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A  tour of the Northern fells

24th - 26th March 2012

Route.  Day 1 - Ravenstone hotel - Ling How - Ullock Pike - Long Side - Carl Side - Skiddaw - Skiddaw Little Man - Skiddaw Lesser Man - Lonscale Fell - Burnt Horse.

Day 2 -Burnt Horse - Mungrisdale Common - Bannerdale Crags - Bowscale Fell - River Caldew - Round Knott - Carrock Fell - Mungrisdale - River Glendermackin.

Day 3 - River Glendermackin - Souther Fell - Scales Tarn - Sharp Edge - Blencathra - Hall's Fell Ridge - Threkeld.

About 25 miles and 8000 feet of ascent

 

The recent tradition of a really nice spell of weather in  March  continued and although on Saturday and Sunday the long range views were spoiled by extensive haze I don't think many people were complaining 

Looking up the path from behind the hotel.

I actually started this walk from the Rabbit Warren Plantation as I got of the bus a stop early. The walk through the pleasant wood was nice as I had timed my arrival to coincide with the warmest part of the day but I was soon feeling the effect of a heavy pack,  the hot sun and the steep climb up the Ullock Pike ridge

Looking in to the sun and up to Ullock Pike.

Long Side behind Ullock Pike. I think I set the record for the slowest ever ascent of Ullock, but I was only going about 6 miles and had all afternoon to do it.

The going gets a bit easier once over Ullock Pike and I was soon at Carl Side. The scree path up to Skiddaw looks inviting !

I spent a few minutes on Carl Side watching this chap. (At least I think it was a chap. Although there's no reason it couldn't have been a lady)

Looking to the top of Skiddaw

Once I had visited Skiddaw I dropped down and followed the path to Skiddaw Little Man.

Looking down to Lonscale Fell from Skiddaw Lesser Man.

The East Ridge of Lonscale Fell from the drop down to Burnt Horse.

The Sun sets over Skiddaw....

... and rises over Blencathra.

Looking down at Skiddaw House nestled beneath Skiddaw.

On Mungrisdale Common now. Some people have a low opinion of Mungrisdale Common but on a nice day the views are pretty good.

From the Common I headed round then up to Bannerdale Crags. The East ridge looks an excellent way up and is on my "to do" list.

After passing over Bowscale Fell I headed down the steep slope to the River Caldew passing above Bowscale Tarn on the way.

After fording (with some difficulty ) the river I set of for Carrock Fell. My planned route was to follow the Cumbria Way up to the ridge then turn right, but as I was descending the slope opposite down to the river,  I saw that there might be a short cut up by Brandy Gill. I don't know if it was any shorter but it certainly was a slog and I was glad to reach the ridge at Round Knott. This is looking back up the river through the haze to Lonscale Fell in the centre background leading up to Skiddaw Lesser and Little Men.

Looking back along the ridge to High Pike from Carrock Fell.

After dropping down to the road I had a couple of miles to walk to Mungrisdale village where I called in the pub for a pit stop before I set of along the River Glendermackin and looked for a place to camp.

As soon as I woke I could tell the weather had changed. There was condensation on the tent and the air felt a bit colder and the haze had gone.

It was a bit nippy as I packed up but I knew just the thing to warm me. I set of up the very steep side of Souther Fell and the chill was soon forgotten as I zig-zagged up to the top. This is looking across to Bannerdale Fell from the side of Souther Fell.

I popped up onto the ridge into brilliant sunshine and was greeted with this view of the Pennines across the Eden Valley.

Last time I came this way I remember thinking exactly the same thing when I saw Sharp Edge. NO WAY! 

Despite my head saying "no way" my legs just kept on and before long they were both at Scales Tarn and heading up the Edge.

Just before the climb starts in earnest I zoomed in what I think are Cross Fell on the left then Little Dun Fell and Great Dun Fell with the radar station visible..

 Looking back down Sharp Edge.

And the view from abit higher up. I made it up without to much bother but if the rock was wet I personally don't think I would come this way.

With the haze gone the views were now spectacular. I spent an enjoyable few minutes playing name that fell. (I don't think I scored very highly)

Looking back to Skiddaw.

As much as I could have stayed on Blencathra all day, I had to be home in the early afternoon so I set of down by the Hall's Fell Ridge to Threkeld where I caught the bus back to Penrith.

Last walk -Wythop and Whinlatter  - Next walk - A two day backpack around Harter fell

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