My daughter and I walked up on to Kinder Scout to wild camp at a spot I’d wanted to revisit for a long while… The Legendary Mermaid’s Pool. I went in search of the mermaid in order to be granted eternal life, sadly she was nowhere to be seen 🙂 Amy used my trusty Wild Country Zephyros 1 and I used a Terra Nova Discovery Bivvy with a Competition Tarp.
Just a quick note.. I’ve had a few questions about my nose injury. It was a very rock n roll accident, I was hit in the face by the clothes prop when hanging out the washing 🙂 #Hardcore
It’s always great to get out in the Peak District, even if it’s only for a very short time. A few of my twitter friends had planned a 2 day walk in the western Peak and I couldn’t resist the temptation to join them for at least one night. I finished work at 19:00, met them at the Cat & Fiddle, camped up on Shining Tor in my trusty Army Goretex Bivvy Bag, awoke at 04:45 and then headed to work for 07:00. It was a great night with great company.
Ever since my journey along the southern half of the Pennine Way (The Pennine Way – 7 Days from Edale to Thwaite – April 2013) I’ve been trying to get out wild camping as much as possible. I love the freedom of being able to pitch anywhere (with in reason) and enjoy my surroundings. I have been out on numerous trips since the Pennine Way but nothing with much mileage, I’ve just been heading out from home on my bike or parking my car in the Peak District. I’ve had a #MicroAdventure, I’ve spent a few nights on Kinder Scout and I also reviewed the Wild Country Zephyros 1 and Zephyros 1 Lite in the process. I’ve thoroughly got the wild camping bug again so yesterday I decided to head out and walk the Limestone Way from Matlock to Castleton.
The Limestone Way is a footpath that runs through the White Peak in the Peak District, It’s northern terminus is at Castleton in Derbyshire and it’s southern end is in Rocester over in Staffordshire. I decided at lunch time yesterday that I would head to Matlock, park my car and then walk the northern section to Castleton with a wild camp along the way. It was all pretty last minute but thankfully I always have a bag partially packed for such occasions 🙂 I grabbed my trusty Karrimor Alpiniste Rucksack, chucked a few bits of food inside and then jumped in my car. Matlock is only 5 minutes away from where I live so it wasn’t long at all until I was walking up the hill towards Bonsall.
Regular viewers of the site will remember that in the last few months I have been involved with some kit videos for Karrimor. Thanks to Terry bnd I have been given the opportunity to appear in some more productions, this time for the outdoor manufacturer Vango. I have just returned home from a fantastic nights wild camping in Snowdonia, more precisely Carnedd Y Cribau overlooking the stunning Snowdon Horseshoe.
The afternoon and night spent on Carnedd Y Cribau is one I won’t forget in a hurry. The conditions were near perfect and we witnessed one of the most stunning sunsets I have seen for a very long while.
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The video we shot that evening has now gone live and you can view it in all its glory below. I was really impressed with what Terrybnd has pieced together, When I first saw it I was reminded of what a great trip it was. If you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed appearing in it… Then why not head on over to YouTube or Terry’s site and leave a comment or hit “Like” 🙂
I love wild camping, I’ve said this many times before in my posts. I love being up in the hills or out on the moors when everyone else has gone home. The freedom one feels while wild camping is like no other. You choose how long you want to walk, you choose when and where you want to pitch up. All that’s left to do then is to sit back and enjoy the views… Providing the weather is on your side 🙂
I’ve slept outdoors in many scenarios… I’ve camped on top of mountains, I’ve bivvyed under tarps in forests, I’ve slept in bothies, under makeshift shelters and i’ve cowboy camped under the stars in the Australian outback.
Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1 – Looking towards Pen Y Pass in Snowdonia
The first thing one needs to do is choose your method and then go about acquiring the means… Of late my choice has been to wild camp in a tent. Sadly though I killed my old tent up on Kinder Scout around 18 months ago so it was high time I chose a replacement… I did my research… I weighed up all the options… I checked the bank balance… Then I ended up finding the perfect tent for me that ticks all the boxes. The Wild Country Zephyros 1 by Terra Nova. Read more of this post
A video i’ve stitched together from my wild camp in the western Peak District. I set off from Flash then went via Three Shire Heads, the Cat & Fiddle, Shining Tor, Cats Tor, Errwood Reservoir in the Goyt Valley, Berry Clough and then camped on Axe Edge Moor. I enjoyed a stunning sunset, then great views of fireworks and beacons as the world celebrates the Queens Diamond Jubilee.
