Darwen Moor - 15 October

A couple of hours on Darwen Moor this afternoon when the light, especially above Winter Hill was wonderful.

The ground, away from the hard tracks, is pretty awful - West Pennine Moors' Bogs at their classic worst. On a fine afternoon it makes it a "Moor of Two Halves" - almost complete solitude on the bogs and hordes of people out enjoying themselves on the hard tracks.

We are fortunate to have these moors to close at hand and to be able to enjoy unhindered.

Winter Hill

Ruins

Winter Hill (ii)

Muddy Track

Another Muddy Track

Bench

Strolling

Borrowdale - 07 October

High Spy, Low Scawdel (Sy), Nitting Hawes (Sy), High Crags (Sy), Castle Crag

From Rosthwaite up through the quarries to High Spy summit which wasn't a pleasant place to be in the wind and rain and we were happy to be heading towards Low Scawdel and down out of the wind. Low Scawdel summit was below the cloud base and enjoyed some views of Derwent Water and back up into Borrowdale.

On to Nitting Hawes which provided enough shelter from the wind for an early lunch before climbing back to the ridge after remarking how long it has been since we were out in conditions like these - another aspect of being spoiled in retirement!

On down the ridge and round the summit of Maiden Moor before turning for High Crags. A bit beyond the path the fell came into view and an "old friend" it turned out to be. I guess marshalling on the Teenager With Altitude and the Anniversary Waltz fell races I have walked up to and along the main ridge towards High Spy plenty of times and on many occasions have wondered about the hill off the ridge looking down Newlands Valley. It always seemed a fair way off the ridge (which it is), a fair bit below the ridge (which it is) and fairly isolated (which it is) but High Crags is well worth visiting for the views.

Back to the Catbells ridge and down to Grange for a coffee before heading back up the valley and over Castle Crag for a final look at Borrowdale before descending to the FRCC hut in Rosthwaite.

Setting Out

That Sort of Day

Catbells

Newlands Valley

Grange Church

From Castle Crags

From Castle Crags

From Castle Crags as the clouds are lifting

Wythburn Fells - 06 October

Birk Crag (Sy) & Wythburn Fell (B, Sy)

The late start didn't seem like a problem at this stage because I estimated an hour from the car park by Thirlmere to reach Middle How at the head of Wythburn, perhaps a little longer, and about the same back.

After Birk Crag slow going and very soft ground meant it took us about an hour to get halfway to Middle How and left no option other than to turn back for Wythburn Fell. Slightly frustrating because Middle How is fairly isolated and also because we have both run and walked passed it a dozen times or more but it'll be there for the next time.

Winter Hill - 01 October

Stroll over Winter Hill with The Rucksack Club. Up "Inga's Steps" through the Chinese Gardens to The Pike and on to Winter Hill from the Two Lads. Then Hordern Stoops, Spitler's End and Great Hill before returning to Rivington with time for a cup of tea at White Coppice Cricket Club.

Initially damp and hazy with a little rain the day improved although the cloud base remained low then, just when we thought we would be able to finish the walk warm and dry, the rain returned as if to show us who was in charge!

A fine day out in familiar surroundings.

Baxton Fell - 17 September

Meandering on a warm sunny afternoon from Slaidburn over Dunsop Head to Upper Whitendale remembering a long day here in 2014 to bag White Hill. Baxton Fell seemed too good to miss until we fell for a trod that seemed to bee-line to summit. In fact is disappeared a considerable way short of the summit and heather bashing became the "order of the day." 

Sadly, we came across what we thought was, probably, a dead female Hen Harrier but having sent some photos to the RSPB we and they are happy it is a red grouse. Apart from the bit of heather bashing this was a delight and it is too long since we spent time in this part of Bowland.

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Lake District Mountain Trial - 10 September

Starting from Gatesgarth Farm in Buttermere the 2017 Mountain Trial was always going to be a difficult day. The forecast foul weather arrived as forecast and after about 3 hours and 2 check points I found myself unable to move fast enough to keep warm. The driving rain and gale force winds were forecast to get worse in the afternoon and I decided I had had enough and retired. Even in good conditions I would have had to work very hard to get round the Medium Course, ahead of the cut off times, but in these conditions I didn't really have any chance.

A little over an hour after I retired both the Classic and Medium courses were abandoned because of the deteriorating weather.

High Stile

Buttermere

Buttermere II

Approaching Registration (i)

Approaching Registration (ii)

Buttermere - 09 September

Late afternoon at the end of a rainy day and the sun came out.