A Northern Pennine Backpack

More precisely, 2 and a bit days along the Pennine Way and South Tyne Trail. This filled in some gaps for me in this area. I was dropped off in Dufton just before 11am on Tuesday, and found myself  amongst a number of the Summer Spine Race (Fusion I think it's called) details here.  Some images of the trip below......

The first objective Knock Fell, I don't think I've ever climbed up this way I always visited from the main ridge. The Eden Valley laid out before me....what this image doesn't convey is the terrific wind and the massing cloud from the East!

It wasn't long before I was in the cloud...and drizzle..this old cairn is Knock Old Man

And this rather newer effort is the summit of Knock Fell.

In my own mind I left my options open, but with the low cloud and drizzle I decided to follow the bridleway beside the Trout Beck towards the source of the South Tyne. This is the Trout Beck shortly before it joins the River Tees.

The source of the South Tyne...marked by 3 stones no less....hard to tell but it was chucking it down here and continued as far as Alston.

Hence there are no pictures until I'd got the tent pitched and sorted out. the price was good....although it seems a little eccentric. Mick and Gayle had stayed here on one of the long walks so I was fore warned!

The cloud was still low down when I set off so opted to walk the rest of the South Tyne Trail. It follows the old railway for almost all its length.

End of the road (track) for the current narrow gauge railway, and time for my second breakfast.

The South Tyne river from the impressive Lambley Viaduct.

There were many wild flowers along the trail, these Orchids caught my eye.

My last view of the South Tyne as I crossed over it and entered Haltwhistle. The day had improved dramatically it was really hot.... Ice Cream!!

I linked through to Hadrians Wall and the Pennine Way by waking up the "Burn Gorge" splendid. Worth an hour or two of anyones time....although I was on a mission. 

I reached the wall at Cawfields...no pictures from there a coach had just disgorged its contents...there were folk everywhere!
This is looking West from Caw Gap

I've walked this portion of the Wall a couple of times, I'd forgotten how much up and down tere was!...Lots!!

Milecastle 39 and Wall marches onward. The group of people spoiling my photograph were filming something...they had a big sword and lots of people sat about....probably curing the dishevelled wreck walking amongst them.

Time to leave the Wall behind here at Rapishaw Gap, off into the boonies.

Having crossed Ridley Common and just about to enter the first piece of forestry, there was a distinct lack of suitabe terrain to pitch a tent on. I decided to go to Haughtongreen Bothy. I figure that there is often suitable pitches near bothies....this wasn't the case here, but I had the bothy to myself anyway.

It's in excllwnt order and very well maintained, even has a composting toilet!

After an early night I was up early, 4.30 am to get some miles done before it got to hot. This was the view from the front door...mist in the dips and a heavy dew.

Spooky Trees!!

Wonderful dew laden spiders webs all along the path back to the Pennine Way.

Crossing Haughton Common as wet to sat the least. Quite clearly no where near as many people walk this section of the trail compared to the Southern sections. There was only about a dozen flagstones beyond the wall on the section I walked.

There was a "Pitstop"/Trail Angel at Horneystead, I had a long chat with them whilst having a mug of tea. But omitted to take any pictures.
the next feature of note is the escarpment above with the mildly amusing name of Shitlington Crags. 

Just beyond the crags as I passed the radio mast I met the first backpackers I'd seen. They thought I was daywalking...and couldn't believe I was carrying less than 5kg...one of them said he had 15kg on his back...and they were staying in B and B's!!
As I crested the hill I could see Bellingham, and here the North Tyne.
This made a good place to stop with good transport links, ready to resume the next section sometime in the future.
All in all a grand trip...although the soles of my feet felt like they were on fire in the end. My ancient Inov8 Terrocs had lost what little cushioning they ever had...they've gone in the bin!
Other than that all good.

Lingmoor Fell

Only a half day's walk today, I parked at Chapel Stile and crossed the Langdale Beck. Up through the quarry and Baysbrown Wood, then the track which leads onto the open fell. It soon became apparent that it was a lot windier than the forecast...it was blowing a hoolie!
The photos when examined closely are blurred due to the wind, still they're a record of the day....