Once again I camped in my Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1, You can read a review of this great tent here on Peak Routes – Wild Country – Zephyros 1 – Review
Walking is one of my biggest passions in life, the freedom and oneness with the landscape really appeal to me. I crave solitude at times when it comes to walking, sadly in the Peak District there are very few places that you can go to get away from the crowds. Over these last few years i’ve made it my mission to try and explore every corner of the Peak and seek out some new areas that I haven’t set foot before. As i’m from the Chesterfield area I mainly dedicated my walking time to the eastern or central areas of the Dark Peak, its just so easily accesible to me so I can safely say I have that area covered. The western area of the Peak is slightly less trodden by me so i’ve set a goal of ticking off as much as possible this year.
Since revisiting the Roaches earlier this year after an absence of about a decade I have renewed my love of this area, although it isn’t quiete as steep or as wild as other places not too far away it holds a real charm of its own. Traveling a little further north from the Roaches you come across an area populated by Axe Edge Moor, The Goyt Valley and Shining Tor. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that these areas seem to be relatively empty when compared to the likes of Edale and Hathersage. So… seeing as the weather was going to be pretty good, I decided to pack my tent in my bag, plot a quick route and set off for an afternoon wander and a wild camp.
New Inn - Flash
The village of Flash in Staffordshire was to be the starting point… At 463 metres above sea level, Flash is the highest village in Great Britain and is a nice quaint little place that is worthy of a little exploring. I chose to park here as it was an ideal starting point and also very handy to reach from where I had planned to camp that night.
Setting off from Flash I took the footpath up Oliver Hill and then down to Knotbury via Wolf Edge. We have had some substantial rainfall in recent weeks but the weather had vastly improved over the weekend. The path was fairly boggy and damp while descending towards the road but that didn’t matter to me as I was bounding down the hill taking in the glorious surroundings. I joined the road and begun navigating my way to a place that I haven’t visited in quite some time, Three Shire Heads.
Three Shire Heads
Three Shire Heads Bridge
Three Shire Heads Bridge
Three Shire Heads which is also known as Three Shire’s Head is the point on Axe Edge Moor where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet. It is a great little spot which is pretty popular and a great place to relax in summer while having a dip in the river. You can find it on your OS Map at grid ref SK009685, or 53.213°N 1.987°W if you prefer.
Danebower Colliery
After a quick stop for a few pictures I departed by heading north along the River Dane towards a point on the map called Dane Bower. You climb out of the valley up towards the road past an interesting looking Chimney that stands half way up the hill. The 8 metre tall Chimney is the remains of the old Dane Bower Colliery which was last worked back in 1925… I did a quick google search while I was stood there and came across a page on http://www.english-heritage.org.uk which gives a few more details.
Shutlingsloe
Jodrell Bank
After crossing the road I joined the well maintained path to the Cat & Fiddle via Danebower Hollow over Whetstone Ridge. The views from this point start to become very interesting as you rise up and can then see out towards the west. The majestic heights of Shutlingsloe can bee seen off towards the south west, another place that I first discovered around 10 years ago while out Geocaching but haven’t revisited since. As you gaze around you can see the telescopes at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, this is another place that I haven’t been back to for some time but have always been in awe of. it is the home of the mighty Lovell Telescope, which is the third largest steerable radio telescope in the world.. If you look towards the north west you can see the urban sprawl of Manchester.
Cat & Fiddle
I eventually arrived at the Cat & Fiddle after a pleasant walk admiring the vistas, I arrived there at the same time as a convoy of Harley Davidsons which was a great sight and sounds to behold. I decided not to linger long here and kept moving towards my goal of Shining Tor.
Shining Tor Trig
Shining Tor is the highest point in Cheshire and it stands at 559 metres tall, on a good day you can see all the way to Snowdonia from here. today however there was a lot of haze in the air so I couldn’t quite make it out. The Trig point on Shining Tor numbered S2773 at SJ 99463 73739 is a great place to sit and relax but today all I did was take a few pictures. The climb up from the Cat & Fiddle is pretty easy so there wasn’t any need to stop for a break.
