tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18790403721588316532024-03-13T10:55:39.728+00:00summit and camp... mainly my slow but resolute attempt at climbing all the Wainwright fells in the Lake District via day hikes and wild camping trips ...Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-13323086377361115572023-03-05T16:08:00.006+00:002023-03-05T17:28:47.038+00:00The Blencathra Group - via Sharp Edge Date: 14/02/2023Wainwrights: Souther Fell (522m), Blencathra (868m), Mungrisdale Common (633m), Bannerdale Crags (683m), Bowscale Fell (702m)Start/Finish: Mungrisdale VillageTotal Distance: 11 milesTime Taken: A leisurely 7 Hours The Route : Clockwise from Mungrisdale AStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Blencathra, Keswick CA12 4SU, UK54.6400065 -3.049870126.329772663821153 -38.2061201 82.950240336178837 32.1063799tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-13868649659378195202022-06-02T22:08:00.006+01:002022-06-02T22:08:57.922+01:00Back O'SkiddawDates: 19th & 20th May 2022Wainwrights: Binsey (1467 ft), Bakestall (2208 ft), Great Cockup (1726 ft), Meal Fell (1804 ft), Great Scafell Fell (2136 ft), Brae Fell (1923 ft), Longhands Fell (1585 ft)Total Distance: 13.6 miles Total Height Gained: 4000 feetTime Taken: Day 1 = 1 hour. Day 2 = 7 hours A 30 minute Video of the Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Skiddaw, Keswick CA12 4PT, UK54.6514076 -3.147797626.341173763821153 -38.3040476 82.961641436178837 32.0084524tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-43243008663611938802022-03-24T23:18:00.039+00:002022-04-04T18:53:54.810+01:00The Skiddaw GroupDate: 24th March 2022Start/Finish: Millbeck FarmWainwrights: Dodd (1612ft) , Carl Side (2420ft), Long Side (2405ft), Ullock Pike (2230ft), Skiddaw (3053ft), Little Man (2837ft), Lonscale Fell (2344ft), Latrigg (1203ft)Distance: 14 milesTotal Ascent: 4117ftTime Taken: 8 hoursThe Route : Clockwise from MillbeckI'm finally back in the fells! It's certainly been a while since my last Lakeland Hike. Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Skiddaw, Keswick CA12 4PT, UK54.6514076 -3.147797626.341173763821153 -38.3040476 82.961641436178837 32.0084524tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-28025225297692453182021-10-19T20:04:00.011+01:002023-08-22T00:01:04.051+01:00A Tour of our Vintage Retro Camper VanWell its been a while since I've posted a camping / hiking video. Lots of reasons. Covid, work (healthcare), kids - basically a lack of time. I have however managed to finish most of the outstanding jobs on our camper van and I thought I would share the results before I wrap her up in her cosy cover for the winter. Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-81611071748711875452021-01-11T17:41:00.011+00:002021-10-19T23:05:49.682+01:00Bowfell - Mountain ProfileBowfell
Height: 2959 feet (902 meters)
Area: Southern Fells
Bowfell is the 6th highest mountain the Lake District. It's pyramid shaped profile stands at the head of the Great Langdale, Eskdale and Langstrath valleys.
It forms part of a continuous horseshoe ridge of high rocky ground from Crinkle Crags at the south eastern end to Slight Side at the south western end, with Great Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com1Bowfell, Seascale CA19 1TH, UK54.44737 -3.1658226.137136163821154 -38.32207 82.757603836178845 31.99043tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-8867291313780641802020-12-25T23:47:00.007+00:002021-10-19T23:06:14.032+01:00My Top 10 Best Lake District Mountain Photographs I can’t get out and up into the fells at the moment for reasons explained in my previous post and so I’ve been trawling through my photos from the last few years and have selected my favourite 10. I thought I would stoop to the title of ‘Top 10 Best ...’ as I read somewhere that this is a favoured search term on google eg. ‘Top 10 Best Smart Phones’, ‘Top 10 Best Oil Tankers’, ‘Top 10Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Lake District National Park, United Kingdom54.4608702 -3.088625427.231110834715807 -38.2448754 81.6906295652842 32.0676246tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-34598637384872314532020-11-29T12:20:00.009+00:002021-10-19T23:06:27.053+01:00Lock Down Ramblings This has been the longest time I have not visited the Lake District in 20 years. The current pandemic has no doubt imposed similar restrictions on many others but as the rules and regulations have ebbed and flowed over the past 9 months I have made the decision to just stay away. This is partly due to my perspective as a health care worker who has seen first hand the devastating effects Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-64687607145008051172020-05-14T11:26:00.006+01:002021-10-19T23:07:05.968+01:00An Ode to the Summit SlugA while ago, I wrote this post about ‘Summit Slugs’ (aka ‘summit hogs’) and my general feelings about them. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which was reassuring, as I thought it might just be me being grumpy. But I am clearly not the only one who gets annoyed by this behaviour, as can be seen in this thread on the ‘walking forum’ where the post was discussed at length.
