the photos from my brother who has just completed all the Munros.
Totally amazing , he had the last one to do for about a year, then just took off and did it.


If I had one to do I wouldn't be able to wait that long. What if you broke a leg and couldn't do it.
Anyway the mountain is called Aonach Mor.
Well it makes my 3 rounds of Wainwrights look a bit tame. Wonder if I could do the Inn Pinn ?
Would the knees make it at this age, I'm 5 years older than Andrew.
Well done bro.

Almost the same Place

I went back to the same car park today but this time went straight up the fell to Bell Knot and then onto Little Hart Crag. About 2 weeks ago the last of the swallows left the factory down near the coast, but unbelievably I saw 4 swooping around at 400m in the lea of the ridge.
The top was in cloud so I didn't see any thing again until I emerged in the upper Hogget Gill corrie.
This area looks very impressive with lots of little corries and crags with the imposing Dove Crag in the background and a view down Dove Dale.


I dropped off the NE end of Stangs and descended the stream to the main valley just above the bridge. The mist seemed to have cleared off the tops a bit as I walked back across the valley to the car.

I wonder how much longer places like this will remain with trees. There were lots of sheep in this area. The trees in the bits I walked through seemed quite old with lots of stumps and bits broken off. As they die there doesn't seem to be anything re growing as the sheep just eat everything. Is it time to remove them for a while ? We might get some flowers then as well.

Getting Fit

There's a need to get fit for Christmas as we've just booked a skiing holiday in Belle Plagne. The cost of skiing always means we are on the first lift in a morning and coming down last at night. If you're not fit it's exhausting. So today we went for a walk.

Middle Dodd from the foot of Kirkstone Pass.

We tried parking at Hartsop but it was mayhem as as organised mines walk was just getting under way. So we drove a couple of miles up the main road to a deserted layby near a footpath sign and away we went. Lakeland fells might be small but this fell goes straight up. The forecast on MWIS said sunny and it was at first but it soon clouded over and the summit was in mist and hence no photos.
A road runs through it.

So after Red Screes it was down the Caiston Glen and back to the car. The Innov8s handled it well , but I did notice the bog water is starting to feel decidedly colder and I had to put the gloves on for the first time in a while.

Living the Dream

Back from the long awaited holiday. We went to Southern Germany in the campervan. The weather was atrocious on the way down but did improve when we got there. We stayed at the above site and cycled into Fussen and the surrounding countryside on the excellent Radwegs.

We then swung right past the Bodensee and through the Black Forest , climbing Feldberg from the ski resort at its foot.


Lunch was eaten whilst an old German man told us how he had been in a prison of war camp in Shropshire. I'd tried not to mention the war..........

More rain followed in the journey up through France so lots of Flunches were eaten and a great time was had by all.