I continued along the ridge towards Cats Tor and passed a group of kids looking pretty glum, they were laden with huge rucksacks and I can only assume they were doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. I had been too busy enjoying myself that it had only just dawned on me I hadn’t eaten yet that day, so at around 16:00 I decided to drop my bag and pause for a little lunch.
Cats Tor
I had a few bits of new kit with me… I was testing out my PowerMonkeys Extreme again today and I had it strapped to my bag soaking up the sunlight. It was feeding power to my iPhone to keep it topped up while I was tweeting and broadcasting my position to ShareYourAdventure.com. I have had the Extreme for around a month and have been very impressed with it so far, You can expect a review very soon.
Cats Tor - Karrimor Rucksack & PowerMonkeys Extreme
I also had with me some new bits of gear from Karrimor which I have been testing out. I was wearing their new eVent Jacket, carrying everything in their Alpiniste 35 Plus 10 Backpack and the journey was being cushioned by their ksb Skye X-Lite eVent Boots. The reason why I have all this shiny new Karrimor Gear is because of my involvement with some new videos that are being made for them by Terrybnd… more on that and some reviews of all the gear will be coming your way very soon. I will say this though…. I have been very impressed with the kit that was sent our way by Karrimor, I genuinely do feel that they have upped their game. The new range seems to be a return to former glory and its great to see a British brand have a resurgence.
Errwood Shrine
Enough about gear, lets get back to the walking and the route which then took me from Cats Tor down in to the Goyt Valley. I dropped down along the road and then took the path towards Errwood Hall. On my way down the hill I spotted a small circular building. A Google search returned some info about this great looking little place. It is a Spanish Shrine which was erected by the Grimshawes of Errwood in 1889 in memory of a much loved Spanish Governess in their employ.
Berry Clough
I reached the road in no time at all after the very pleasant walk down the hill through the forest. I took a few pictures down the Errwood Reservoir and then continued in a southerly direction past the car park and up the hill. This little section along the road is very nice indeed, i’m not a big fan of walking on tarmac but its thoroughly enjoyable as you rise up the valley following the River Goyt. I eventually left the road and crossed over the river to ascend up Berry Clough, I hadn’t set foot here before and it was great to tick off another first today.
Goyt Valley
Cat & Fiddle
When I arose out of the top of Berry Clough it was a short walk across the moor towards the A54. I crossed over the road and made my way along the path before turning due east straight for the Trig Point on Axe Edge Moor… It was to be there that I would spend the night.
Axe Edge Moor - Wild Country Zephyros 1
I arrived at the Trig Point after a short soggy walk across the moor from the main path, The views from here are stunning in all directions and especially towards the east. You can pick out many landmarks including Chrome Hill which rises ruggedly out of the Upper Dove Valley.
Wild Country Zephyros 1 - Upper Dove Valley
I had brought along my new Wild Country Zephyros 1 again today. this was to be the fourth time that I have used it and have been very impressed with it so far. once again you can expect a full review of this great little backpacking tent very soon.
Wild Country Zephyros 1
After pitching up I made myself some food, had a drink and then got ready for what looked like it was going to be an amazing sunset. I was snapping away like mad in all directions as the sun began to drop towards the horizon. The light that was being cast across the surrounding hills was stunning and I was mesmerised by the experience. I can safely say I haven’t seen a sunset as good as that one for a long while 🙂
Axe Edge Trig Point
Watching the Sunset
After the sun had gone down I remained by the Trig Pillar for around an hour. As the light faded I begun to see what looked like Fireworks down towards Manchester. Then it dawned on me.. it was the night of the Queens Diamond Jubilee and these were celebratory fireworks to mark the occasion. I then noticed a dozen or so Beacons begin to appear and then more Fireworks in all directions. It really was a great place to be stood to witness it all.
Cat & Fiddle Sunset
Watching the Sunset
I retired to the tent at around 23:00 and set my alarm for sunrise at 04:30.
Axe Edge Sunrise
When my alarm went off I quickly stuck my head out of the tent only to be greeted by a brilliant fiery red as the sun was about to break above the horizon. I quickly jumped out and got ready with my camera as it slowly began to rise. Sadly there was a layer of cloud right on the horizon which obscured the view a little but it also added to the effect in some ways.
Wild Country Zephyros 1 at Sunrise
I then went back inside the tent and admired the stunning views out the door down into the Upper Dove Valley. a nice layer of mist was creating an inversion and I watched it move slowly around Chrome Hill.