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-44823701231812490232020-04-23T00:07:00.006+01:002021-10-19T23:07:38.471+01:00Playing around with Tarps in the Garden .... again !22nd April 2020
It's been funny year. I had planned to complete the Wainwrights before turning 50 in June. I'd booked off a number of days in March and April, plus a week at Easter and another in late May. That should have been plenty of time to climb the remaining 35, especially as most of them are clumped together in the Northern Fells. That was the idea anyway. Unfortunately though, a Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-53627756599392781072019-11-29T23:45:00.006+00:002021-10-19T23:08:06.518+01:00The Deepdale HorseshoeDate: 29/11/2019
Start/Finish: Bridgend/Patterdale
Wainwrights: Birks, St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Hart Crag, Hartsop above How
Distance: 10.5 miles
Max Elevation: 2864 feet (Fairfield)
Total Ascent: 3415 feet
Time Taken: 6-7 Hours
The Route - Anticlockwise from Bridgend
It was 10 years ago when I last hiked this route. On that day I was clagged in the whole way round and saw nothing. I'd madeStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Patterdale, Penrith CA11 0NL, UK54.536462 -2.938236999999958229.0144275 -44.246830999999958 80.0584965 38.370357000000041tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-65805861327541585272019-04-12T13:01:00.004+01:002021-10-19T23:08:22.094+01:00High Rigg from Thirlmere
Date: 12th April 2019
Start/Finish: Smaithwaite Bridge, North Thirlmere
Wainwrights: High Rigg
Distance: 7.5 Miles
Max Elevation: 1224 Feet
Height Gained: 2470 Feet
Time Take: 3 1/2 Hours
The Route : Clockwise from Bridge End (most southern point)
This was first time back in the fells after a 6 month hiatus. I've lost a bit of fitness so decided to peruse the less lofty fells on Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Thirlmere, Keswick CA12, UK54.5365018 -3.064210499999944754.4627878 -3.2255719999999446 54.610215800000006 -2.9028489999999447tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-829176893166567012018-09-29T22:07:00.006+01:002021-10-19T23:08:36.311+01:00Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route from Seathwaite
Date: 28th Sept 2018
Start/Finish: Seathwaite
Route: Up to Styhead Tarn and then on to Scafell Pike via corridor route. Return over Great End and Grains Gill.
Wainwrights: Scafell Pike, Great End.
Time Taken: 7 Hours
Below is a 3D fly-through of the route
I've climbed Scafell Pike many times; from Wast Water, Eskdale and Langdale but never from Seathwaite via the Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com7Seathwaite, Keswick CA12 5XJ, UK54.498768 -3.182712000000037728.976733499999998 -44.491306000000037 80.0208025 38.125881999999962tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-51488270171502879672018-07-26T22:06:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:09:42.202+01:00Castle Crag and the Borrowdale Valley
Date: 26th July 2018
Start/Finish: Rosthwaite Hotel
Wainwrights: Castle Crag (951 feet)
Distance: 5.6 Miles
Height Gain: 2080 Feet
Time Taken: A very leisurely 4 hours
Social Hiking Map Link
The Route: Clockwise from the Rosthwaite Hotel
Castle Crag is a bit of an outlier as it doesn't easily link up with any surrounding fells without significant height loss. Its nearest neighbours of Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com4Rosthwaite, Keswick CA12 5XL, UK54.522776 -3.146613999999999629.0007415 -44.455208 80.0448105 38.16198tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-3807537393929671832018-07-25T16:41:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:10:05.268+01:00Review - Real Turmat Cod in Curry SauceProduct Review
I was recently invited to be on the 'tasting panel' by Basecamp Foods. The deal is that they send me a free meal and I write an honest review. Seems fair enough. They sent me my first meal a few weeks ago and having no wild camps imminently planned, I took it on a recent campervan holiday in the Lakes.
