Finishing the Central Fells Synges

I didn't expect to be back so soon...I was only free at the last minute, so headed back to Borrowdale and parked below Grange Crags. Then weather was like a carbon copy of yesterday, although there was apromise of a better afternoon. I walked along the road to High Lodore then took the path which zig-zags up behind the farm. My first Synge was Brown Dodd, it was the usual thrash through bog, dead bracken and heather...here's a few photos to give a taste of the day.

As I gained height the views were opening up, and all around me were lots of Silver Birches

The Lakes has had a fair bit of rain recently, Derwentwater a good deal larger than normal!

The top of Brown Dodd, looking North across Derwentwater to the Skiddaw group wearing a cloak of cloud.

I thought the high point in this image was my next top...but it was a good bit beyond.
Isn't it always the way?

The top of Ether Knott...it's got a cairn! albeit a small one. It even had a sketchy path to the top from the South. Maybe because it's a good viewpoint for Watendlath and it's Tarn.

I descended to Watendlath in lashing rain, had a bite to eat under the best shelter I could find. I then headed down the valley, years since I'd been on this path...seems to have been improved from what I remember.

Down beside the roaring upper Lodore Falls

I'd made good time so stopped for a brew in a spell of sunshine amongst the Birches on Sheperds Crag

A good chance to take a telephoto shot of the footbridge over the River Derwent...boat or canoe needed for access today!
From Shepherds Crag I descended to the road and walked back along it to the car, getting caught in the heaviest shower of the day!
A great day though, I felt good after yesterdays headaches etc and another area of Synges completed only 5 left to go (inc Pillar Rock!)

Castlerigg Stone Circle
Nothing to do with today's wander but as I was leaving Keswick the weather had brightened up.
I guessed there wouldn't be many folk about (there wasn't) so I took a couple of photos

Another photo of the stone circle with Blencathra in the Background

Today's schoolboy error....not wearing my specs when picking my map out this morning!!
I actually hadn't realised until I got my food out at Watendlath, I'd kind of committed my route to memory before I left home....if the visibility had been poor of course.....

Back to Synge Bagging

After a brief hiatus, it was back to Synge Bagging today. It had been a very wild night, and it was still windy this morning as I parked up in Stonethwaite. My intention was to try and climb my last 3 Synges in the Central Fells...but then best laid plans....

I climbed the steep path beside Willygrass Gill. Most people would stay on this path to either visit Dock Tarn or Great Crag...or maybe cross over to Watendlath. Of course I had other plans, no lovely path for me...off I strode through thigh deep heather to climb "Knotts" Eventually arriving at this point...not the top sadly.

 

But this is the top of Knotts. looking back across more deep heather to the point I was at a few minutes before. I descended to an old sheepfold and had some lunch. Might have been the wind (although I had a hat on and my hood up) but I was suffering with a real bad headache :-(
I felt I should descend to the valley rather that press on for the other tops...they'll be there another day I'm sure.

It was steep rough ground, this spooky old tree about the only thing of note, although the sun was trying to make an appearance...it was still incredibly windy though.

Once back in the Stonethwaite valley it was easy walking on the bridleway then the road back to the car. I drove into Keswick and had a mooch about, then drove home.
It's not like me to be "ailing", and as I write this I feel considerably better.

Scout Scar.....and Leighton Moss!

An unexpected free morning.....where to go...Scout Scar! It's ages since I'd been up here even though I work within 3km of the summit! Nothing much has changed though, except perhaps the paths look more heavily used. I parked on the Brigsteer Road and headed North...

I hugged the scar edge, it was looking grim up in the Lakes

As I approached the highest part of the cliff these Scots Pines caught my eye...

Looking back towards a hazy Arnside Knott things looked a lot brighter.

I turned to head back at the viewpoint, known as the "Mushroom" by local folk.

Leaving the "Mushroom" behind I walked along the top of the scar calling at the trig point, before crossing Helsington Barrows back to the car.
I thought I'd take advantage of the better than forecast weather.....

.....and made a detour to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. The only slightly unusual birds being this pair of Grebes.

The weather was deteriorating...thunder and lightning approaching. I quickly took this photo before the heavens opened. Just a couple of miles to home from here, it had been an easy day. Enjoyable though.  

Kelly Hall Tarn & Bannishead Quarries

Motorcycle MOT day today so that was the bulk of the morning spoken for. I had thought I might visit the two locations on the motorbike but although the sun was shining and it was warm for the time of year, it still felt cold to me. So it was back home and a trip in the car...softie!

Kelly Hall Tarn, only 100m or so from the road. I must have past it dozens of times since I last visited. Today I knew the light wouldn't be great, so it was more of a scouting mission for the future.

The distant views were hazy, but this is a very photogenic spot....

