The Naddle Horseshoe

I've done this before ....it was probably 30 years ago or more. It was probably one of those walks when you get back you think to yourself..."I won't ever need to do that again"! This is a walk for lovers of Elephant Grass and Bog, but it is quiet and the absence of paths is a pleasant change for the Lakes.

I parked the car at the foot of the Naddle valley and headed East onto the South ridge. There was a glimpse of Haweswater in the distance.

Contrary to what I've said above there is a track almost to the summit of Harper Hills.
I had a spot of lunch here, and studied the way onwards...I couldn't remember what I did last time!

Powley Hills....Rough! Next top Hare Shaw in the distance.

There are several areas of planting on here, Holly and Juniper from what I could see. 

The view West from Hare Shaw High Street and Kidsty Pike prominent.

Good to get to this gate which never seemed to get any closer for a long while. High Naddle Forest (the next top...not marked on the map!) is to the right of this image.

The top of High Naddle Forest...the size of the cairn gives a clue to the amount of visitors.

Wallow Crag...how come its got such a fine cairn?
Here we look East.

This is the fine old cairn on Hugh Laithes Pike, an excellent viewpoint. The hanging valley containing Measand Beck is to the right of the cairn.
From here it was a treacherous descent through the trees which was slippy beyond belief back to the car. Not a single person seen, 

Windy Wetherlam! A Boxing Day Blow Out

A "Free" day saw me parked in Tilbirthwaite. Today would be a selfish Christmas present to myself, Wetherlam is a favourite hill at anytime. It was breezy as I left the car, but nothing compared to what I would experience once I gained a bit of height.

Just Me and my shadow out today it seemed!

Across Dry Cove Bottom to Wetherlam Edge and Birk Fell

The Langdale pikes with a scattering of hail on them from the foot of Wetherlam Edge.

On the summit of Wetherlam, it was blowing a real hoolie.
I can't believe this image isn't completely blurred.

Off down Ladstones it was almost impossible to stay on the path until about this point where the ridge levels out.

Looking back up the ridge across a stormy dub.

It was much calmer once I got down to Hole Rake and set off back across the moor to Tilbirthwaite

The day was improving from a sun point of view although still very windy.
A last look up to the old mine workings and dressing floors above Tilbirthwaite Gill.
A short descent beside the gill and I was back at the car, a really invigorating day.

Scratching an Itch...Or Itching a Scratch...Whatever....

Out on the bike this morning, which left only the afternoon for a walk. I decided on Red Screes from Kirkstone with a return over Middle Dodd and Kirkstone Beck. I had just parked when Oscar and his owner @munro277 appeared out of the gloom. We had a good chat until the cold wind got the better of us. I set off up Red Screes with a modified plan because of the dense low cloud. I would just go up to the summit and back....

As I gained a bit of height the cloud thinned, things were looking better.

Once at the summit of Red Screes I could see blue sky above but all around was cloud.
I had a butty and waited to see if it would clear...it didn't.
I reverted to my original plan and set off towards Middle Dodd.

It started to clear....

Although as I looked back to Red Screes it was still in cloud.

Brotherswater framed by the dispersing cloud from the "summit" of Middle Dodd (This is a Wainwright with virtually no ascent in coming down from Red Screes!)

Further down the ridge and below the cloud even Place Fell was clear.

This of all things was the reason for todays walk....The Itch I Had to Scratch...this path beside Kirkstone beck was one of the few I have never walked within the Souhern Lakes.
And very pleasent it was as well!

Further up the path passes the Kirkstone...some idiot painted it white a few years ago, thankfully most of the paint has worn off.
Just over the brow I was back at the car.

Round Brotherswater

Dull and overcast today, but as we're close to Christmas the Lakes are relatively quiet. So over Kirkstone we drove to park near Caudale Beck. A clockwise wander was taken...

Through Sykeside Campsite (no tents, several VW Campers tho) and across to Hartsop Hall.
Middle Dodd on the left and High Hartsop Dodd to the right.

Across Brotherswater to Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags

Lunch was taken with a great view back to Kirkstone, Caudale Moor and red Screes.

Hartsop Dodd reflected in the outflow of Brotherswater 

Back via Hartsop and the East shore, good views across the lake to Dovedale on here.
Only a short walk, nice and level for P.
Back over Kirkstone, down The Struggle to Ambleside for a bit of retail therapy. 

A Wander From Wharfe...Nr Austwick...Not In Wharfedale!

A beautiful morning saw us parked at Wharfe, for a wander round some of the bridleways and footpaths hereabouts. We were accompanied for much of the way by Fieldfares and Redwings, over from Scandinavia gorging on our berries!
See below for a few photos of our day......

Moughton Scar

Clapper Bridge at Washfold

Moughton Scar...Again!

Looking up Crummackdale

Nappa Scar from Norber Scar

Looking back up Thwaite Lane.
It was just a short walk back to the car from here.

Fatty Rides Again...Tilbirthwaite from Skelwith Bridge

Its been a long time since I've had a day on the Fat Bike for various reasons. Today though was the day....cold, crisp and sunny. care was needed on the ice patches mind!

Still a lot of frost as I left Skelwith and headed for Elterwater

Great reflections in the Brathay

I rode/pushed over Owlets Nest and was greeted with the familiar view of Wetherlam and the Greenburn Fells

Once in little Langdale the next port of call was Slaters Bridge...Still frosty!

In the shade here....very chilly! As I headed back over to Tilbirthwaite

Gratuitous pic of the Fat Bike at my lunch spot in the sun. Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke in the distance

I had a good play round in the quarries of Hodge Close.
 Its a favourite area for me, the Silver Birch looked superb today.

On the bridleway through to Stang End.

Back to the car on the multiuse track to Skelwith.
The last of the days light shining on the Pikes and Silver How

Rough Stuff Fellowship Ride From Wilfs....Staveley

A really cold wind greeted us as the 3 of us left the warmth of Wilfs Cafe. We pedalled up Brow Foot Lane in Kentmere. The hills all round had a scattering of snow, but it would be a while before we were riding in it. First we tackled some bridleways above Ings before we headed over to Troutbeck and back...heres a few pictures of the day.

Adam on the way back over to Ings, Kentmere Fells in the background

The Coniston Fells from Brow Head Lane

The Langdale Fells from Moor Howe

The head of Troutbeck from Dubbs Road.
A great day, although my toes may disagree!!
The track of our route may be found here for those who use Strava! 

The Jaws of Borrowdale

Today found us at Grange-in-Borrowdale. The plan being to do a circuit of Castle Crag...and indeed that's what we did. Although not in the direction we'd planned! It rained for the first mile or so....

It faired up though and the last of the Autumn colours were still excellent

As we had lunch beside the Derwent the sun lit up Kings How

Lots of berries waiting for the winter migrants

Looking down into Borrowdale and Ullscarf beyond from Tongue Gill

A foreshortened view of Great End

Derwentwater and Skiddaw seen from below Castle Crag.
Back to the car from here, all downhill but into a bitter wind.