Wild Country Zephyros 1 - Upper Dove Valley
I decided to pack away at around 08:00 after many hours of relaxing while enjoying the views. One of the reasons why I had chosen to park in Flash was that it was only going to be a short walk from where I had camped. Sadly I had to work the night shift that night so I wanted to be back home at a reasonable hour.
Upper Dove Valley
I got on my way and headed south along Axe Edge Moor towards the hamlet at Axe Edge End. I walked along the road for a short while until taking a footpath over Oliver Hill towards Flash, I was back at the car at around 09:00.
What a great night it had been, my head was filled with the colours of the sunset all the way home. That for me is what Wild Camping is all about.. being up in the hills after everyone else has gone home and enjoying all that nature has to offer.. I suppose Axe Edge Moor can’t really be classed as wild, The main Buxton to Leek road is only a stones through away. After last night though it has been firmly cemented in the list of favourite wild camping spots.
There are some times when just one day out on the hills just isn’t enough.. well.. I suppose one day is never enough really when I come to think about it. I have been doing lots of day walks in the Peak District lately so I thought it was about time that I chucked my tent in my bag and headed out for 2 days. As luck would have it I had 2 days spare so I consulted my mate Andy and a plan was set.
Andy decided that he could join me for 2 days of walking and I would Wild Camp alone inbetween as he had other commitments that night. We met up in Matlock yesterday morning at around 09:30, I chucked all my kit in his car and we made our way to Hope which was to be the start point of our walk on day 1. We had chosen to have another wander around the famous Edale Skyline Route which is a fantastic route which is ideal if you have a full day spare. We got on the way just after 10:00 and the first peak of the day was Lose Hill.
The Great Ridge from Lose Hill
Lose Hill stands at the end of the Great Ridge, it has amazing 360 Degree views and in my opinion has to be one of the top 10 vantage points in the whole of the Peak District. We arrived at the top in what seemed like no time at all and I quickly began to put my waterproofs on as the rain moved in from the west. A very friendly sheep came over to say hello, or more specifically try and extract some food from us. She had a nice rummage around my bag before deciding to give up and then wander off very displeased. I have since had a conversation with a handful of other hikers on Twitter who have come across the same scenario on Lose Hill, I posted a picture along with the ewes tag number and it turns out they had encountered the exact same one 🙂
Hope Cement Works
After Lose Hill we walked westward along the Great Ridge towards Back Tor, there was hardly anyone else about at this point which was surprising as this place is usually busy no matter what day you come.
Grindsbrook from Back Tor
Hollins Cross
After Back Tor we headed to Hollins Cross and then begun ascending up to Mam Tor. The rain which had been threatening most of the morning arrived for a short time here. Mam Tor was its usually busy self as the crowds love it here, it’s just so easily accessible from the carpark which is only a hop skip and a jump from the summit.
Mam Tor from Back Tor
After Mam Tor we crossed the road, headed along Rushup Edge over Lord’s Seat and then swung north west to Brown Knoll. It’s now time to stick in one of my disclaimers… A Bog Disclaimer. This section up towards the top of Brown Knoll can become very boggy indeed after rain, we have had some serious rainfall over the last 3 weeks so it was very moist under foot 🙂
After picking our way through the bog of eternal stench / misty marshes we eventually made it up to the trig at SK 1330 8511. I like it up here, it never seems to be crowded at all and the vantage point lower down at Horsehill Tor is superb. Anyway, back to today. The newly constructed path that leads towards the Pennine Way near Edale Cross has been well laid. Even if it looks rather sterile at times I’m 100% aware of the good it will eventually do as it keeps us off the peat.
We stopped for a quick lunch break after joining the Pennine Way, the view down Jacob’s Ladder to Upper Booth is was as stunning as ever. After our short stop we left the Pennine Way then swung towards Pym Chair, the next section across the boulder field to Crowden Tower was as boggy as ever. We crossed Crowden Brook and then made our way over to the top of Grindsbrook. We hit some traffic here as there were plenty of school groups out around this area today.
Win Hill
Next came Upper Tor with its marvellous rock formations, the rain really started lashing down at this point and I did feel for the groups of kids who were getting a soaking. Andy and I however stayed dry in our Goretex jackets. Thankfully the rain moved on towards Win Hill and I managed to capture a few moody looking images of the view in that direction.