Real Turmat is a brand that I've heard of via the @basecampfood twitter Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-18382217142837784432018-06-09T14:52:00.004+01:002021-10-19T23:10:20.922+01:00A High Level Circuit of the Greenup Valley
Date: 9th June 2018
Start/Finish: Rosthwaite
Wainwrights: Eagle Crag (1706 feet), Sergeant's Crag (1873 feet), Ullscarf (2382 feet), Great Crag (1726 feet), Grange Fell (1345 feet)
Distance: 12.5 miles
Time Taken: 8 Hours
Social Hiking Link
The route: Anticlockwise from Rosthwaite
This is a walk best served hot. Preferably at the end of a long hot summer so the squelchy quagmire around Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com1Eagle Crag, Keswick CA12 5XG, UK54.4991065 -3.120288899999991428.977072000000003 -44.428882899999991 80.021141 38.188305100000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-35842590809622480302018-05-17T11:29:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:10:35.123+01:00Mellbreak from Loweswater
Mellbreak - from Scalehill Bridge
Date: 17th May 2018
Start/Finish: Park Bridge, Loweswater.
Wainwrights: Mellbreak (1676 feet)
Distance: 6.6 miles
Time Taken: 3 Hours 30 mins
Click here for Social Hiking Link
The route - anti-clockwise from Park Bridge (top)
It has been almost 12 months since I was last in the fells. A big work project has been a somewhat all consuming but is Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Crummock Water, Cockermouth CA13, UK54.5617166 -3.30477640000003754.524886099999996 -3.3854574000000373 54.5985471 -3.2240954000000368tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-31825644533579226082017-07-11T23:08:00.006+01:002023-03-13T10:03:04.478+00:00Reasons not to visit the Lake District
It's grim up north
So the Lake District is now a Unesco World Heritage site! Great! What were they thinking? This is clearly a misguided decision that will only serve to clutter the area up with even more disappointed tourists. I therefore feel that it's my duty to try and redress the balance with a truthful account of the region. So here are 14 good reasons why the Lake District is Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-67855298733657076062017-06-04T18:30:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:11:30.450+01:00A High Level Wast Water Circuit and Bivvy Camp
Date: 31st May-1st June 2017
Start/Finish: Cinderdale Bridge, Nether Wasdale
Wainwrights: Whin Rigg, Illgill Head, Middle Fell, Seatallan, Buckbarrow
Wild Camp: Middle Fell
Distance: 16.3 miles
Height Gained: 5607 feet
Time Taken: Day 1 = 7 hours. Day 2 = 4 hours
Social Hiking route link
The route: Anti-clockwise from Nether Wasdale
&Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Wast Water, Seascale CA20, UK54.4428259 -3.292017600000008354.4058884 -3.3726986000000085 54.4797634 -3.2113366000000081tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-82549029098854724652017-05-27T11:55:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:11:49.738+01:006 Soggy Wainwright's around Bleaberry Fell
Date: 19th May 2017
Start/Finish: Ashness Bridge, Derwent Water
Wainwrights: Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat, Raven Crag, Armboth Fell, High Tove
Distance: 12 miles
Height Gained: 3222 feet
Time Taken: 7 hours with plenty of brew stops
The Route: Clockwise from Ashness Bridge car park
This walk is really best done after a long hot summer. Or you might enjoy bog snorkelling, in Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Bleaberry Fell, Keswick CA12, UK54.56565 -3.107330000000047235.088362 -44.415924000000047 74.042937999999992 38.201263999999952tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-32122063427389772662017-03-08T19:47:00.003+00:002021-10-19T23:12:02.704+01:00Far Eastern Fells Done and Dusted
Date: 8th March 2017
Start/Finish: Howtown
Wainwrights: Steel Knotts, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Beda Fell
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Height Gained: 3904 feet
Time Taken: 7 1/2 hours
Social Hiking map link
The Route : Clockwise from Howtown
