Sam's Wainwrights

Sam's work have challenged their employees to walk the Wainwrights between them, raising money for the air ambulance as they go. Sam isn't a fell walker (We ride racehorses together - that's how we know each other) but she fancies doing her bit and Breeze and I offer our services as guides.

I suggest Sheffield Pike as a good Fell to break yourself in on, and as no-one else from British Gypsum has claimed it yet, we can add Hart Side in as well, meaning that Sam will be able to put her name on two Wainwrights.

We meet at Glencoyne.

Don't think I've ever been on the fells with anyone in white trousers before! Trust Sam to be different!!

Originally we were going to do this walk on Tuesday, but the forecast of gales and lightening made us postpone it to today. Not my favourite day to be on the fells (Saturday), but I was very happy that we'd had made that decision. Today was looking awesome and we've only just set out.

There are a lot of photos on this walk - this way Sam can easily take copies of any she wants.

Heading into Glencoyne. Sam has brought two of her dogs along, Rum (this one) and Turkey 

And of course Mummies Little Princess is with us

It's getting really warm as we climb steadily up Glencoyne

By now the path was really icy. Little did I know before now, that Sam is terrified of ice. But she gritted her teeth and faced her fears and steadily worked her way up

Sam's fiance Mark was with us too - well in theory - although at this point he was waiting ahead in the sun

With Turkey

Breeze meanwhile was having a ball. I think she had been up Sheffield Pike about 5 times by the time we got through the icy section. But she did come and see if we were OK from time to time

Spaniel coming through

The sun shines out of Breeze's arse you know

As we approached Nick Head, the snow was knee deep and that would remain the theme for the majority of the walk

It doesn't slow Breeze down though

Sheffield Pike Summit

Sam's First Wainwright

Sam proving that white trousers are good camouflage

Rum had never seen deep snow before. From 

Looking back at Sheffield Pike when we stop for some lunch

Lunchtime panarama

Mark spots a group of Red Deer Stags on the slopes of Birkett Fell

Walking over Glencoyne Head. It was hard going, Knee deep often thigh deep. But what amazing conditions

Sam, Turkey, Rum and Breeze on Hart Side, second Wainwright of the day

And again on Birkett Fell, not a Wainwright, but one thrown in for good measure

We followed the wall down to the balcony path

Then made our own way down to the dam (Just seen in the bottom of the valley), That's Sheffield Pike where we were earlier

Mark finds a stone which has been carved into a made to measure seat

From here we retraced our steps back past Seldom Seen cottages to the van.

We had walked roughly 7.5 miles. As an introduction to the Lakeland Fells, I really don't think you could get better.

Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd and Randerside on a perfect day

To say that today was awesome doesn't do it justice. We had planned to go down to Glenridding and do Sheffield Pike, but the Dodds were calling so we changed our minds at the last minute. As we left the car at High Row, a group of about 7 were just ahead of us. They headed up the path we had decided on so we changed our minds again! Call us antisocial, but we don't want to be two steps behind the Northern dawdlers day trip

We headed out along the Coach road to Mariel Bridge and then made our way up the side of Rowantree Beck. It was easy going for the first couple of miles, but once past the sheepfold the snow got deep and we were finding our own path much of the time. Knee deep drifts make for hard climbing!

I took so many photos today, I have had to cut them to the bare minimum or I would be uploading them for weeks, so few shots of the route, lots of shots of views (and Breeze of course).As we reach to col, the Western fells fill the skyline

Zooming in on Great Gable

Breeze's feet are full of snowballs, every now and then she'll come over for me to melt them for her - great way of cooling your hands down!

Lunchtime view

Lunchtime siesta

Refueled, rested and ready to go!

Nearly back at the car. What an amazing day

A bit over 8 miles, but by heck did it feel hard work today! We're not fell fit and the snow was really tiring in places. But it was so definitely worth the effort. And to top it all, once we left the car park we didn't see another soul all day!

Roughton Gill in Winter

Probably the only day we'll manage to fit a walk in this week and with the winter conditions we decided to head to Fellside and just decide what to do as we went along. The conditions were variable to say the least, from no snow or ice, through sheet ice to thigh deep drifts

Lonely Valley

This is the first outing for my new hat! Made from Shetland wool, knitted by our friend Alison who lives on Shetland.  I think you might be seeing a bit more of The Hat!

The Old Mine Workings at Roughton Gill. Hard to imagine there would have been 100 miners working here at one point.

Breeze is camouflaged in the snow, particularly now it is thawing

Snow Cornices had gone pretty solid. Hard enough for a spaniel to skate on them

But not hard enough to stand the weight of an adult human! We sank in up to our thighs and in truth it was deeper than that.

A rare smile (on a photo - he does smile at other times, just not for the camera!)

Looking down on Dale Beck and the track we had walked up on

Intrepid Explorer

Mummies Little Princess

Back below the Snow Line

Later, back at home. A lovely end to the day.