Lakes, final part. - Helm Crag, Grassmere

Here we go - the last part. Don't forget, Blogger has now added a slideshow facility, so if you click on any picture, you will see a slideshow.


   We puffed and panted up the steep, winding path until we reached the ridge. It was a glorious day and we could see for MILES! I remember coming along this ridge from Stonethwaite, when I did the coast to coast walk in 1993. That was a REALLY hot day, as I remember. 

 

Although there were clouds about, we were bathed in sunshine (which made the climb a pretty warm affair). It was going to be hard to leave here in these perfect conditions when it was time to head home.

 Sue got to the top first.

Sue, on Helm Crag. That crag looks nice........

 ....of course, I HAD to have a go!

 

The view from the top was brilliant. You can just see Easedale tarn in that dip.

Looking back along the valley we drove down.

Grasmere. We sat in the lee of the outcrop and had lunch. Unexpectedly, it began to rain. We had quite a heavy shower for about 15 minutes.

Then this.

The rain blew over, and we soon dried out in the warm sunshine and breeze. We set off down.

 

These pastures are VERY green-looking for the time of year.

 This was more like it - a lane of autumn leaves.

 Looking back to Helm crag.

The sky cleared quickly, and left these fabulous shots with lovely clouds and perfect clarity.

 

This incredible set of walls across the valley must have taken a massive amount of time to build.

 A nice set of stepping stones in the beck.

So we made our way back to the car, passing this chocolate box cottage on the way.

And that was the end of our Lakes trip :-(

We'd had mixed weather, but on the whole, we really loved it. It had been far too long since we'd been among the mountains, and we vowed it wouldn't be as long until the next time.

Lakes, part six - Ashness bridge, Watendlath, Bowder stone, Grassmere, Helm Crag,

Our last day here in the Lakes, and we decided to go to some hot spots that I hadn't visited before, and also maybe do a low level walk before going home. The car was all packed, but we left the boots etc within easy reach. First 'tick' was Ashness bridge - probably the most photographed bridge in the Lakes. If the weather is good, the view behind it is STUNNING. Today, it was a bit so-so, due to the low cloud, but still lovely.

 

On the road to Ashness, there is a break in the trees, and you are afforded what is called 'the secret view'. This is it. Again, if only that cloud wasn't so low.

The top of Derwentwater and the fells, the sun was JUST starting to break through.

Cat Bells.

After that, we decided we HAD to visit 'Watendlath', as that was the name of our cabin. Sue has been here before, but I hadn't. You got to it via a single track road  about 3 miles long, with passing places, - it must be a NIGHTMARE in the summer! At the end of the road, why was I not surprised to see the ubiquitous cark park, where the MINIMUM charge to stop is £3:70! Needless to say, I wasn't going to pay that much for ten minutes of photographs. This is the tarn at Watendlath.

 

Many walks start from here, so it's very popular. The words 'fish' and 'bucket' come to mind.

 

On the way back, I snapped this stone that the road passes. Not much chance of widening the road, and yet small lorries have to negotiate it to deliver gas to the farm at the end of the track.

Next we visited the Bowder Stone (car park, minimum £3:70). Victorians had, for some reason, decided to put a staircase to the top of it. It's VERY slippery up there as the rock has been well-polished by countless numbers of feet. The view wasn't bad though.

 

After that, we drove towards Grassmere, intending to walk around the lake, but the weather had improved so much, we pulled up in a lay-by, booted up and set off 'up'ards'!

This cottage stands alone with a cracking view. Amazingly, it dates back to 1577!!

 Now things were REALLY improving, and the layers started to peel off as the heat got to us. Also, we were about to start to climb in earnest.

Here we go then, Sue - knees in chest!

There was our goal - Helm Crag. This was one place I'd been before, as it's on the coast-to-coast route. It's only a little 'un at 405 metres, but it's quite famous. Read more here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helm_Crag

The 'Lion and the Lamb' is clearly visible on the road approach, but you don't get the correct aspect on this climb.

Lakes, part five. - Grassmoor, Buttermere, Derwentwater, Lodore falls,

Here we are at the top of Grassmoor. There was a howling gale, which necessitated a hat and gloves (but I stuck with the shorts). It wasn't really cold, but VERY windy - the tail end of some Yankee hurricane ;-)

We hunkered down in the lee of the summit shelter and enjoyed our lunch and a flask of hot coffee. We stayed on the summit for quite a while. We never want to leave once we're up there, it's usually time that dictates.

 

Today, there was no real rush, but we eventually made our way back down to Buttermere.

 

Of course - after all that hard work, one deserves a reward........

.....so does two - CHEERS

 We decided to take the long route back, as we still had daylight and wanted to take advantage of it. This is the top end of Buttermere.

 

Looking back down Buttermere in the improving evening light.

 Fleetwith pike and Green crag.

 

Honister pass. I LOVE these Lakeland passes. To drive, photograph or just walk above, all a delight.

 

Clearing weather over Catbells, with a finger of light pointing out detail.

 Blencathra, I'm glad we're not up there this evening, it looks a bit dire!

 Fallen leaves on the road home.

 

The next morning we had a visit from Dave & Chris, who own Walking World ( www.walkingworld.com ) A great site with over 5,500 walks (and a site to which I contribute walks in the Peak District). It had been a while since we'd seen them, so it was great to get out and chew over the fat. This is Sue and Chris, climbing above Derwentwater.

 

The day did NOT look promising, but we live in hope!

 

Again, a mixed-up Foxglove flowering in October.

 Nice rays - worrying clouds.

 As we reached the end of the lake, it started to spit with rain.

 

It STILL looks lovely though, even in a mantle of mist and cloud. 

 Before the serious rain started, we managed to get a few shots in of Lodore falls, amazingly, free to view!

 Video of falls; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FswX1xsVa4M

 

The weather then really closed in, and the rest of the walk was spent under hoods and waterproofs. A bit dismal, you can see what it looked like here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPNH6TtnkA 

Still, all this water brought out some lovely fungi, which you KNOW I love to take pictures of.

 

These fragile little brackets were on a broken branch.

 

This stump was covered in a lovely patch of honey fungus.

That night we went out for a meal with Chris and David. It was a bit of a disappointment, not as good as the 'Casa Bella' bistro, but we made the most of it and enjoyed the good company.