Newlands Horseshoe

My 24 year old son Jack and his girlfriend Mel had planned to visit the Lake District on Easter Bank holiday Monday, and as I'd said some weeks earlier about showing them a really good Lakeland classic when I'm fit again, I offered to take them, as this would only be their second visit to the Lakes and so not having  much of an idea where to go I was only too happy to help.

I'd settled on the Newlands Horseshoe for a couple of reasons, those being Jack and Mel had been to Keswick and walked around Derwent water, so I thought they would like a view looking down from the dizzy heights of Maiden Moor and recognise somewhere they'd been before. And secondly, five Wainwright summits I've not visited yet ha ha.

My biggest problem was getting them there early enough. Mel isn't a morning person, my sat nav read travel time 2 hrs 28mins, and we would be parking in the small car park of Little Town in the Newlands valley. Not getting parked here would mess the whole day up.
Asking two 24 year olds who work pretty hard through the week to be ready with kit for a hike at 7 am on a Bank holiday is a big ask, but any later and that last space in the car park would be gone.

I arrived outside their flat, bang on 7 am, 20 minutes later they appeared, bog eyed zombies walking towards the car. I'd given them an old rucksack each to fill with food and drink, and told them to bring a hat, gloves and waterproofs as the weather forecasters had given 9 degrees c in the valley and 4 on the top with drizzle on and off, how wrong could they be ?

We were about an hour and a half into the journey when we drove into fog on the north bound M6. It was really starting to look like a bleak day as the forecast had said. But as we reached the higher section of the motorway a few miles south of Penrith the car burst through the mist into bright beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Looking out to our left, sheets of thin layering Stratus cloud were hovering above the fells, and it looked like we could have a cloud inversion !!!
My only concern now, as we plunged back into the mist was to get parked, and get up high before the sun burned the cloud away.
Having negotiated the twisting narrow lanes in thick fog we arrived at 9.40 am and I reckon we got the 12th parking spot out of 14 .....phew! In the following 10 minutes the last two spaces were filled.

We set off from the car park still in thick mist with coats and hats on back up the lane from which we'd just driven down. It felt chilly as we made our way up our first of three climbs, this first climb was up to the saddle between Cat Bells and Maiden Moor, before turning south for the summit of Maiden Moor itself. This climb was quite a gentle ascent in general, and I thought quite easy.


          Jack and Mel just about waking up on the path up from Little Town to the saddle top

As we got nearer the top of the saddle, the sun started to shine through, and I could soon feel it heating up my back. Inevitably the shell came off, as we finally climbed above the mist into clear blue skies.

It was only when we reached the top of the saddle we could see out over Derwent Water (or not) and my hunch of a great cloud inversion, came to fruition, it was a truly wow moment, stood on the top of the saddle looking out on this amazing scene, with a huge grin on my face, I said to my son and Mel "now you see why you need to be up and out early" it really was a great reward for the early start, and so pleased I could share this amazing view with them.

           

Blencathra centre

  Looking north to Cat Bells and the Skiddaw range in the distance, while taking a break at Black Crag on the way up to the summit of Maiden Moor.               

Looking east towards Walla Crag

At Bull Crag we decided to take the right hand path which skirts the western edge of the fell, catching some good and now clear views of the Newlands Valley far below. Don't step back Jack.

This was taken near the summit of Maiden Moor (575m) from my camera stuck on my walking pole. 

The walk from our first Wainwright of the day to our second. High Spy was nice and easy on the wide ridge, it was at this point in the day the sun did indeed start to burn off the mist below.

It does niggle me a bit when people camp at the summit trig/cairns in fine weather. Touch it, get a snap there, then move away please, leave it clear for the next walkers to came along, rather than you having to encroach on someone's personal space to get your photo if you want one. High Spy by the way.

Looking over to Dale Head and our route ahead, the second climb of the day and for a horseshoe ridge walk, this is a beast of a climb between these two fells. You descend about 120m before climbing back up another 250m to the highest summit of the day at 753m.

It was feeling really hot now, like a mid summer's day and not a breath of wind could be felt as we passed Dalehead Tarn. The path up Dale Head is a good stone stepped one as you can see from the photo below, but it's steep, and I found it hard. Believe me, I wasn't holding back to get a good shot here, Jack and Mel were leaving me for dead.

Looking back down the path to the edge of Dalehead Tarn on the right

The wonderful Newlands Valley, and a good chance to look back on the route we've walked so far.

Now that's what I call a summit cairn, and we could still spot it almost at the car. 

