More Footpath Surveys

Last Sunday & today Karen & Crag have been completing more footpath surveys. Sundays walk was over near Croasdale, this is looking down on the hamlet with Knock Merton in the background. Today included a footpath that we knew was going to be awful so Andy was quite glad to stay at home. The first footpath is a good track that takes you into the Calder valley, a very hazy Whoap in the distance

Heckbarley with very few trees left on it

Now the fun part, the path should follow the River Calder for about 1 1/2miles, however it is so boggy it is impossible to stay near the river. It isn't a very well used path so there are no clear marks on the ground where the alternative path goes, you just have to pick your way through some very boggy ground. In no time you have filled your boots so it was a case of trying to just plough through it

We give up trying to stay low & start to climb up Latter Barrow to find some drier ground

The sheep aren't stupid around here they don't venture down to the lower ground & up here there are good sheep tracks that contour us round on dry ground

We eventually finish that path & are back on better paths, it is so remote here & we didn't see a soul all day.

Looking down on the River Calder

Then we have a walk back on the Cold Fell Road

Glad we have got those done & there were dry shoes & socks in the car!

Great Borne To Red Pike

Yesterday was one of those beautiful Autumnal days, cold but sunny & amazing visibility. Andy's back still wasn't 100% but Karen didn't want to miss out on the weather so took Crag over to Ennerdale to walk from Great Borne to Red Pike. We were able to do 2 footpath surveys & 3 fixed point photos. The sun is low at this time of year so we started off in the shade but could see once we had climbed a bit we would be back in the sun. Looking down on the western end of the lake which is mostly in the sunshine And again from higher up when we are now enjoying the great weather, it was warm enough for short sleeves. Although the path was still frozen in places

After about an hours climb we had reached the summit of Great Borne (616m)

Looking across to Grasmoor

The trig point at the summit

A couple of panoramas from the summit

Looking ahead to Starling Dodd & Red Pike (the pointed fell in the distance)

As we get across the summit plateau looking back to Great Borne

Mellbreak & Crummock Water

We didn't need to reach the summit of Starling Dodd so contoured round it, looking back at it with Great Borne in the distance

And again looking back as we start the final push up Red Pike

To then be rewarded with stunning views down on Crummock Water

High Stile

Robinson with Buttermere below

The summit cairn (755m)

And the panoramas from here

Ennerdale Water, Bowness Knott where we started looks a long way from here

We start our descent back to Ennerdale

Pillar is mostly in shade now

Looking back up at Red Pike

Part of the valley remains in constant shade this time of year & it looks like a snowy winter scene here. Crag is rolling around in it thinking it is snow

We went to check the wildlife camera which was equally icy (no pictures this time)

We then make our way back along the forest track which is now in shade, Pillar & Steeple

It was a lovely walk which has to be one of our favourites

Footpath Surveys Around Flat Fell

Today we were back on the footpath surveys, we drove up to Uldale which is beyond the white house on Dent & did a circular route from there around Flat Fell, walking three different footpaths. The dogs lead the way, we have walked this route a few times before Soon Nannycatch comes into view Some new signage designed to aid the coast to coaster, where we are going in fact is the path they are being steered away from Looking back we were on the path between Dent & Flat Fell a few minutes ago We walked onto the Cold Fell Road then headed down to the last path that would bring us back. Not many pictures today so I have included this one of the back of Dent & the camera strap ooops (yes it was very windy!)