Whernside and Inglebrough

Bit more 3 peaks training today. Scott and Helen joined us in a walk fromthe Ribblehead viaduct, up Whernside, back to the Hill in, up Inglebrough,then back to Horton in Ribblesdale.

We left our car in Horton, then the 4 of us drove to the Ribbleheadviaduct. The weather was absolutely glorious and we made our way towardsWhernside (the last time we did this walk we spent so much time walkingbackwards and forwards trying to find the right path, so it was quite anice change to head straight up the fell). We made really good progress tothe top and when we got there the views were amazing and there wasn't abreath of wind.

Making our way back down Helen and Scott started to apply the factor 30 asthe sun was really strong. We again made really good progress to the HillInn which was probably helped by the fact that this is the 5th time we'vedone this leg this year.

Next was the trip up Ingleborough. A really nice walk through greenfields, but the sheer face of Ingleborough is looming in the background andwe were wondering how the hell you get up there. Then we saw the zig zagpath up the side and my god it was steep! So we stopped for a quick snackand a drink of water before making our ascent. It's a real climb up thereso you're not actually thinking about the fact that it's exhausting becauseyou're always looking where to put your feet and hands next. But it feltlike a real achievement when we got to the top, where we stopped to take aquick photo.

The path back down Ingleborough to Horton was lovely. It was all downhill (at a very slight decline all the way) taking in some really lovely countryside. I wonder what we'll think of it on the actual day!

15 miles

Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson

After a terrible nights sleep (long story, it was minus 3 and we were pitched next to a group of boys who only had one volume setting on their car stereo.........very loud).

We drove down the Honister Pass towards Buttermere lake and stopped at the road side next to the Honister slate mine (which is the only working slate mine left in the UK) as this was the start of our walk today.

As we'd had a terrible nights sleep, we both found it really hard work today, we were both absolutely exhausted. But on the positive side the weather was beautiful again with bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. The long hard walk up the fell was worth every last ounce of energy.............it was without a shadow of a doubt our favorite view so far. To the North there were excellent views of the Northern fells including Skiddaw and Blencathra. To the North West we could see the coastline (the Solway Firth) and beyond that we could see the Scottish Mountains. To the West you could see Buttermere Lake and Haystacks (Wainwrights favorite mountain and the one where his ashes are scattered). Then to the South and East the other mountains of Lakeland.



After taking in this view for a while we made our way over to Hindscarth and when we reached the summit here, the sun was so warm we stopped for a lay down for 10 minutes!! Then over to Robinson, which included a massive decsent followed by another large ascent. You could see the coast line so clearly from here.

Then we made our way back the way we'd come (which included a great deal of decent and ascent), got back to the car. We then drove over to Keswick (which was packed with Easter weekend visitors) to our favorite bakery for some "nice things".

A fantastic weekend, can't wait for our next visit.

Castle Crag, High Spy, Maiden Moor and Catbells

It's easter weekend. The weather forecast for the Lake District is appauling and we put off coming on Friday because it was raining at home.

We decided that as long as the weather wasn't too terrible, we were going to bite the bullet and go to the Lakes anyway. So Saturday morning arrived and we got up early and packed our camping stuff in the car and set off for the Lakes. The traffic was quiet and we got there in really good time.

We have now nearly completed all of the peaks in Wainwrights "Northern Fells" book so we decided to move onto the "North Western Fells" (we're saving the last couple of Northern Fells for our holiday in June as we're already booked back into our cottage in Bassenthwaite). We found a campsite near Buttermere Lake in the village of Seatoller, the views were beautiful.

We roughly planned a route close to where we were camping including Castle Crag (which Julia Bradbury covered in her TV programme Wainwright Walks). As we approached Castle Crag you could make it out immediately, quite small but very distinctive. The mountains in this area of the Lakes are so very different to what we are used to. Skiddaw and Blencathra are vast sloping mountains, whereas these are very craggy. Castle Crag was lovely but because it was a beautiful day (and because it has been on TV) the summit was really busy.

It was now midday and the sky was clear blue with not a cloud in site, it was warm and we were in such lovely surroundings.

We then decided to make our way up to High Spy, which was quite a long slog to the top, but we were rewarded with such lovely views. Then we had to decide whether to head West over towards Dale Head and Robinson or if to head North towards Maiden Moor and Catbells. After short deliberation we headed North and stopped at Maiden Moor, to take in the views. Much to Molly's delight a really nice couple who were sat taking in the views offered Molly a piece of chocolate orange (which made this Molly's favourite fell of the weekend).

Then we moved on to Catbells, which was quite a bit further than I had planned. (This is another fell that Julia covered in her TV series). This was also very busy.......in fact I think the M62 was quieter on the way over! I much prefer the quieter lesser known fells, you can enjoy them for their peaceful beauty.

Then to give Niki's poorly knee a bit of a rest we decided to decend at Catbells and walk back to Seatoller along a public footpath along the flat.

Then it was back to the tent for some scrummy food that Niki had made before we came, a nice cup of tea then early to bed.

So much for the rubbish weather forecast it's been such a lovely day.......maybe the rain will come tomorrow!