A foray east.

-
It's been another glorious day in Cumbria. We headed east this morning for Glenridding and arrived to find an almost empty car park. It was much hotter than yesterday as we headed up into Keppel Cove but once again the air was clear giving great views. From Keppel Cove we climbed steeply up the North West ridge of Catstye Cam and arrived to find we had the top to our selves.
Swirral Edge looked superb and we were soon scrambling along the crest heading for Helvellyn. We were amazed to come across a mountain biker heading in the same direction. He admitted that he was not on his intended Bridleway route having 'gone wrong' in his navigation. At times it looked as if he or the bike might end up falling down to Red Tarn but he carefully carried it up. We had a break on Helvellyn's summit for food and drink and watched an RAF rescue helicopter land just above the exit from Striding Edge. It looked like an exercise rather than a real rescue.
As we headed north to White Side, Raise and Stybarrow Dodd we had good views of yesterdays fells which today were much cloudier. We also saw a number of paragliders taking off from the Dodds and more mountain bikers taking advantage of the superb weather. Surprisingly there weren't that many walkers about.
We headed east from Stybarrow Dodd for Sheffield Pike - a new top for Susan. There were great views down Ullswater and it got hotter as we lost height. By the time we reached the car we were in need of a refreshing ice cream and drink. Yet another cracking day on the fells.

Heading into Keppel Cove.


Swirral Edge from Catstye Cam.


High on Swirral Edge.


Scrambling on Swirral Edge.


Heading for White Side from Helvellyn.


Stybarrow Dodd.


Sheffield Pike.


Looking over Ullswater on the descent to Glenridding.


Starting the final descent.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A week in Scotland.

-
Image
A week ago now we had an excellent 8 days up in Scotland spending time in Symington, Aviemore and Glasgow. We drove up to Symington on Friday 7 July and on the Saturday had a great ride to Peebles where, of course, we visited Cocoa Blacks for a wee treat. On Sunday we were up early and heading north to Aviemore and the Glenmore Campsite - one of my favourites despite changes in recent years. We had a leisurely drive but still had time for a ride once we'd 'set up camp'. Our route was a circuit to Boat of Garten and then a steep climb up the 'Ski Road' to the base of the Cairngorm Ski Station. This reached 20% in places and Susan wondered why we needed to do it. The views and the descent made it worthwhile.  The weather forecast for Monday wasn't too bad so we decided on a walk in the mountains. We drove up to the Ski Station and then headed for Scotland's second highest top Ben Macdui. It was overcast but dry as ...
Read more

Week off.

-
Image
Susan had last week off work and typically the weather has been very changeable.  On seeing the forecast we decided not to travel up north. The first weekend and Monday was spent in Dumfries and Symington and we cycled on all three days in mixed weather. A red dot in a sea of green - climbing over to Glenkiln. Higher on the climb over to Glenkiln, Dumfries. Disappearing towards Glenkiln.   On the road to New Abbey, Dumfries. Climbing out of New Abbey. On Tuesday we decided to head off on a short camping trip to the south Lakes. Due to the 6 month closure of the Keswick to Ambleside road we've not been beyond Dunmail Raise so this was a great change of scene. We headed first to Coniston to walk the fells above the village something we've not done for 10 years. Again the weather wasn't great for July but we got some great views and thoroughly enjoyed the round. On the Walna Scar Road. Threatening clouds above the fells. ...
Read more

Happy New Year.

-
Image
We decided to stay in Cumbria this New Year - a first for Susan!!! Thankfully the weather was much better than over the Christmas period and we were out on the hill every day. Hogmanay was overcast and windy but it was dry and we had a good day climbing over Bannerdale Crags and Blencathra. There were few people out but when we went into Keswick it was busier than ever. Dropping in to the Glenderamackin valley. A makeshift bridge across the burn - the bridge was washed away in Storm Desmond 2015. Climbing up onto the east ridge of Bannerdale Crags. On the east ridge . Some easy scrambling. Nearing the top. Good views despite the cloud. The sun trying to break through as we reach the summit. Heading for Blencathra. Susan battles into a strong wind. Looking to Thirlmere from a very windy summit. Looking to Derwent Water. On the descent. Dropping down to Scales Tarn to try and get out o...
Read more