Looking across to High Crag, High Stile, and Red Pike with beautiful Buttermere below, while traversing Hindscarth Edge, views of Haystacks, Pillar and even the Scafell's could be seen. but the sun was at this angle, so didn't take any shots, indeed the sun followed our left hand side all day, cooking my neck quite nicely. After Dale Head, it was an easy climb to Hindscarth, our fourth summit of the day, where we stopped for a sit down and refuel with the contents of our packs.

Taking in the views and food at Hindscarth

Mel feeling the heat and Dale Head.

The last climb of the day, our fifth summit, Robinson. Part way up this fell, if it's clear, you'll see the only cairn in sight over to the right of the path, sat on what looks like the summit, it's very tempting to take a short cut as others did in front of us, but don't, it's not the summit cairn, which the path you're on takes you to. obvious when typing this but not on the fell,

                      At the summit of Robinson, and looking forward to the scramble off here.

How many summits today John ?

Our last together shot, with Buttermere behind us. Despite the weather being hot, my son insisted on wearing his (my) shell for the last part of the walk.

Approaching the three stage scramble from Robinson

I've done a few scrambles now, but never taken any photo's during them, mainly because I might fall a long way if I got my camera out. But today I wanted a shot of these two scrambling down off this rock. I found myself a safe place to wedge into and pointed the camera. Not used to scrambles, Jack and Mel just wanted to get down off the rock alive (as Mel put it) and thus couldn't believe I was trying to record this moment of terror.
It really isn't that bad a scramble at all, that said,  care is needed and could be a bit tricky in bad weather.

Once off the rock, looking back up you do wonder how you got down it.

A view of that Dale Head climb

The 16th century Newlands Church

And a final look back on a fantastic walk.

10.8 miles later, and we were back in Little Town. It was a bit clearer now than when we left the car in the morning, giving us some great views back up the valley, and that cairn on Dale Head (centre)

As we drove up to the Swinside Inn for a steak and ale pie and a pint (lemonade and lime), before that two and a half hour drive home, I hoped I'd lit a small flame of love for this part of the world within both Jack and Mel, and hoped at some point they might just add to those five summits we visited today.

Loughrigg Fell

Over the past few months both my wife Jo and myself have had some health issues (it's called wearing out) as you'll know if you read my last blog, I was waiting for a steroid injection in my toe joint.
Well, I finally had it done, it took some time to work, but it has worked and I'm now fit enough to get out walking again.

My wife on the other hand has been in pain for the best part of a year, with a disc pushing on a nerve, coupled with having Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) so for a spell last summer 2014 she couldn't walk more than 50 metres,
But now the disc has started to shrink a little, taking that pressure off the nerve, so she is now recovering nicely and with regular walking, slowly building her fitness again.

I've never bagged a Wainwright fell with Jo and I thought it would be nice (for me) to summit one on my birthday, it would also be a fitting start to a healthier year for both of us, fingers crossed.
Having said that, Joanne isn't a hill walker, she likes flat, short easy routes with a tearoom at the end of it, so I had my work cut out !!!

Having done some homework, Loughrigg Fell looked the best bet. Standing at only 335m it has a good path up and great views down to Grasmere. The parking (White Moss) wasn't too far away, as I was trying to keep the mileage to a minimum, which I thought was about 3.5 miles.

As it was my birthday, we didn't leave home until mid morning, you know, birthday wishes from family, card opening, texting thank you etc.....it all took time, but once we were on our way, it was only an hour and forty minutes later we were pulling up outside the Apple Pie Cafe in Ambleside for two of their lovely ham salad sandwiches, plus drinks.
The weather couldn't have been any better, warm, sunny with beautiful blue skies and hardly a breath of wind.
We arrived just after mid day in the large White Moss car park, and as we walked through the wooded area crossing the river foot bridge, I really had my doubts about my wife climbing this fell, as she is usually quite negative about climbing hills, and it did look a fair old climb to the top.
Plan B in my head, was to walk into Grasmere after walking along Loughrigg Terrace, which is where I was convinced we'd be going.

Once we were over the foot bridge, we followed  the signs for Loughrigg Terrace on a very clear wide path with a short but steep incline onto the terrace itself.
It soon became apparent that this walk was a busy and popular one, as loads of people were out walking, even on a week day as this was.


                       Jo taking a break and taking in some great views of Grasmere Lake.

Grasmere Lake and Silver Howe on the skyline

Another stop at the south west end of the terrace, and having gained quite a bit of height with an easy ascent so far, the hard work would start from here.

