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.

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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.

Back to London tonight

I have time before travelling back to London, to catch the Borrowdale bus again.  This time I get off at Rosthwaite and walk up the delightfully named Puddingstone Bank.  The snow of yesterday has retreated to the higher fells. Therefore the going is easier although there are a few hail filled squalls whipping through which keep me huddled up.

The first hill I climb is Great Crag which is a Wainwright. This leaves 30 Wainwrights to do. I make my way back to Puddingstone Bank which I cross and go up Grange Fell, also a Wainwight, so now only 29 to go. 

I traverse the fell via the subsidiary top of King's How from where there are great views across Derwentwater and pick up the bus back to Keswick at Grange.

So now I am back in an empty house in London, where I am having to do strange things such as run the washing machine and do food shopping.  Well these are strange things to me!

The Borrowdale bus

I sneak away for a couple of days in Keswick where as usual I am well looked after by Steph and Steve at Bramblewood B and B.  I catch the local bus to Stonethwaite as my targets are Sergeant's Crag and Eagle Crag.

The walk up the valley is easy but it all changes when I branch off up the steep snow covered slopes of Sergeant's Crag which makes the going tiring.  I disturb a small herd of red deer stags and also see a buzzard and kestral.  More wildlife than is normal in a Lake District valley.  It gives the day a wild feeling which is enhanced by the rocky tops.

There are great views back to Stonethwaite.

Back at the road I stop for a bite to eat in the smart bus shelter.  

The bus takes me back to Keswick. The road builders never envisaged buses using this route so there are frequent stops while the driver skilfully squeezes us between hedge and oncoming vehicles.  

The bus is busy.  Most passengers are old.  Just about all are wearing quality walking kit so I guess they have been using the many trails in Borrowdale.  There are quite a few dogs on board who seem to have had a good day just as I have had.