A New Years Day Walk

New Years Day walk

The weather forecast was for a dry, if a bit cool day; so we were up early to make use of the short winters day.

The day woke with only a light breeze, but a bit chilly.

We packed our bags, two light weight jumpers each, dry socks, Three flasks of black coffee; one for each bag and one to leave in the Land Rover for our return.

We set out for Buttermere

It was just getting light as we entered the car park by the ship, ‘Why is the inn called the SHIP? It is more than ten miles from the nearest port’?

We set out down the side of the inn past the ramped ground where the landing craft were tested on the lake in World War 2.

At the Tee junction we took the right hand track heading for Loweswater and Ennerdale, Crummock Water for while, before turning up hill to avoid an area of marsh land.

The track levelled out by a small cairn where the path divided; a less worn track, crossing the grass, leading back to the shore of Crummock Water; crossing a small stream (Scale Beck) by a single plank foot bridge on the way to Loweswater.

The track now turned towards the foot of Scale Force dividing again our path leading to fore mentioned stream and a waterfall, the main track heading across Moss Dale and into Ennerdale.

Time for us to open one of the flasks and share the contents.

We made our way up the almost vertical cliff at the side of the force; on the way some rocks had a cover of melting ice on them.

A smooth pathway trough the bracken, led us to the summit of Red Pike; almost 3000 ft above Buttermere village People below looking like human ants walking about. Ahead to the east pas a panorama of hills surrounding Helvellyn and Scafell Pike and the Langdale Fells

“It looks as though some bad weather is on the way. I have been watching that cloud, making its way towards here across the sea, I think we should move on,” Joan said. As she spoke a few white flakes of snow blew past on the wind. “Yes lets go I replied”.

Following the path along the ridge to High Crag, the snow became thicker. Lets get down the screes into Scarth Gap then put our waterproofs on.

We descended the rocky track into Gatesgarth pasture. “Lets go through the farm its a smoother walk I could do with another warm drink”, said Joan. It was now snowing steadily.

There was just a short stretch of road to walk, the across the Christian Holiday Fellowship ground by the lakeside; under the tunnel that a previous owner had excavated so the people would not be crossing the view. Past the ice house and the concrete WWII gun emplacement into Wilkinsyke farm and Buttermere car park

Time for us to open the third flask, and remove to wet outer clothes

There was now almost two inches of snow in the car park so I engaged four wheel drive before setting out for home.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

what a fine adventure Sir Wild Rose! the trek sounds rigorous and rewarding .. love the names of all those places ... foreign to this Noodle .. but sparked my imagination ... a fine time spent reading and the actual adventure must have been very fine.
E.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you, Einstein
I was a voluntary Warden for the Lkae District nation Park Authority
read moreThank you, Einstein
I was a voluntary Warden for the Lkae District nation Park Authority
This was actually a dream covering lots of trips

But I amplwased that it gave you a nice read > I must do more of them . It will be put into "My Lakes" if I ever get to compiling some good stories
and covered this area so many times in all weathers

[Einstein Noodle]

yes! i remember that .. and your enthusiasm for cycling too ;)

[S.zaynab.kamoonpury]

Yeah its a good idea to watch the clouds and sky to predict weather. This is a fine superbly written exotic story for me with its snowy landscape. Kudos!

[Wild Rose]

Thank yoYes we were both cyclists > Me from age 11
So we have learned the hard way > mostly by going too far to return before the bad weather
Sadly were now down to what mere omrtals are able to do
87 & 85 > just has our Diamond Wedding

[Betty Hermelee]

Watch those clouds; they generally warn of some weather; and they can move fast, as I have learned on many walks; You seem to know the names of a lot of different roads, lakes, boughs, etc.... does this take place in Europe??? So you guzzled your coffee, set out with outer gear and then it snowed...a good decision to turn back, get in the car and head home! Well written, I enjoyed it....
Best, B

[Wild Rose]

Hi Betty sorry for the delayed response
The place Buttermere Valley in the English Lake District - about twenty miles from our home on the coast
Three flasks of black coffee
We carry one each bur share them one at a time they go cold once they are opened
so it is a means of not ending up with only a cold drink too early
Black They get shaken about on some walks and turn into yogurt with milk in.
I was a voluntary warden for the western lakes area and living local we were out on the fells, or around a lake at every opportunity
I became a club cyclist at 12 years old
I often walked in an oiled wool sweater and waistcoat (Gillete)
in total we had walked about twenty miles

[Betty Hermelee]

Wow, very impressive!!!
Best, B

[Wild Rose]

Thank you
Watching the new day awake from the top of a mountain is impressive
Seeing the firs glimps of light from behind distant hills.
Then watching as fingers of light touches tall buildings and spread out like a tide >> A tide of light

Thank you Betty
I hope that you had a great holiday
Pete

[Chris Shaw]

You live in a very beautiful part of the world. The lake district is magical but can also be treacherous in bad weather. Fog. mists, heavy snow and you can be in trouble. Looks as though you prepared thoroughly for your walk. Warm clothes, hot drinks and a four wheel drive. You took me with you. Hope all is ok with you and yours. A belated happy new year to you Wild Rose.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Thank you for a wonderful comment
Yes it is a beautiful world here
we moved here from West Yorshire

[Chris Shaw]

Enjoy :) …..