This was a day organized by a walking friend, Richard, and a day very similar to one he organized last year to incorporate a bit of a challenge in the style of the VIA FERRETTA at the Honistor Slate Mines in the Lake District. A fantastic, scary and exciting course to test your nerve, especially in the damp and windy conditions of the great British summer!! Unfortunately, Richard couldn't take part as he pulled his groin and was struggling to do any walking, so mate, hope you enjoy reading about it and hope you get better soon.
The walk that we were doing was a linear that took us from Gatesgarth, up and over HAYSTACKS and back down to the Honistor Slate Mines. The weather forecast predicted quite a lot of rain, heavy at times and strong winds which didn't sound too promising for the walk or the Via Ferretta, luckily the forecast was wrong again and in our favour. It did rain but more short sharp showers with dry spells in between with quite a bit of mist rolling in and out taking the views away but adding to the mountain atmosphere. We all met up at the slate mines, introduced ourselves and caught the bus down the Honister Pass of the start of the walk. Out of the eight of us, well nine including Tufty the very well behaved and friendly dog, I had only met Jacklyn before, on last years Via Ferretta, but such is the way with these types of small meet ups you soon get to know everyone and as it's very informal and relaxed it turns out to be a good day out with like minded souls.
So, from the farm we followed a good easy path that eventually headed upwards and the first of the wet weather, not too wet, more of letting us know where we were and what time of year it was! Some decent views back down to BUTTERMERE and the surrounding fells were to be had as we gained height plus the wind was getting a bit more gusty in places keeping the temperature a bit on the cool side. Not cold but quite pleasant walking without over heating or freezing to death.
Our route for the day
Off we go
View back to our start point
Into the rain..........
Out of the rain
Looking back down to Buttermere
One thing I did enjoy about this walk is the variety you get. Good paths, small bits of easy scrambling, good views, quite a few tarns, grassy lumps to rocky outcrops. A good place to come for a revisit sometime when I have a bit more time to explore. It was a little rushed as we had a time limit to stick to so we could get back in time for the fun and games but it didn't take away from the enjoyment, just made me want to come back for more in the future :-) It didn't seem to take long to get to the summit and I apologize for not getting everyone in the summit photo. A bit blowy and damp so not much in the way of views but still good and another Wainwright ticked off, not that I'm counting!!!
From good path to short scramble
Misty view down to Buttermere
Heading into the mist
Short scramble
Happy summit
Summit view down before it disappeared again
Tufty the mountain dog
We didn't hang about too long on the summit so we made our way down towards INNOMINATE TARN which basically means "Without a Name". A bit better than nameless tarn I suppose. It is also the place where the ashes of ALFRED WAINWRIGHT are scattered as it was his favourite place in the Lake District.
Just checking the map isn't wrong :-)
A misty Innominate Tarn
A clear Innominate Tarn
Innominate tarn
Innominate Tarn
It was here that the mist started to lift to reveal most of the surrounding tops and also the showers stopped, just the wind remained but at least it made for a better walk down to the slate mine with some good views. One small tricky bit of a stream crossing that we all managed without falling in and a final walk down through the old quarry had us back in plenty of time for a warm drink and a chat before we took on the main part of the day.
Clear views on the way back
Good clear views down to Buttermere and a distant Cummock water
A look back to a now clear Haystacks
On the approach to the old quarry
Steady as we go
Good clear views back to Haystacks
Quarry hut with Haystack behind
The final walk back down to the car park and Honister Slate Mine
A really good 4 hour walk in very good company and I'm sure I'll be back here sometime in clearer conditions as it looks like a good place to explore. Although there was eight of us on the walk, only three of us were doing the Via Ferretta with another four joining us just for the fun and games. There was also a couple of others on their own to make up a full group.
