LAST DAY IN LAKES - UP AND OVER PLACE FELL

       zoom view of Helvellyn with bowl where Red Tarn is, Striding Edge on left Swirral Edge on right, taken from top of Place Fell

Our last day dawned with rain and thick cloud but by 11am it was starting to brighten up albeit cooler, about 19oC
We drove to Patterdale and walked up Place Fell across the tops with superb views of Brotherswater, Kirkstone Pass, Helvellyn and the bowl containing Red Tarn and Derwentwater. The sun shone, it was hot as no wind, a beautiful 8mile last day hike. 

An awesome 5 days away - walked about 34 miles in glorious weather, what more can you ask.

                                                                        Brotherswater

Brotherswater and Kirkstone Pass



                     

                                                                  top of Place Fell

                                                                    Derwentwater

                                     Place Fell in background 

DAY FOUR - CATBELLS CLIMB

The forecast was rain at 3pm so we opted for a short walk up Catbells. Sun shone and it was hot and humid. A lovely 4.5 mile hike despite there being so many people, we lost them all when we lunched at the top then carried on down and along the lower path back. Just back before the thunder stuck and then torrential rain. Has now cooled down!

                                     Storm clouds gathering 

HELVELLYN HIKE! DAY THREE

The sun still shone, temperature around 25oC so what do we do - Helvellyn! Its over 40 years since I went up here and I think its had a massive landslide, rock cave in, total readjustment - well it's not as I remember it.
A fantastic hike 8 miles and about 6 hours but very challenging. We went up Striding Edge way, supposedly taking the easier path set lower down but finished up climbing down a sheer wall of rock before the last final ascent up to Helvellyn which was a major rock climb in itself. But we made it! A beautiful breeze at the top for lunch then back down via Swirral Edge, still steep but much shorter. I was rather proud of myself and then back at the site the fish and chip van arrived so no need to make tea! A fabulous day!

Heading up to Helvellyn

                                                Helvellyn, Red Tarn and Swirral Edge

                                                        Striding Edge

                                                       Striding Edge 

                    Had to climb down this rock to get to the next uphill rock climb to summit

                                      Red Tarn and Striding Edge after we came up it

                          Helvellyn summit with my beloved!

                                            Swirral Edge - the way down

                                                  Roy going down Swirral Edge

                                on the way down Swirral Edge

                         Down from Swirral Edge

DAY TWO IN THE LOVELY LAKES

Weather was amazing! 25oC today and clear blue skies!. We had an easier hike from Patterdale to Grisdale Tarn, still took 5 hours and 7.5 miles! Hardly easier! But beautiful.

                              beautiful Grisedale valley leading up to the tarn

                                             Grisedale Tarn with Seat Sandal in back

      Our campsite resident peacock who roosts in the tree above our van and wakes at 4-20am

LOVING THE LAKES - DAY ONE

Scales Tarn, Blencathra

After the horrendous bombing at Manchester Arena last night, we were blessed to escape to the Lakes.Tragically some will never see the glory of the Lakes.
 Campsite at Gill Head Farm near Troutbeck on the road to Ullswater was superb, with a stunning view of Blencathra and glorious sunshine.
Our first day we repeated the hike up Blencathra we did in November last year, this time sunshine instead of ice and a different route. Roy said we would go up Sharp Edge - a tough rocky unmarked edge. We got so far up, Roy went ahead to reconnoiter and almost decided we should go back when a man showed us the way up! An hour and half later we got to the summit! Challenging and certainly got the adrenaline going!

Lunch at the top then Roy chose the route down via Doddick Fell.....I moaned all the way down, it was so steep with loose rocks, but we made it! Took five hours and did 6 miles!

On the way to Sharp Edge

Sharp Edge

Scales Tarn from Sharp Edge

The summit!

on the way down

Scales Tarn with Sharp Edge

BISHOPDALE TRIP FOR TOUR DE YORKSHIRE

May Day Bank holiday we spent at Street Head Campsite near Newbiggin in Bishopdale, near Aysgarth.

First day's hike we drove along the valley into Wharfedale, parked at Starbotton and hiked over Cam Head to Kettlewell then back along the river. Some sunshine until lunchtime then clouded in but no rain. Back in time to watch TV broadcasting Tour de Yorkshire. Huge crash at the finish in Scarborough!

THRUSH FEEDING HER BABY SEE PIC BELOW OF BABY

Day two saw us driving to Leighton reservoir to do a 7 mile hike round the reservoirs then finished up watching the Tour de Yorkshire on the narrow roads near Leighton. Whoosh... and its all over! But exciting!

The Mole Catcher's been busy!

'

a folly on the moor

Our last day, we drove the short trip down the valley into upper Wharfedale and parked at Buckden then did just over 6 miles up towards Buckden Pike then across to Langstrothdale to Yockenthwaite, Hubberholme and back along the river. Sun almost shone but again no rain but a strong wind. Lovely trails accompanied by endless lambs and sheep.

LANGSTROTHDALE

YOCKENTHWAITE

LUNCH UNDER YOCKENTHWAITE BRIDGE

HUBBERHOLME CHURCH

THE GEORGE PUB AT HUBBERHOLME SUPPOSEDLY FREQUENTED BY J.B. PRIESTLEY

BUCKDEN PIKE

 Popped into Aysgarth to see the Falls before we left, I don't know why they changed the name of the Pub there to Aysgarth Falls Hotel. It will always be Palmar Flatts!

A fabulous weekend!

AYSGARTH FALLS