CUMBRIA: Graystones, Broom Fell and Lords Seat (9 miles)

Sunday 21st November 2021

Day 2 of my much needed clomp round the hills saw me meeting up with Paul and Colin for, what I can only describe as a meticulously planned, well thought out and perfectly executed meet.





Starting with Colin standing sentinel at the entrance to the parking spot because Paul had wandered off to round me up, thinking I’d go and park in the wrong place. ‘Fraid I can’t fault that logic.



It was an absolutely stonkingly glorious day. My car’s temperature gauge said 0 degrees and a snowflake and there was wall to wall sunshine and blue skies. A complete contrast to yesterday.



We decided to go up Graystones first as it would be the steepest bit of the day and probably better in ascent than descent. Though after seeing it, there was no “probably” about it. Paul suggested we meander up the forestry track to gain some height in a more dignified manner before tackling the final third of near-vertical “up”. A forest track is a forest track and I didn’t take any pics. We eventually left the track for a, erm, less trodden path. Luckily this was short and sweet and we arrived at a wire fence. Apparently there used to be a stile here but it had been replaced with more wire fencing. Colin, being the tallest, tried a bit of DIY castration as he climbed over it. Based on that dynamic risk assessment Paul decided to stay this side, and so did I.



And so started the unrelentingly steep bit. Obviously with us all being serious walkers we strode up the hillside confidently and will vehemently deny any suggestion that any of us used the wire fence to cling on to/haul ourselves up by



Looking down the steep hillside:

 

 

The views were coming along nicely and I stopped frequently to admire them



We reached a corner in the fenceline but luckily this had a wooden “thing” that could be climbed over with relative ease. Well, I climbed over it with relative ease. Colin was already on the other side of it. So that just left Paul..



Up ahead, more up. And a little rocky clamber. And about 3 false summits later we actually got to “the top”. Oooh the views



Having reached “the top” I assumed we were on Graystones summit. I have no sense of direction. Just sayin’



Apparently there are two summits – the real one and the Wainwright one. So we bagged them both to be on the safe side.



Scotland looked very close from here. My camera didn’t pick that up :

 

 

But, had there been swirling cloud, I’m sure these Shadow Monsters would have been amazing brocken spectres instead.



More views:

 

What actually was I looking at there? Already I was completely disorientated-ish and when Paul checked his gadget-mi-bob I just pretended that the direction he wandered off in was exactly where we were going anyway



And from part way up Broom Fell (I think) looking back:

 

I could quite happily have bounced around on all the frost-tickled, frozen puddled lumps and bumps of these fell tops all day. It was a proper rosy-cheeked, sparkly-eyed (and runny-nosed) sort of day. My absolute favourite walking conditions



Broom Fell:

 

We stopped here and had a snack stop. I’m liking that the summit shelter has seats on both sides and we nabbed the in the sun, sheltered from the wind side, leaving the shaded, unsheltered side (but had better views) for the family with delightfully vocal child to enjoy.



Skiddaw with Bassenthwaite Lake peeping into view:

 

 

Looking back the opposite way:

 

 

And to the Back o Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake still feeling a little bit shy:

 

 

Fed and watered, we wandered off to Lords Seat:

 

 

Looking down to Barf with Skiddaw looming impressively behind:

 

 

The original plan was to do Barf too but I was conscious of the time and, after a bit of a conflab, decided to miss it out It looks superbly lumpy and bumpy and I will be back.





Sadly, all that remained now was to get off Lords Seat and wander haphazardly through the forest where hobgoblins and pixies live. I’ve no idea why I didn’t take any pics of the wonderful mossy woodland floor. I’m not normally a fan of pine forests but this, the forest floor at least, was quite enchanting.

 

 

I was feeling another snack stop sort of urge and as we rounded a corner and came into the sunshine I spotted a nice log bench to sit on. Except a couple coming the other way got there first (how dare they!) So we carried on, looking out for something similar before we lost the sunshine. Colin spotted some tree stumps next to the track which looked as good a place as any, so we perched and snacked, in the last of the sunshine.





I can’t make my mind up about forestry tracks. On the one hand, it’s easy walking on gentle gradients, which is very welcome at the end of a walk, but on the other, it’s a bit dull, particularly after the stonking good views from “up there”.



