Closing in on the Wainwrights
When I started making plans for 2022 over the winter I decided that this would be the year I completed my round of the Wainwrights. I wanted to do it while I still have my health and the energy. In a way I think too it will be a relief; I’ll be able to visit the Lakes without feeling I need to be doing anything particular.
So I’ve booked three visits; Ambleside in April, Eskdale/Wasdale in June and Penruddock in September. This is a memo of five days based in Ambleside. The weather was perfect – clear bright days, cool but not cold, and dry. In fact the whole Lake District was dry; very little water in the becks, bogs drying out, and in places the peat beginning to dry and crumble. For first two days it was very windy on the tops, blowing a hoolie on Clough Head and the Longsleddale fells.
Saturday 23 April
- Clough Head
Skiddaw and Blencathra from Clough Head summit
Clough Head was the last of the Eastern Fells for me to complete, and I did it en route to Ambleside. I started on the old coach road from Wanthwaite in St Johns in the Vale, up through the old quarries to the open fell, then north-east from the summit to rejoin the coach road which I followed back to the start.
Sunday 24 April
- Grey Crag, Tarn Crag (Longsleddale)
Another clear bright day but still very windy on the higher ground. Luckily I was able to park at the roadhead at Sadgill Bridge before it got too crowded. From Tarn Crag I descended north then west to the valley road and the River Sprint to return to Sadgill Bridge.
Monday 25 April
- Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike, Harter Fell
There aren’t many places to park at the top of the Kent Valley. When I got as far as the (closed) gate shortly before Brockstones I chickened out, and after what must have been a 13-point turn in the road tried my luck at the church the other side of the valley. There’s parking for a few cars at the village hall opposite; as suggested by a notice I left some money in the honesty box. Had I been brave enough to go through the gate I could have parked where I’d originally planned by the Nunnery Beck bridge.
I took the old road which goes over to Longsleddale, turning up the fellside around the 350m contour to follow a path keeping close to the wall which leads to the top of Shipman Knotts. From there it’s a simple walk over open ground to Kentmere Pike then Harter Fell. It was a clear bright day and the views from Harter Fell more than made up for the rather dull approach. The twisted iron and stones at the summit had been rearranged by weather and visitors since Wainwright recorded them.
From Harter Fell I took the short steep path down to the Nan Bield pass, then the bridleway to Brockstones and the last kilometre or so to the car.
Tuesday 26 April
- Sour Howes & Troutbeck Tongue
Two singletons today. Foul weather had me baling out of Sour Howes when I climbed Sallows in September last year. Today couldn’t have been more different – clear, bright blue skies; a great view down to Windermere and another towards Troutbeck Tongue, the afternoon’s objective.
Windermere from Sour Howes summit
Troutbeck Tongue from Garburn Road
Climbing Troutbeck Tongue from the wall above Hagg Gill, I descended west from the ridge about 150m north of the summit cairn to join the footpath alongside Trout Beck south of the footbridge. There is a gate in the wall at approximate GR 420065. It was an easy descent in April, but may be a struggle through bracken later in the year. Keep north (right) of the old quarry.
Troutbeck from Troutbeck Tongue summit
Wednesday 27 April
- Lingmoor Fell via Side Pike
Squeeeeze!
Choosing the route which visits Side Pike I had a small but interesting scramble when I initially failed to find the path to lower ground which after backtracking (allegedly) joins the path coming up from Bleatarn House. It involved a bit of a squeeze! As promised by Mr W the views of the Pikes and the rest of the Langdale fells were excellent.
Langdale Pikes from Side Pike
Langdale Fells from Lingmoor Fell summit
Side Pike from near Bleatarn House
That brings my Wainwright total to 184. Two more visits this year should see me finish the round.