Heading for Hope Cross
We had some impressive pace at this point and the march was on as we descended down Crookstone Hill. We reached the now famous (to me anyway) sign that points you in the direction of Hope Cross, I had to take another picture as this little rock has become the logo for PeakRoutes.com 🙂
Wild Country Zephyros 1
Once we got down to Hope Cross it was time for Andy and I to part company. As the rain arrived again heavier than ever, Andy headed down the Roman Road towards Hope and I sought cover in the trees. This really heavy burst of rain lasted around 30mins so I took the opportunity to check the map and decided where I would camp. I then continued on in the rain for a few more minutes until I reached Wooller Knoll, I quickly made my way back into the forest and found a nice little spot to pitch. The wind was fairly strong so I chose a spot that was back from the edge of the forest, the noise of the breeze rushing through the trees wasn’t so loud further in so it was ideal.
Wild Country Zephyros 1
This was the 2nd time I had used my Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1 and I must say i’m very happy with it indeed. It cost me around £100 and it is perfect for what I want. It’s sturdy, pretty lite and relatively roomy for a 1 man tent of this price range. Once pitched I decided to relaxed inside for half an hour or so while I waited for the weather to pass. Thankfully it did and I appeared back out into rays of light streaming into the forest from over towards the west.
I made some dinner, drank some coffee and relaxed beside the tent while listening to some AudioBoos. I even recorded a quick Boo of my own which you can find below. It was great to have some quiete time and have a chance to reflect on my surroundings. I feel at home in the forest as my friends and I have spent many a happy night amongst the pines while Bushcrafting.
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I eventually decided to call it a night at around 22:00 and retired to the tent feeling thoroughly relaxed after a great days walk in great company.
Wild Camping in the Woods
I awoke a few times during the night, mainly because of my old Alpkit Matt deflating on me. I’ve used and abused my Alpkit Wee Airic over the last 6 or 7 years so i’m not surprised its finally given up. If i’m completely honest, it gave up a few years ago but i’ve just been making do with it :-). The rain had been intermittent throughout the night but thankfully the sun came out as I stuck my head out of the tent at around 06:30.
I made myself some breakfast, boiled more water for a few cups of coffee and then packed away. I recorded myself dismantling the tent which you can see in the YouTube Video that is embedded further up in the post. I stowed away the Zephyros 1 in its stuff sack, chucked all my gear inside my rucksack and left for another day of walking without leaving any trace of my presence at camp.
Vale of Edale
I appeared out of the forest and was blessed with stunning sunny views down in the Vale of Edale. It was around 08:00 and there was not a soul in sight. I had arranged to meet Andy at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn so took a few pictures and got on my way.
Ladybower plughole
I had a gentle walk down hill taking in my surroundings as I knew Andy wouldn’t be at the pub until around 10:00. The walk down through the forest is rather nice as the Ashophton Viaduct comes into view down at Ladybower. As we have had lots of rain in recent weeks I found that the “Plug Holes” were being utilised which is a impressive sight to behold. I must say that they do look like a gateway to another dimension or something straight out of a science fiction movie.
Accent up Win Hill
Andy was bang on time and he was getting kitted up by the car as I walked around the corner from the dam wall. I decided to stow my overnight gear in the boot of his car as I would no longer need any of it. We then headed off to ascend back up to Win Hill via the very direct path which heads up from SK 1969 8502. Its a sharp accent but it has to be one of my favourite little climbs in the entire Peak District, It would feel pretty punishing after a long day but we were still pretty fresh so we breezed to the top with ease (ish) 🙂
Hope Cement Works from Win Hill
Once out of the forest its only a short walk to the summit of Win Hill. The weather was being pretty kind to us and the rain was staying away. It was pretty blustery up top and I sheltered behind a rock while having some more food. I’ve got used to the sight of the Hope Cement Works now days but if we are honest its a bit of an eye sore. I have no idea about the history or future of the works but I can’t help but think it kind of spoils one of the nicest areas in the Peak.
The Great Ridge from Win Hill
After our short break on Win Hill we headed of the summit and begun walking towards Hope Cross. The sun was still showing its face every now an then and we made good progress as we picked up the Roman Road. We had chosen to do a shorter route today so it wasn’t long before we were making our descent into the Woodlands Valley and down towards the River Ashop.
