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.