Fleeting glimpses of the fells:

 

 

And looking the other way:

 

We were nearly back at the cars and decided on a quick visit to Spout Force:

 

 

But the path was closed for forestry/maintenance work(?) so we retraced our steps and headed back to the cars.



Well I thought it was an absolutely smashing day and a great way to end my little mini-break in the Lakes. Thanks guys for the company, chat and chuckles … and the, umm, navigational assistance


Thanks for reading.

 

 

CUMBRIA: Latrigg and Fitz Park (7.7 miles)

 Saturday, 20th November 2021

I had a lovely weekend based in Keswick.  I stayed at Lindisfarne House on Church Street in Keswick.  Lovely comfy room, warm, en-suite, wifi and a delicious breakfast.  What's not to like!

The weather was looking a bit iffy today so I chose a nice autumnal "see where my feet take me" mooch.  I ended up on Latrigg, returning through Fitz Park.

Looking along the River Greta:

Latrigg:

And the Skiddaw range:

After following the main "4 miles to Skiddaw" path I spotted a woodland trail off to the right.  I decided to follow it.  I got fleeting glimpses across Keswick and Derwent Water to Catbells:

And from a little higher up:

I was enjoying the woodland trail and kept to the higher paths.  But suddenly, I burst out onto the tree graveyard.  I bit of a shock to the system:

After a quick look at the map I decided I didn't want to follow the full trail to the end, particularly as the weather was squally now.  So I decided to go straight up the side of the fell, across the tree graveyard to the top of Latrigg.  It was very steep and perhaps stood me in good stead for tomorrow's walk.  This was a bit of a trespass really and I aimed for a fenceline I could see which, if I could get over it, would put me on access land.  Luckily I found a gate.  Alright, I had to climb over it as it was tied shut, but sturdy enough not to collapse on me.

I eventually reached the top Latrigg and saw the weather front coming in: 

The path was very busy and I decided to wander a bit over Mallen Dodd to see what I could see:

Hmm, more weather heading my way.  I made a not very hasty retreat back to the path, hood up now as it was windy and raining. 

I followed the Cumbria Way for a while back down, stopping at a large tree trunk for a snack stop in the shelter of some trees.  Then I decided to take a less trodden looking path off the main track.  I'm glad I did as it was a very gentle way down Whinny Brow and some lovely views:

I rejoined my outward route for a while.  It was properly raining now and I decided to have a proper wander round Fitz Park to see the autumnal colours:

I loved the contrast of the dark trunk and branches against the russet / copper of the leaves on this Beech tree.

After a really rather random walk I reached the river and wandered along it for a while.  It reminded me a little of a smaller version of a walk along the River Severn through the park in Shrewsbury.

Wonderful wooden eagle sculpture:

The rain was dripping off me now so I headed back to my B&B for a quick cuppa and five minutes feet up before heading out again for a mooch round the shops.  The rain had all but stopped now so at least I wasn't dripping soggily in all the shops.

I bought some new walking shoes - Keen Targhee III, had fish and chips for my tea and got sorted for tomorrow's walk.

Despite the kakky weather it was a really nice mooch - it was a lovely blend of river, hill, woodland ... and shopping!  I felt myself unwinding and relaxing as the day went on.  

Thanks for reading.

EAST YORKSHIRE: Flamborough (4.5 miles)

 Sunday, 10th October 2021

I had a spare afternoon.  The sun was shining(ish, mostly).  I felt “coast-y”.

 

Where haven’t I been for a while?  I pondered as I got some snacks and a flask together.  Can’t be too long a drive, the nights are drawing in now. I mused.  I don’t really fancy Withernsea, Hornsea, and the tide’s wrong for Spurn Point.  Brid will be rammed.  Scarborough’s too far to be setting off now.  Danes Dyke? Hmmm, not enough coast.

 

The cat just gave me a disdainful look as I filled “that bag” then she walked off in a mood.  She knows, you know.

 

I plumped for Flamborough – an hour’s drive away.

 

I got parked up at the Lighthouse Road car park.  £2.90 for all day.  I don’t think that’s bad at all.  Apparently neither did the 6 million other people there as well.  It was busy!

 

I’d still not really decided where I was walking – apart from it needing to include a big chunk of cliff top walking.

 

I headed inland, back up the road I’d just driven down, passing the old chalk tower:

 

Chalk Tower

It was built in 1674 as a lighthouse.  Given the way the coast erodes so rapidly on this side of the country, I pondered how far inland it was back then.

