Cross Fell

For a change we headed to the Pennines today, the highest of which is Cross Fell at just under 3000ft. Part of the beautiful view we enjoy from the front of our house. We parked at Kirkland and headed up the bridleway

 

 

Just in case there is any doubt

Navigation is pretty easy on this walk!

Black Doors off to our left as we gain height

Breeze makes a dash for the cairn (don't tell her it's not the summit)

She insisted on a summit photo, even thought the summit trig point and cross shelter are a few yards further

After a very sheltered lunch in the cross shelter on Cross Fell, we continue on the Penine way for a while, heading towards the Golf ball on Great Dunn Fell - we can see this from home too!

Cow Green Reservoir in Teesdale comes into view as we start to descend

After leaving the Pennine Way and heading down Kirkland Fell we reach Littledale. We are following to the left of Littledale Beck

As we pass through Baron's Hill Farm, Breeze still has enough energy to make the most of the first crop of silage which is yet to be cut

A nice gentle walk back to the village to finish another lovely walk

The GPS told us we had walked 9.47 miles, but as the idiot (yes it was me) in the party forgot to switch it on for a while, I guess it was nearer 10!

Nothing planned in one of our favourite spots

We didn't plan a walk today - we just went up Mosedale to give Breeze a blast to get rid of some energy. We just started out up the Cumbria Way towards Skiddaw House.

 

 

 

The longest tongue in the world puts in an appearance as we head off up the Cumbria Way.



After about a mile and a half, we reached Wiley Gill, and for some reason, decided to make our way up the Snab onto Pike. We love exploring areas like this. In the days of hoidays up here, it was always a pre planned route we followed. Now to have the time and opportunity to just 'go where our noses take us' is a real privilege.

Breeze smiles for the camera as we have a pasty on Pike

She's getting good a posing at lunchtime

After lunch we decide to head over Coombe Height till we reach Grainsgill Beck. This is a lovely place and pretty much guaranteed to be isolated - even in the school holidays like today.

Spot the Dog.



She never seems to slow down, bouncing through the heather, scrambling over rocks, thinking she can fly........

Grainsgill Beck as it winds back down to Mosedale.

In total we coverd about 6.5 miles, so considering we weren't planning a walk, not a bad outing. Good job we'd taken our pasties and flask just in case!!

A Last Minute Decision to Walk The Dodds

The forecast for this week is not looking very promising, and today is likely to be the best day on which we can fit in a walk. But there are gales forecast for the summits, so we had decided to head off on a low level walk. That was until we checked the Fell Forecast this morning, to see it had changed and the winds were predicted to be much lighter. So where can we go that is on the doorstep, doesn't take any planning, and the views are awesome? Loads of places I know, but we headed for The Dodds. I was up here a month ago with Jay, but it's a while since Husband was here, and that was in the rain.

 

 

 

After starting out from High Row, we head up the grassy slopes of Matterdale Common to Great Dodd. A few pockets of snow still remain on the eastern slopes.

From Great Dodd we take the easy route across Watsons Dodd (on the right) and then Stybarrow Dodd (on the left)

After Stybarrow Dodd, we drop down to join Sticks Pass

Looking ahead towards Glenridding valley from Sticks Pass

Looking behind us at Green side quarry (from the left),  Catsycam, Helvellyn and Raise. Sticks pass which we have just walked down can be seen on the right of the picture

And looking ahead to Ullswater as we walk around Glencoyne Head. The hanging valley of Glencoyne below us.

Breeze waits to be told to cross the stile

And poses in the cotton grass

Nearly back to the car and one last look back to Dowthwaite head

Just over 10 miles, warm, hazy but still amazing views and the bonus? We hardly saw anyone. In fact we didn't see a single person until we were well down sticks pass, over half way through the walk. All the fells to ourselves, and the smug feeling of being asked where we are staying (twice) "We live here" !!!!!

Wildlife In The Garden

All the usual wildlife visitors are here on a daily basis. The French partridge are back as usual, as are the Mistle Thrush, House Martins, Long Eared Bats and other seasonal visitors. Here are a few of our other lodgers

 

 

Lesser Spotted Leaf Miner

Eye Eye



A regular hiding spot

And his little friend

Oh Look, another picture of Breeze!

Grasmoor With An Ulterior Motive

Today we set off to walk one of our favourite fells. Grasmoor, overlooking Crummock water. Part of the fabulous view we got to know so well from our holidays at Foulsyke.

 

 

 

We parked at Lanthwaite Green and headed up Gasgale Gill. A route we have done many times, but a first for Breeze and Jay. This is a beautiful gill, with countless clear pools. Breeze made use of many of them

The slopes of Grasmoor on the right and Whiteside on our left. Scrambling at times and occasionally a gentle path like this. Breeze was careering about as usual (have you spotted her yet?).

At the top we reach Coledale Hause. Time to look back to see where we have walked. In the distance you can see a tiny bit of water. That's Crummock water.

Then a little while later, as we reach the summit of Grasmoor, here it is again. Crummock water with Melbreak beyond (the dark fell).

Our route from here will be to head off to the left of this picture, and then pick up the ridge that runs from the middle of the left of the picture into the centre. That's Whiteless Pike.

Crummock Water again as we begin the walk along Whiteless Edge

As we start the descent down Whiteless Breast, our ulterior motive comes into view. The bluebells at Rannerdale, which are apparently at their best this week.

Walking through the bluebells. Grasmoor is the lump at the back.

A beautiful day. 20 degrees when we got back to the car. 9.75 miles and that unmistakeable feeling of being on top of the world at the summit of Grasmoor. There are worse places to eat your pasty!

A New Patio

 There is one part of the Garden that we haven't tackled - until now. The sceptic tank sits under a raised area, but for some reason, whoever paved it didn't recess the manholes and we were left with three almighty great slabs that were higher than the rest. An altogether useless area!

 

Other than standing things on it, it has never been any use at all

 

So finally we got round to removing the old slabs (manholes had to remain covered as we discovered they weren't even vaguely fitted)

Ready for Paul to arrive to fit recessed manholes

and then start laying new sandstone slabs

Better?

Now all we need is some (very heavy so it doesn't blow over) new garden furniture!

 

 

Just for comparison, here's the BEFORE shot again

 

and AFTER!

 

A Damp Walk Around The Balcony

Just Jay and I today - Husband was on patio duty (see next post!). The weather was being a bit of a pain, so we did a walk that could be altered according to the weather - we ended up on the short route, with a fair dose of showers. But a cracking walk it is anyway, so we're not complaining.




We had parked at Gale Road with a view to walking over Sale How, but unless the cloud lifted, it was going to be The Balcony walk again, just from a different starting point. Having walked down to Brundholme, we crossed the Glenderaterra  in the bottom of the valley

and then followed the beck up to Roughten Gill

Before crossing back to the other side. We stopped at the shelter for some lunch and made the decision to continue on the Balcony instead of heading up into the clouds on Sale How

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Nearly back at the car, we head across the end of Lonscale, looking out across Derwent Water

Only about 6.5 miles, but not a bad dog walk for a rainy day!