Looking back East along the main ridge...a good viewpoint for Elterwater.

A little further on and the view South to the Tilbirthwaite area

Summit almost in sight, the Harrison Stickle and the other Pikes shrouded in cloud.

The summit...the photo is unable to show the wind...I had to sit down, brace my arms and was still buffeted all over the place.

I usually descend along the ridge and Side Pike (seen here). But today, partly to get out of the wind and partly to enjoy the jog over easier ground I descended to Blea Tarn.

From Blea Tarn I crossed the road and walked down the zig-zags, then along the Cumbria Way and bridleways back beside the river to the car at Chapel Stile.

Lancaster & Morecambe

Something a bit different on the blog today. We had to be in Lancaster for a hospital appointment this morning, so I took the opportunity to have a look round Williamson Park. The afternoon was spent strolling along the prom at Morecambe....trying to avoid kamikaze old duffers on bikes and dog owners with what seemed like un-retractable leads!
Anyway here's a few photos from the day, no captions I'm afraid...I'm to traumatised from the collision avoidance!!

A Wet Walk from Mardale Head

The forecast said breezy and an odd shower mainly in the West....I know I thought I'll go to Mardal Head and do a bit of a loop round the tops. Driving up the M6 it looked a bit dark over the Shap Fells and beyond....it looked bright over towards Cross Fell, but I didn't have a map with me for there.
Arriving at Mardale Head the cloud was well down and the rain was being driven in on a stiff wind. I sat in the car for almost 45mins...it'll ease off I kept thinking....

Yep, it really was this dull...and wet!

Lots of water about...the sheeting rain intensified from this point On up to Nan Bield....

...and onto Mardale Ill Bell. It stopped raining for a bit, so I snatched this photo. Looming out of the mist there's another person. he must have been as mad as me!

It was only 20mins or so to High Street...it was raining again. I didn't hang about, and with the wind behind me off I jogged to find the top of Long Stile.

As I descended Long Stile the rain eased...the wind was a lot stronger though I expected that.

Rather than go over Rough Crag I dropped down to Blea Water and followed Blea Water Beck back towards Haweswater and ultimately the car.
It was raining again as I got back, rather a wet day...still enjoyed it tho'...must be mad!

Pen-y-ghent and Plover Hill

An early start (well for me) today. The forecast was for a worsening kinda day, the rain would take longer to arrive in the East so off to Horton-in-Ribblesdale I went. Parking was easy! it is half-term after all.
It seemed only recently that I'd been up Pen-y-ghent, but having checked my records when I returned home...it was last January! Time fly's when you're having fun :-)
Poor light today so the images are nothing special, just a record for me really...

Pen-y-ghent from Horton Bridge

Having walked up the lane past the school and through Brackenbottom, once on Brackenbottom Scar the view opens up and Pen-y-ghent starts to look rather closer.

Looking back down the "nose" over Gavel Rigg and beyond to Pendle Hill.

Just an hour to reach the top, and over in the distance...Plover Hill, my next target. You soon leave the crowds behind when you leave the main drag here.

After the recent dry weather I expected the path across to Plover Hill to be dryer than it was...I just managed to do it with dry feet in my Inov8's...lots of dodging about to achieve it though.

Having had a snack behind the summit wall out of the chilly wind I descended beside the wall to the Foxup Moor track, passing these boulders on the edge. Ingleborough in the distance.

Along the Foxup track and the next sight of note...Hull Pot. Lots of new stones have been brought down by Hull Pot Beck. I was told that earlier this year that it had filled Hull Pot completely! 

I had to walk about 250m upstream to find any water in the beck at all today...attractive little fall though. Within 10m or so all the water disappears through the stones and gravel in the bed of the beck.
Back to Hull Pot and down the lane to Horton and the car. The first spots of rain were just starting as I arrived at the car...the early start had paid off.