Vale of Edale from Hope Cross
We had originally considered the idea of heading towards Alport Dale and then looping back via Rowlee Pasture. The sight of the deep water rushing across the ford where the Roman Road crosses the River Ashop put us off that plan. We decided to take in a new section of footpath that we hadn’t walked before, we swung back east towards Ladybower and followed the course of the River Ashop Silt Trap.
River Ashop Silt Trap
The walk through Blackley Hey Wood is rather gentle and pleasant. We were certainly ready for a more relaxed wander today as yesterday’s challenge route around the Edale Skyline had taken its toll on our legs a little. It wasn’t long before we reached the banks of Ladybower and begun walking along the forestry track that is also used by anglers. It was a nice coincidence that we ran into a family friend who is a warden with the Ladybower Fisheries who i’d been meaning to drop in on for some time. He had said months ago that I should call in for a coffee if I was ever passing, me being me I had never managed to find the time after a walk.
It wasn’t long before we were weaving around the final few corners and the wall of Ladybower dam came into view. We could almost taste the refreshments at the Yorkshire Bridge Inn as we walked past the Plughole’s and along the wall itself. We quickly chucked our gear in the car and headed to the bar to toast a couple of great days out in the glorious Dark Peak. Thanks for reading and I hope to have more Peak District Wild Camping posts for you very soon.
I really enjoy getting out for the day for a big walk, its great to get up early and stretch the legs from sunrise to sunset. day walks always leave me with the same feeling though, sadness that its over so quickly and the need to get back out again as soon as possible. As daylight hours are now increasing the weather seems to be gradually improving from week to week, I though it was high time I dusted off the camping gear and headed out for a multi wander.
I was sitting at home and looking at books on our bookshelf, a particular set of books caught my eye. I have a set of Wainwright Guides to the Lake District Fells and I randomly selected one then begun reading. Then it dawned on me, Why not head off for a few days and go for a spot of Wild Camping and Walking while continuing my quest to tick off all the Wainwright Fells. I took a quick picture of my Wainwright Guides along with some Ordnance Survey maps then posted it on Twitter, “hhmmmm… Where to go walking in the Lake District this weekend??”. Within around 4 or 5 minutes i’d had an invite from a couple of my twitter friends Alex and Chris who were heading out for a 3 day / 2 night wildcamping adventure. They forwarded me a GPX file detailing the route they planned to take and I decided It would have been rude to say no given how perfectly things were taking shape. The plan was set, the times were arranged and my camping gear was being unearthed from the garage. Off to the Lake District I go.
I set off from home at around 09:00 and headed straight for the M1, I had been and picked up plenty of supplies the day before which allowed me to get on the way relatively early. The plan was to meet Alex & Chris at Seathwaite in Borrowdale at 14:00 and we would then set off on our little wander. One thing led to another and Chris was subjected to a series of unfortunate disasters so it meant that he would meet up with us later that evening. I drove up the M1, M18, A1 and then took the A66 west from Scotch Corner all the way to Keswick. I was running pretty early so after a very brief stop (toilet break) I decided that I would head for Ashness Bridge and enjoy the sunshine before making my way down to Seathwaite.
Ashness Bridge is one of those places that is burned in the mind from my childhood. We spent a lot of time in the Lakes when we were younger and my grandmother made a Patchwork recreation of Ashness Bridge that she has hung in her home. I had never been to Ashness before so it was really great to finally stand and look at a view that has always been so familiar to me. As I sat there at the side of the river taking in the views I gave my grandmother a ring and said “You’ll never guess where I am” 🙂
After a very relaxing half an hour or so by the stream I decided that it was about time I got to my final destination so I could park the car. I made it down into Seathwaite for around 13:15, I parked up and then begun to get my kit ready and double check that I’d remembered to bring everything. I couldn’t resist making an AudioBoo as I arrived which is embedded below.
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While I was relaxing in the sun waiting for the arrival of Alex a familiar looking gentleman walked along the road towards me, “Are you Dean Read” he said. It was Gary, another one of my twitter friends who had decided to join us at the last moment. I had not really had a great deal of signal most of the morning so it was a nice surprise to have more company for the next few days. Alex arrived at 14:00 and it wasn’t long at all before we were walking back up the road towards Seatoller, after a quick walk across a field we then began the accent up to Rosthwaite Fell. The weather today was absolutely stunning, just the right temperature and the haze that had blighted the landscape in recent weeks had all but vanished from the atmosphere.