As you can see, it's quite a steep climb from the bottom half of the path, but it does level out a little as you near the summit. Jo was on a mission to do this having seen families of all ages and sizes spending the afternoon huffing and puffing their way up to the summit trig point. so a few words of encouragement like "Just take your time, it's not a race, we've got all afternoon" were said, in the hope she wouldn't stop and say no more. And she didn't.

Jo was doing really well, and as we got higher up the path, the views started to open up as the snow capped Langdales came into view. After this stop, by the time I had packed away my sitting mat back into the rucksack, Jo was well on her way and waiting for no one. It was at this point I began to think she just might actually make it to the top.

The views just kept getting better, as the village of Grasmere could now be seen with Helm Crag and the surrounding fells behind it. to the north Nab Scar and Heron Pike, part of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
Moments after this shot was taken a Typhoon fighter jet roared passed us, flying below our level, along the valley between Helm Crag and Seat Sandal on the right of photo.

Yeah !!! we finally made it, well done Jo, and a birthday wish comes true for me. This was my 31st Wainwright, and Jo's 1st but for all the ones I've done so far none will be more special than getting to the summit of Loughrigg Fell.

We sat down on a grassy slope, opened up the pack, and while tucking into those ham salad sandwiches, I started to think about our route down.
I could see how in low cloud, it would be very easy to find yourself heading towards Ambleside or worse Skelwith Bridge, when wanting to head for White Moss, without a GPS as several paths lead off the summit in all directions amongst many small hills.

Jo was happy to return the way we came, along with the masses, rather than the quieter south east side, but I felt the very steep descent that we climbed would be hard on her knees and back going back down that way, unlike the much steadier descent of my planned route.

As we left the summit, I felt a bit of pressure to get the navigation right, and drop back down on the right path so as not to add any more miles than necessary.
For all the times I've left home to climb mountains, I tell Jo "don't worry, I know what I'm doing" so to fail at this little fell would put a big question mark over how safe I am on solo walks in my wife's eyes.

Jo was getting a little nervous as not another walker had been in sight for some time. and was starting to question whether this way down was longer, but before I could answer, we spotted a farmer trying to round up his sheep with his I would presume young son and a dog.
"Ah civilisation" I joked, assured that we were on the right path I could now relax a bit.

Dropping down to Jobson Close, we joined the families with pushchairs on the stone laid path, which led us to the beautiful Rydal Cave. As you can see from the photo, you can use the stepping stones to get to the dry far end of the cave. This really is a stunning area, and no wonder Wordsworth came to live in the area.

At the end of the walk, which was more like 4.5 miles, Jo was tired, but most importantly she had enjoyed it, and felt proud to have climbed a fell at all. It didn't matter that it was a small one as it's all relative to each persons goals, and for Jo, that was a big step.

All that was left to do, was check in at the B&B, shower then meal and a little birthday drinkies.....perfect 

Edale - Rushup Edge - Brown Knoll - Edale

After leaving Glencoe last October in quite a bit of pain with my big toe joint, I'd given the hills a break while resting the joint, which has helped to calm it down to a point, but not fixed it fully.
So with a hospital appointment imminent, it was time to get out there and give it a bit of a test before the medical world tell me it doesn't need any treatment yet.

I'd planned to go out on my own on a hilly ten mile route with a couple of bail out points, as I wasn't sure just how far I would get without some toe joint pain.
But having mentioned this at work a couple of days before the walk, two colleagues asked if they could join me, Andy E and Andy H, and as I'm always happy to have some company, said yeah fine.

We arrived in a dry, sunny Edale about 10.15 am, there was a bit of a breeze in the air and the car temperature read 2 degrees c, so we knew it would be cold on top.
After paying the parking fee, putting on our walking gear, boots and rucksack, it was time to test that toe in the snow.
Heading south out of the village, we picked up the path along Harden Clough passing the farm on our left and a couple of sheep fields to the right on the way up to the road that drops down to Barber Booth, snow on the ground here was light and easy going.

Andy H and Andy E with Edale behind

After a short stroll up the snow free road between Mam Tor and Rushup Edge, we headed back into the snow, which was a bit deeper here, passing a keen photographer stood with camera and tripod hoping to get some good, still shots of the Vale below in a building bitingly cold wind.

Looking up at Rushup Edge and the ice to come.

I did consider taking my Spider crampons, just in case we had ice on the route, but as the other two guys didn't have them, I decided it would be an unfair advantage, after all this was only Rushup Edge, not Helvellyn !

But for the short climb up onto the ridge, I did regret not bringing them along, a part of the hill was extremely treacherous with snow covered ice just waiting to take one of us out.