I left the tarn behind and drove a little further to Little Arrow between Torver and Coniston. The path from here to Bannishead quarries is much less used than the Tranearth bridleway. I haven't used it for more than 20 years at least....The goal was to have another look at the open quarry seen above....again the light was poor. 

The fall at the Western end didn't have that much water in it....we have had a week of dry weather though, so I should have given that a bit more thought!

The light was improving as the afternoon passed on.
This is Torver Beck, Coniston Old Man in the background...Dow crag obscured by the tree.
I returned to the car pretty much the way I'd come. Quite pleased with my scouting trip...earlier starts are required!

More Waterfalls....

Having injured my back earlier in the week, walking any distance was going to be difficult. So a bit of rest (or at least as close to it as I was prepared to do) was called for. So today it was a drive over to the Dales, specifically Wensleydale and Swaledale. What a beautiful day it was, I really enjoyed a "chillax"....neither waterfall required any more than a stroll. Amazing weather for February, really good to top up on the Vitamin D...my back feels better as well :-)

Cotter Force West of Hardraw in upper Wensleydale
As I say above just a short stroll from the road...wheelchair friendly as well 

Wain Wath Force near Keld in upper Swaledale
Even closer to the road...slippy rocks though!
After a drive over The Buttertubs with several stops to admire the view, albeit to hazy for photographs.
Back home the same way with the cloud building, it didn't feel like the same day.

Catrigg, Winskill and Nappa Scar....

Jobs this morning, and besides the forecast was for a sunny end to the afternoon. I didn't leave home until after 1pm, with a plan to visit a few well known photo opportunities. Parking above Winskill Stones the weather wasn't looking very promising, in fact it was trying to rain! It was only a few spots, so off I walked down to Catrigg Force firstly. The main object of the exercise was to take a few photos with my new camera. The results of my endeavours are below, some of the images have been cropped but no other editing has been done...

Catrigg Force, both "drops" in this image. There was no sun when I arrived, which helped with the long exposure.

Just the lower "drop"....still no sun!

However as I emerged from the confines of  Stainforth Beck the sun was starting to breakthrough.
This is taken above the Force looking West, the prominent top is Smearsett Scar.

Heading back towards Winskill Stones, Pen-y-ghent was out of he cloud.

My take on what is a very popular image of the Hawthorn tree on Winskill Stones.
A lot of the limestone pavement around here was robbed for rockeries etc until it was banned.

This large Ash tree has managed to survive the grazing when it was younger! Ingleborough is to it's left.

I then drove round to Austwick, it was on the way home anyway. I parked on Crummack Lane and had just enough time to get up onto Nappa Scar. The sun was disappearing quickly but was lighting up the boulders and scar with warm light.
The low hill in the middle distance is Smearsett Scar again!

Another image of Nappa Scar.

It wasn't long before the sun disappeared beyond the Bowland Fells.
Time to walk back to the car along Crummack Lane.
I'm pleased with the results from the camera so far, I'm sure it's far more capable than the human holding it!

Synge's on the Fringes of the Northern Fells

It was windy today....no that's an understatement...it was ****ing wild! As I'm writing this up I still feel battered. It's been a worthwhile day though, another 4 Synge's bagged although I'd planned 5 :-( I'm into single figures left now, The ones left to do now are bit scattered mind. It's a miracle that all my pictures weren't badly blurred, here's a few images from the day.

I parked at the end of the road in Mosedale and set off West...into a vicious headwind. The actual hill I was going to climb is beyond the heather clad slope in the middle of the photo.

Having walked up the quad track over Cocklakes, I contoured round the head of Burdell Gill and at last the top I was aiming for Pike was looking a bit closer. Its seen here infront of Lonscale Pike...(I'm presuming folk will know which one that is!!)

At last he summit of Pike, Carrock Fell looks quite pointy from this angle.
The wind would be behind me on the way back...thank goodness.

Back round Burdell Gill, and over Coomb Height. I descended the ridge back to the waiting car.

A drive round via Caldbeck to park on the Southern Edge of Aughertree Fell. Then only a short walk to Mickle Rigg...I would say this clump of rushes is the highpoint. The sheet of water in the distance is Overwater. I would be over there later (no pun intended!)

This is the summit of Lowthwaite Fell, Binsey in the background. There is no access to this one so no route description I'm afraid. It was still windy, and by the shape of the grown out hedge it often is!

It was then a rather convoluted route to Castle How, another trespass required to visit the top. this is the  view from the summit looking more or less Northeast.
From here I descended to the road near Orthwaite, and walked back along the lanes to the car, again with the wind behind me. I'd planned another top, but basically just felt knackered!! Not like me :-(
Always good to be out and at least it stayed dry.