Nice Day On The Fells

Ouch!

Looking forward to some great shots of our fine countryside

It turned out to be a very good weekend, on Saturday the Blues put in a 5 star 5 goal performance, England beat Wales, slightly less spectacularly, in the 6 Nations. On Sunday a good walk with a couple of mates from Bowness Knot car park Ennerdale over Herdus, or to give it`s Sunday name - Great Borne, then onto Starling Dodd, descending by Starling Gill to the Ennerdale forest then following the paths through the plantation back to the car park. The day rounded off with a beer in the, what used to be known as, The Fish Hotel, but now known as the Buttermere Court Hotel - prats.

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The last couple or three times I`ve climbed Great Borne it`s been by the Rake Beck path past the waterfall, but a good number of years back I went up the path toward Floutern Tarn and turned up Steel Brow, seemed to recall it was fairly steep but pretty decent underfoot.

I live a few hundred yards from Ullswater, and can say for sure that the walking routes around here are as good as anywhere in the lakes.  They can be easy lakeside paths, or some of the higher peaks in the lakes.  Simple, gentle plods up easy hills can be found, but so can more challenging routes.  Helvellyn by the edges is a classic, St Sunday Crag (with an optional extension over Cofa Pike onto Fairfield if you're feeling adventurous) is another high fell with excellent views.  Dovedale and Deepdale are both nearby, and both offer good 'horseshoe' routes on the fells around them.  Deepdale is quite boggy, but it's worth a walk up the valley itself to get a close look at the crags of Greenhow End which appear exceptionally rugged from the valley.  Then there are the smaller fells which can produce equally spectacular vistas.  Glenridding Dodd is as good for a sunrise as any peak you'll find in the lakes, Hallin Fell has unbelievable views for such a quick climb, Arnison Crag is a short but steep plod with excellent reward at the top.  Place Fell, and Steel Knotts are underrated gems, Gowbarrow (with the addition of Aira Force) is also a good 'short' walk.  

There's also a whole load of 'easier' walks, with sections of the lakeshore path amongst the best low level hikes I've found.  The section between Howtown and Glenridding was one of Wainright's favourite lakeland walks, whilst the Pooley Bridge to Howtown route offers equally impressive views up the northern and middle reaches of Ullswater.  The 'new' path between Glenridding and Aira Force has its own charm, though it is close to the road for the bulk of its journey.  Aira to Pooley follows a rising traverse of the lakeshore face of Gowbarrow before drifting away from the lake through some charming countryside.  A cheap plug for my employers - any of these low level routes can be linked up using the 'steamers' on the lake.  

Being from out West I've tended to do most of the Western and Central Fells first. Out that way I've only done Great and Laal Mell. Been up Helvellyn twice that I can remember. Once was ascending Clough Head and one from Thirlspot.

Oh aye, we bagged seven fells that day ending at Raise. I always feel that once you've gained the height you don't want to give it up easily.