Ninja or nerd but warm, yours truly with Mam Tor behind.

The route ahead, Lord's Seat on Rushup Edge

Andy and Andy trying to keep off a very icy path

As it was only just after 12pm it was still a bit early to eat, but the weather conditions weren't the best to be eating on Golborne, so while we had a wall for shelter, we took the opportunity to have a sit down out of the wind with hot Vimto, a chicken butty and a share out of the jelly babies.

  

A moody view

Not long after the stop, we encountered some snow drifts along the ridge and curiosity got the better of me, as I wanted to see just how deep they were.

I think I got a little bit more than I'd bargained for as my whole leg went straight through the snow

 One very buried left leg

No it's ok guys I can manage !!!

The bleak beauty of the moorland on Golborne and our route up to Brown Knoll

Having left the path of Chapel Gate onto Golborne, you can see why any kind of stop for food on this exposed moorland would be a bit uncomfortable, especially in such a cold wind, as by now the temperature was well below freezing.

Brown Knoll in the distance, but the going was tough. unable to follow any path, due to the snow and ice, plus the ground was strewn with icy waterways not thick enough to walk on without going through it, and in some parts just too deep to wade through.

We tried to keep to the heather as much as possible but inevitably we were forced to walk through the icy water and deep peat bogs, one of which Andy H put his foot in up to his knee and needed pulling out, but it was all good fun zigzagging our way around the water trying to keep to a compass bearing, which made arriving at Brown Knoll that bit sweeter.

My toe joint at this point was ok, but we'd walked about 5 tough miles with another 5ish to go.

I could feel the toe starting to get sore, but at least my feet were dry, which was more than could be said for the other two guys. Andy H's feet were soaked now, I think walking into a peat bog up to his knees didn't help, his fitness wasn't great as a bad back had kept him off the hills for some time, and wait for it....he had cheap gloves on which didn't keep the wind out, consequently his finger tips were getting pretty cold.

So at this point in the day I think we would have cut the walk short if we'd had that option, but as we had passed the last bail out point at Chapel Gate, and as we were almost at Brown Knoll, the choice was turn back down Chapel Gate or carry on to Brown Knoll, on the planned route, descend Jacob's Ladder and follow the Pennine Way back to Edale, there wasn't much between the options in distance, but I figured the going would be better down Jacob's Ladder.

Wet feet, but still happy, well Andy E anyway

Finally we made it to Brown Knoll, 569m this snap was taken by a park ranger.

For a little hill, we were made to work hard to get to this trig point, now it was down hill most of the way.

As we couldn't see a path I just took a bearing off the compass and set it to a point which would put us on a path for Edale Cross.

We left the trig point about 2pm, in need of a sit down and a drink, thankfully it was only a short walk to a wall with a wooden seat built in to it, where once again we could get shelter from the freezing wind, and have a drink in some relative comfort.

Andy H was now suffering with very cold hands, and as my hands were warm and fine, I suggested we swap gloves.

A very slippery descent down Jacob's Ladder, 

We were soon at Edale Cross, joining the Pennine Way for it's very last few miles(south), down Jacob's Ladder, into the valley, through Upper Booth farm, and out of that blasted wind.

Andy's hands were warm within 10 minutes wearing my Rabs, just goes to show, you get what you pay for.

The Vale Of Edale

The National Park authority doing their great conservation work trying to stop peat erosion on Kinder Scout and the surrounding area by ferrying up grass and heather seed by helicopter to be planted later.

Looking Back along the Pennine Way

Having just passed the farm at Upper Booth, guess who got cramps in his thigh, yeahhh Andy H. my toe was not good but apart from that I was fine, as you'd expect from a ten miles walk, a bit tired but good.

After all it's not a great distance as walkers go, but if you're not hill fit then er......, you'll suffer, and Andy was suffering, this guy was in some pain, but a least his fingers were warm. Andy E was fine, fitter and younger than us by a good ten years, and had really enjoyed the day.

We gave Andy a few minutes to recover, he was then able to walk again at a steady pace.

A promise of a pint in the Old Nags Head in the village was enough to spur Andy on the last mile or so, and I must say the thought of a roaring fire and a pint sounded blumin good to me too.

Baaaaaa   

a bit happier near the end

Almost there guys

And yes that pint was very nice thank you, by a roaring fire as well, and yes I did buy them too.

The end of a very good day, but one which left me in a lot of toe pain for the next couple of days.

I guess I got my answer to the question, does my toe need medical treatment? absolutely 

At the time of writing this up, now waiting for a Steroid injection, so fingers crossed it works and I can get back out in the hills pain free again.