Dalesway from Staveley

River Kent from the Daleway

So today the snow came, there wasn't any at Home (Holme) but a dozen miles up the road at Staveley the snow was settling nicely. The forecast was for the snow to turn to sleet and then rain. So a prompt start from Barley Bridge at the foot of Kentmere, we headed south beside the River Kent then through the village to pick up the Dalesway. We followed the trail as far as Hagg Foot, the sleet had arrived as we turned to head back. More field paths led back to the car the sleet had changed to rain, the snow on the ground was really slushy. I had found the limitations of my ancient unlined leather Scarpa boots! I had a pair of soggy socks, thankfully these conditions are not that prevelent! It was two wet walkers who arrived back at Barley Bridge.

Turbary Road And the Cheese Press Stone

Almost sounds like a novel! Todays gentle ramble was planned to take advantage of the winter sun, having left the car on Westgate lane above Westhouse near Ingleton we strode out along Tow Scar Lane under....Tow Scar!

Tow Scar Lane, not Turbary Road yet!

The lane climbs gradually to meet Masongill Fell Lane, where we turned right onto the Turbary Road. This was originally constructed for folk to gather peat from the slopes of Gragareth for fuel. These days it provides a grassy promenade on a limestone shelf, ideal for a bit of "spotholing".

Whernside from the Turbary Road

A short way along the lane we had a chat with a couple of cavers in the process of carring out a dig, hoping to find new ground. Our turn round point was to be Rowton Pot, a bottomless gaping chasm, (its not really bottomless) 3 cavers were just packing up and leaving as we arrived.

Whernside from Rowton Pot

Retracing our steps for a couple of km and chatting to yet more cavers at Swinsto Pot, we descended to the Cheese Press Stone. This large perched boulder, two actually stands out for a good distance, there were excellant views of Ingleborough, Kingsdale and Whernside beyond.

Ingleborough from the Cheese Press Stone

Whernside from the Cheese Press Stone

The air had a real chill to it as we dropped down over the frozen slopes to the road, turning right to walk down the lanes back to the car. Our decision to stay in the sun had been a wise one, it was freezing as the sun was lost behind a low bank of cloud.

Greenburn Horseshoe

This Greenburn Horseshoe started from Tilbirthwaite Gill

High Tilbirthwaite from the path above the gill

Dry Cove Bottom with Wetherlam behind

On the ridge of Wetherlam Edge

Scafells, Crinkles and Bowfell from Wetherlam

East from Swirl How

Scafells from Great Carrs

Wet Side Edge with Greenburn in the shade

The head of Greenburn from Wet Side Edge

Rsf ride to Brockhole

The rest of the party had started from Ashes Lane, but I had parked in Staveley and met the others at Wilfs cafe. After a chat over coffee/hot chocolate etc and a bit of final route planning we set off. The cycle path beside the A591 made for easy progress as we headed west before taking the Moor Howe Road.

The top of  Moor Howe Road looking to the Langdale Fells

Photo stop on Dubbs Lane, a superb Rough Stuff lane

Regrouping at Applethwaite Quarry, the head of Troutbeck in
the background. We headed down into the valley thro Limefitt Park

Lunch break in the gardens at Brockhole

Having crossed the double bridges near  Thickholme we were reduced
to a push up the steep wet track

Due to the short hours of daylight we called it a day after the Thickholme bridleway and made our way back to Wilfs cafe over the Moor Howe Road. After another brew said my goodbyes to the others as they rode back to Ashes Lane

Grasmere Circuit

Todays walk was a circuit of Grasmere,  the lake not the village, it would be wrong to say a circuit of Grasmere lake cos that would be like saying lake lake! Anyway not many folk about, on what can be a busy ramble. The mist was right down and gave an eiree light, the mist did start to disperse at about 3 o'clock, just in time for it to start going dark!

Dubbs Road

The Head of Troutbeck

An afternoon stroll up the Dubbs Road (which is only a track). The western arm of the Kentmere Horseshoe looking superb in the sun. We returned to the car on Longmire Lane, making a neat loop. A bit of snow on the tops always improves the view, perhaps this is the start of a snowy winter?

First Snow in the Lakes

First snow in the Lakes today, Fairfield Horseshoe from the slopes
of Latterbarrow