Today was about bagging a straggler. Steel Knotts was the one remaining 'far eastern fell' to be climbed. Its a simple little hike Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com3Howtown, Penrith CA10, UK54.588417 -2.840216999999938729.0663825 -44.148810999999938 80.1104515 38.468377000000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-31214363822411647072017-02-24T19:06:00.003+00:002021-10-19T23:12:18.351+01:00A Bessyboot Bimble & some Geology
Date: 24th Feb 2017
Start/Finish: Seatoller
Wainwrights: Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot)
Distance: 7 Miles
Height Gained: 2746 feet
Time Taken: 5 Hours
The route: Clockwise from Seatoller
This walk was about snatching the one fine day amongst a maelstrom of recent grim weather. Storm Doris struck yesterday and today was a lull before the wind and rain returned. A quick Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com2Borrowdale, UK54.502812 -3.148578199999974554.355363499999996 -3.4713016999999744 54.6502605 -2.8258546999999745tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-26727673484058136922016-12-13T20:08:00.004+00:002021-10-19T23:12:41.631+01:00Taking the Boy up Bowfell (AKA the Eiger) via climbers traverse in winter
Video of the walk
Date: 3rd December 2016
Start/Finish: Old Dungeon GhyllSummits: Bowfell (2959 feet), Rossett Pike (2136 feet) [and the Eiger! 13,020 feet]Distance: 9 milesElevation: 4076 feetTime Taken: 6 hours
The Route : Clockwise from Old Dungeon Ghyll (far right)
It had been ages since I was last in the fells. Five months in fact. The main reasons were 1) getting a new job 2) Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com2Bowfell, Seascale CA20, UK54.44737 -3.165819999999939734.971801 -44.474413999999939 73.922939 38.14277400000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-12466936632212534122016-06-18T22:59:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:12:54.730+01:00Wild Camping with a 9 year old - Blencathra
Date: 18th & 19th June 2016
Start/Finish: Scales
Time Taken: 3 hours up, 2 hours down
Distance: 5.5 miles
Height Gained: 2156 feet
Our 'Den' on Blencathra summit
So my 9 year old lad had decided to sleep rough for the night in aid of Den Day, a 'save the children' initiative aimed at raising awareness for children in the world who don't have a safe place to sleep at night. The idea Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com12Blencathra, Keswick, Cumbria CA12, UK54.6400065 -3.04987010000002135.162746999999996 -44.35846410000002 74.117266 38.258723899999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-66214246134989413742016-05-30T10:41:00.003+01:002021-10-19T23:13:09.718+01:00Little Langdale Circuit - A Family WalkDate : 29th May 2016
Start/Finish: Skelwith Bridge
Distance: 6 Miles
Time Taken : A leisurely 5 hours including lengthy lunch and pub breaks.
The route : Clockwise from Skelwith Bridge
This a cracking little family walk that is especially suitable for young kids. My lad first walked it aged 5. He is now 9 and took his friend with him today. It is mostly flat and easy going. It has woods, Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside LA22, UK54.422418 -3.011570000000006134.944085 -44.320164000000005 73.900751 38.297023999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879040372158831653.post-14418695293497848902016-05-22T18:31:00.002+01:002021-10-19T23:13:25.467+01:00A Skelwith Saunter: Black Fell and Holme Fell
Date: 20th May 2016
Start/Finish: Skelwith Bridge
Wainwrights: Black Fell & Holme Fell
Distance: 8.1 Miles
Height Gained: 2013 feet
Time Taken: 5 hours
View of the day: Windermere from Holme Fell
The route: Clockwise from Skelwith Bridge (top right)
The forecast was poor. Low cloud and some rain. I figured it might be a good day to tick off some of the smaller Wainwrights that Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15238683575972518114noreply@blogger.com0Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22, UK54.422418 -3.011570000000006128.9003835 -44.320164000000005 79.9444525 38.297023999999993