East, North, South and West coast

Since Philippa left on her jolly I have managed to stand on beaches on the East, North, South and today, West coasts of Britain.  The first was Helmsdale in North East Scotland.

Next I visited Thurso when the tide was a long way out.  Orkney is in the background.

I made a short day trip to Folkestone to walk another Marilyn

And today it was the Irish Sea at the River Esk estuary.  Once again the tide was a long way out

I had today planned to walk three hills several miles north but the morning dawned wet and this was followed by high winds. I decided to save the 3 hill trip for another day and instead walk over Muncaster Fell (a Marilyn) to Ravenglass on the coast and then catch the little train back to Eskdale Green.

Back to London tomorrow after 6 days good and sometimes excellent walking.

Two foot

If a hill Is 2001 feet high it will receive a lot more attention than a toddler of 1998 feet.  This is why it has taken me 40 years to get around to walking the ridge at the top of the famous Wasdale Screes.  I have seen them from the far side of Wastwater.

F 

I have seen then in the rain, in the snow, from all parts of Wasdale and even seen people doing a hill race with the screes as a backdrop.

Today I walked across the summit ridge.  The view was less of the screes and more about being on a superb vantage point. 

And just to prove I hold no grudges about the hill being two foot below par, here I am on the summit feeling very pleased with life.  Sca Fell is in the background.

Trains little and large

One major theme of these blogs is the use of public transport and in particular, trains.  This trip has made a lot of use of trains.  

The journey from London involved 4 different trains which was more interesting due to me having my bike with me.  I started with a Virgin Pendalino out of Euston.  Switched to a local train at Lancaster without problem.  The next part from Barrow was an issue as the rolling stock was old and the bike and pannier would not fit in the corridor between the platform and the allocated bike space.  I managed getting on by taking the pannier off.  Getting out at Ravenglass was a problem as the train doors stated to close with me struggling to get the bike along the corridor.  After much arm waving I managed to get free.  I have to say the guard was very patient.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a 15" gauge steam line running up the Eskdale valley.  

My first problem was to get the laden bike between main line and narrow gauge stations. The access gates were pedestrian only but a very helpful local solved the problem by lifting the gate off the hinges!

Bike and I fitted comfortably in to the tiny carraige and so I got to The Green station and journey's end.

Yesterday I walked up a subsidiary peak of Sca Fell called Slight Side. It is the peak behind the train.

The view from the top was less clear.  This looks towards Middle Fell

Today I was on the other side of the valley on Green Crags.  

A remote area by Lake District standards.  I saw nobody on the hills on either of the last 2 Days.

Both days I used the Ravenglass Railway which took me 2.5 miles up the valley and brought me back to Eskdale Green. 

Some fells are easier than others

Hardknott from the top of the pass is easy.  Especially when the sun is shining.  It is a great viewing platform.  We do not linger and cross the pass and ascend Harter Fell which has a rocky profile and is also bathed in sunshine.  A short relaxing day but a very good one all the same. 

Spring in London, winter in the Lakes

Trevor, plus geeky hat, joins me as official photographer on a short day trip to the Lake District.

It was spring when I left London but it is still winter in Patterdale, and even Trevor's photographic skills cannot disguise the grey skies.  We climb 2 Wainwright's.  Despite the grey clouds the views are spectacular.

There are a few other walkers about so it is great to see a herd of at least 13 red deer hinds grazing only about 200 feet below the main path, unconcerned by the passers by above. Maybe the deer feel safe from us humans due to the startlingly steep slopes on which they are feeding.

The opposite to Thurso

I caught a high speed train to Folkestone from the ultra modern St Pancras station.  The journey took just 55 minutes.  Compared with Sutherland and Caithness, the view was fairly dull as there seem to be many tunnels and cuttings.

I cheated at Folkestone and caught a local bus part of the way to the nearby Marilyn, Cheriton Hill.  Beinn Dorain is also a Marilyn.  Beinn Dorain looks over the North Sea while Thurso looks north to Orkney.  Cheriton Hill looks out into the English Channel and the steep slopes overlook the vast Channel Tunnel terminal.  Even the trig point is overlooked by a hill top covered reservoir.

The walk along the edge of the Downs escarpment brought thoughts of Home Guard patrols in The Second World War especially with some well preserved pill boxes and a Battle of Britain exhibition nearby.  

Eventually I escaped the continual buzz and rumble of cross channel transport and crossed Swinge Hill.  A much better top.

 Finally a walk down to Folkestone harbour for a few minutes contemplation of contrasts with Thurso some 730 miles to the north.