As I said at the beginning, this is really good fun and something to test the nerves as you hang off the cliff's with nothing but fresh air between you and the valley floor. The wind made for some interesting moves especially on the bridge where it swayed from side to side with I guess, a little help from the guide of the day!! Three hours of nervous adrenaline and thankfully the rain stayed off until right at the very end when we came out of the mine tunnel for the walk back and did it come down and coupled with the wind it made for a wet walk back. Just glad it wasn't like that when we were hanging about :-)
With thanks to Jaclyn, Clare, Linzi, David, Steven, Karen, Susan, Steve, Micheal, Jenny, Tufty the mountain dog and Richard for organizing it all. Hope to catch up with you all again sometime
Roped up and ready to go
The difficult bit before the bridge
Admiring the views
Oooooooo, long way down
Cheers
Sit back, relax, have a laugh and chill out to the video of the Via Ferretta The Movie, to remind us all of the fun we had :-)
Another last minute decision saw us drive up to BORROWDALE in the Lake District for a camp out and a walk up to CASTLE CRAG. Although I have been here before, it's a first for Jill and we were blessed with good warm sunny weather for the most part. We didn't leave home till after midday and arrived at the campsite about 3.30pm, got the tent set up and had a walk round the tiny hamlet of Rosthwaite, where the home made ice cream is very nice :-) and down to the River Derwent that runs along the field where the campsite is. A beautiful place surrounded by some of the high Lakeland fells.
Campsite surrounded by the fells
Oh, the joys of camping :-)
Hamlet of Rosthwaite. Ice cream shop is the last cottage where the sign is
Lovely :-)
The walk up to Castle Crag on the Sunday was at a leisurely pace as we were in no rush to leave and as it was a there and back of four miles, no need to rush. It was warm, very warm and a bit muggy as the blue sky of the morning was disappearing and it was very hazy. The route was straight from the tent, across the river by the National Trust campsite and up through Jonnys Wood & Scaleclose Coppice. There should be a waterfall at Scaleclose force, but as there was little or no water in the becks and rivers, no waterfall!!! Oh well, we imagined it instead and it looked good :-)
(As my camera battery had almost died, most photo's are of my phone)
Our route for the walk
Castle Crag from Jonny's Wood
On the way to Scaleclose Coppice
The foot bridge over the very empty Scaleforce Beck
The very empty Scaleclose Force waterfall
There should be a waterfall but as you can see by the rocks below, the beck is empty
Out of the Coppice and up to Tongue Gill where a few paths meet up going in all directions leading to the surrounding fells. I'll get back here sometime for a good look round one weekend as it seems quite interesting with old quarries dotted about.
Castle Crag getting nearer
Wooden bridge over Tongue Beck, although it really wasn't needed today
View back down to Borrowdale from Tongue Beck
The path is very straight forward to follow and the only real steep/ tiring bit is the ascent up the old slate spoil heap. It looks impossible to climb but there is a zig-zag path going up the the top. The actual summit is a further 2 min climb up among some tree roots to the level platform the offers great views down on Derwent Water, across to Rossthwaite Fell and back down to Borrowdale. There is also a memorial on the summit for the men of Borrowdale who lost there lives in World War 1
The slate spoilheap with the zig-zag path on the left
View down to Borrowdale from the top of the spoil heap
View up to the summit from the spoil heap
Slate quarry pit
Summit War Memorial
Taking in the hazyview down to Derwent Water
Hazy summit view down to Jonny's Wood
Hazy summit view down to Derwent Water
After about half an hour we made our way down the steep ascent that brings you on the banks of the River Derwent or what should be the River!!. More like a dry river bed with the lack of rain over the last few weeks. There was water and we even spotted a few fish in some deeper pools but on the whole it was really lacking in water. We did pass a bridge that had a sign and some barriers on it warning people to take care on the bridge as it had been damaged by the winter floods. Fromone extreme to the other!
Looking back at the descent path through the woods
Warning sign on the damaged bridge
Damaged bridge over the empty river
Empty River Derwent
Empty River Derwent
Who nicked all the water!!!
A straight forward walk back to the campsite ended another great day out in the Lake District. Great campsite, great weather, great walk and excellent company :-)
