Bow Fell and the Langdale Pikes

After a few fantastic days out on Claife Heights with clients recently we decided to head for the big mountains for a change yesterday. The weather was lovely to start with as we set off from Great Langdale towards the Band but we knew that we would be lucky if it lasted the whole day. We walked up the Great Slab to the summit of Bow Fell but you can see from this panoramic view that the conditions were different depending on which way you looked. Heading for Ore Gap we had a five minute snow shower but by the time we reached Angle Tarn we were basking in warm sunshine again. Encouraged, we decided not to drop down Rossett Gill but to stay High and take in Pike of Stickle on the way back. Sure enough the rain blew in as we climbed again but not for long and as we dropped below Raven Crag we could take our time to reflect on a great day out.

Cartmel Mountain Bike Ride

We have had some fantastic weather in the South Lakes already this spring and we took advantage of a glorious day to complete a 15 mile mountain bike ride from Cartmel. We climbed on the road to Grange Fell Golf Club where we took the byway over to Hampsfield. From there we linked together various sections of bridleway bringing us below How Barrow and back to Cartmel via the race course. We took some video during the ride so you can have a look at the route on our YouTube channel and there are a few more pictures on the Web Album.

Beacon Tarn in the Snow

Beacon Tarn is a lovely spot for a picnic in the summer - take a look at the picture of Mike and Donna in our Web Album but it is an altogether bleaker place at this time of year. Kath and I set off over the small wooden footbridge near Sunny Bank to complete a 7 mile round of the Blawith Fells taking in Beacon Tarn and Beacon Fell and I think by the time we got back to the car, we were both looking forward to the warmth of a log fire. There are a few more pictures here.

Levers Water View

Having enjoyed some brilliantly clear days recently I thought I would take the opportunity to snap a panoramic view from the top of Coniston Old Man. Unfortunately when I got to the parking area near the Walna Scar Road fell gate I could see that there were not going to be any views from the top. Never mind, I dropped the camera into the bag anyway and set off towards Prison Band via the Pudding Stone and Boulder Valley, taking this set of pictures from a small rocky knoll just North of Levers Water. (It works best if you expand it to the full screen view, drag it around with the mouse and zoom in a bit). After stopping to take the pictures I carried on up Swirl How and returned via an icy Brim Fell and Old Man, taking a direct line back down to the car. A breathtaking morning out, in more ways than one.

Navigation Training Weekend

We have just enjoyed a great weekend out on the hills with two fell runners from Lancashire. After a little while going through some basic techniques sitting around the kitchen table we spent a very windy Saturday afternoon on the Dunnerdale Fells using our maps and compasses to move from tarn to tarn and knoll to knoll.

On Sunday we headed to the opposite side of the Duddon Valley for a testing course over Whit Fell and Buckbarrow. The 5 mile route covered some pathless terrain on the way to the top of Whit Fell and then picked up some indistinct trails around Burn Moor to Buckbarrow. Sarah and Carly hit all five checkpoints with aplomb and I had the pleasure of running round in the background. I hope that you both found the weekend useful and can enjoy your fell running with a little more confidence.

WW Club on the Torver Horseshoe

We had a fantastic day out last weekend with the WW Club from Essex, who were enjoying a walking break at the Whitewater Hotel. We completed a circular route taking in Coniston Old Man, Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike in temperatures which were positively balmy for November. The cloud cover broke for long enough for us to enjoy some big views from Goat's Hawse and Brown Pike but we will hope for even better luck next time so we get a view from the fell tops too!

Here is the group on the way down Torver High Common with our final summit of the day, Brown Pike, in the background - take a look at the rest of the pictures on our Web Album. If you would like to see the Sca Fell Range from the top of Coniston Old Man on a clear day, and ponder an unusual way of enjoying it, look here.

Mountain Biking near Hodge Close

Kath and I enjoyed a fantastic day out on the mountain bikes last Friday, starting at Tilberthwaite and linking together a number of tracks and trails in a 15 mile round trip. Here is Kath near High Oxen Fell and me getting wet at the ford near Blelham Tarn. I wasn't brave enough to try the bigger one near Slater Bridge in Little Langdale!