 

I take a left turn to cross a couple of fields.  Hmm, so far, it wasn’t looking very “coast-y”

 

Buuuut, I get to the end of the second field and, ta-daaahhhhh:

 

The coast, at last!

Eeeeeh. Stand.  Stare.  Aaaand breeeeathe.

 

Another left turn and I followed the cliff top:

 

Cliff Top Path

A lovely undulating path that is sometimes quite scarily near the edge.

 

At last!  Some chalk:

 

To give some perspective, some people kindly sat on the top of the cliff.

 

It’s this area where the clay starts turning to chalk – the other end of the band of chalk is in Dover.

 

Inland, the newer lighthouse dominates the view:

 

Lighthouse

Just before you reach the fog signal station you get to High Stacks.  It was here a chap was pointing his camera at a bush.  I paused, not wanting to scare whatever it was he was photographing.  On closer inspection, there was a beautiful red-breasted bird with a black head sat on the top of the bush.  I tried to get a pic too, but it came out as a blurry splodge.  After it flew off I asked the chap what it was.  A male Stonechat.  He seemed really pleased to have seen it and even more pleased that he’d got a good pic of it.  He did have a “slightly better” camera than mine though!

 

We walked together a short distance.  He pointed out the seals.  I stared and could see nothing but then my eyes “tuned in” to these grey lumps of rock which I thought was the sun catching the wet rock.  I was a little bit excited when I finally “saw” them.  Loads of them.  I did take a pic:

 

Can you spot the seals?

Yeah.  Honestly, there are seals in this pic.  Most of them are on the rocks just getting covered by the sea.

 

And then I heard them singing

 

They moo.  It’s really cute.

 

High Stacks

The seals are just to the right of this impressive soon to be island. 

 

Had the chap not still been walking with me I’d have gone down the cliff side for a poke around there, and maybe had a go at getting to the top of it. 

 

A few more pics of the fabulous coastline:

 

We parted company at the fog signal station:

 

Fog Signal Station

It was nice walking with him.  Very knowledgeable chap and I felt like I’d had my own private guided tour of the coastline.  Lucky sod only lives a few miles away from this wonderful patch of coast and had walked from home.

 

I neared the newer lighthouse:

 

Lighthouse

.. and decided to stop for an ice cream.  A boring, but delicious Mr Whippy.  The first ice cream I’ve had since the summer of 2019.  I’d forgotten how good something that simple tasted.

 

I had a nosey at the toposcope as I schlurpped my way round my ice cream:

 

Toposcope

I was technically back at my car.  But my legs weren't done with walking yet.  So I decided to carry on:

 

I mean… why wouldn’t you?

 

Looking back to the fog signal station:

 

That is some seriously impressive coastline.  Right there.  But no. I’m greedy.  I want more.

 

Looking back, from a little further along:

 

Does gorse never stop flowering?

 

I get to Selwicks Bay and another lump of fantasticness:

 

I carry on.  The cliffs getting higher and the beach now inaccessible:

 

There are a lot of birds on these cliffs – mainly crows and pigeons.  Further up the coast is Bempton, famous for its Puffins.  I’ll mooch up there in Puffin season, but not today.

 

I head further along still.  The crowds long gone.  And find myself a nice little perch for my cuppa and snack.

 

Looking towards Breil Nook:

 

Breil Nook

Not sure if you can see but there’s a person stood on the end.  Doing what a lot of folks do here.  Just standing and staring.

 

Looking the other way to Breil Head and a precariously placed fisherman.  His pal up on the top heckling him. 

 

Breil Head

It was lovely sat in the patchy evening sunshine with my cuppa and snack.  Just sitting there. Staring out to sea and along the coastline and at the fluffy candyfloss clouds in the sky.  Listening to the waves against the rock, the two fishermen heckling one another, a small aeroplane high above somewhere.  Feeling the warm breeze on my face.  Lovely.  Simply lovely

 

I retraced my steps to the car but did take a little detour down one of the cliff paths to a seal viewing point.  No seals – the tide was almost in here.  My route down to the viewing point was more gentle than my route back up:

 

I was greeted with a wonderful sunset as I reached the top of the steps.  So I sat on one of the many benches and stared out to sea a bit more, until the flashlight from the lighthouse invaded my peripheral vision.  I really didn’t want to go home.

 

I really must get to this bit of coastline more often.  It is stunning.

 

Thanks for reading.