The accent up towards Tarn at Leaves was rather sharp in places but over relatively quick, we chatted pretty much all the way up so before we knew it we were there. We stashed our bags near the tarn and then headed for the summit of Rosthwaite Fell. a quick scramble up to the cairn and that was Wainwright number 1 of the weekend safely in the bag. Back down to the tarn we went, picked up the bags and begun the undulating attack on Glaramara.
The path from Rosthwaite to Glaramara is rather rough at times. we crossed a few boggy patches of moorland and then had a great little scramble up on to the very top. The views were just getting better and better today.
After Glaramara we headed due south straight past high house tarn for Allen Crags. The light was slowly fading as we spotted a figure that was moving up along the path from Sprinkling Tarn. It was Chris, we rendezvoused at Esk Hause where we decided would be a perfect place to pitch up for the night.
The cloud was rolling up the valley from Eskdale which was starting to look like the beginnings of an inversion. we looked towards the east and the sun was setting over the top of Great End. We decided that a quick jaunt up Esk Pike would be a good idea and a great opportunity to get some nice images.
From the summit of Esk Pike the inversion looked stunning. The cloud was like a sea of white and the peaks down the valley were just popping through as the sun set to the west. Over towards Great Gable the cloud had begun spilling over the top and rushing down the sides to Sty Head. Down Borrowdale I could see the twinkling lights of Keswick in the distance and the majestic heights of Skiddaw standing guard behind. We spent a good half an hour or so up there soaking in the panoramas before deciding to retire back to the tents for some food. It wasn’t long before we all called it a day, I lay in my new Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1 pondering what a great day it had been and feeling great satisfaction about being back up in the LakeLand fells once more.
I had rather a restless sleep if I’m completely honest, I wasn’t too cold, The weather had been rather still. Sadly it was my sleeping mats constant need to deflate that made it a rather long night. I have an old Alpkit Wee Airic, when I say old I mean around 6 years old but sadly it is now past its best. It began to let me down last time I used it which was on the West Highland Way last year. I totally forgot about replacing it so its my own fault really, I have had many nights of comfortable use out of it so I feel I’ve had my pennies worth.
We awoke around 07:00 and I begun to make my breakfast. I am still using my trusty old Coleman Stove with what my friends and I have affectionately named the Jiminy Cricket. I’m not quite sure why we decided to call it that but it’s basically the tiniest little attachment made by Coleman to fit atop one of their gas canisters. Both Gary and Alex had come equipped with JetBoil stoves which I was really impressed by. I have been making do with my old gear for years now so it is definitely time to upgrade in some areas I feel. The piece of Kit that surprised me the most was Chris’ stove, I’m not overly sure exactly what model it was as I’m not fully educated on these things but… basically, it boiled water within literally 20 seconds from cold. how is that possible? not just technically possible but physically 🙂 top marks to Chris for that life changing demo.
The light was stunning this morning once the cloud had cleared a little, the views down towards Eskdale where the cloud inversion had been last night were particularly impressive. We packed all our gear away and headed off for Great End just before 09:00.
The summit of Great End arrived rather quickly as its only a short walk up from Esk Hause, that’s what I love about wild camping in the hills. when you pitch high the hard work is already done so you can just concentrate on enjoying the views.
I am resisting the want to type out many superlative words, phrases and jargon here. I will just say that the views from Great End this morning were amazing in the fresh early light of a new day.
The next Wainwright of the day after Great End was Lingmell, we had to cross Ill Crag, Broad Crag, then descend between there and Scafell Pike.
The descent down this little section was pretty steep and a spot of Scree Skiing fun was had by all. We made a quick stop just at the top of Piers Gill to refill our water supplies before heading up towards Lingmell which was to be Wainwright number 6 of the trip.
We had expected to see another one of our Twitter friends Peter and his trusty sidekick Oscar the dog on the summit, little did we know he was laying down basking in the sun just off down the slope towards Wast Water. We had planned to meet Peter and Oscar on Lingmell but as the signal was iffy we fired off a few tweets with details of our plans and headed back down off the summit.
Back down at the top of Piers Gill we picked up the Corridor Route, we passed many groups of people who must have been heading up to bag Scafell Pike today. Sadly for them the cloud had begun to roll in from the west and it had begun to drop below the heights of the surrounding summits, no views from the top for them today.
We arrived at Sty Head Tarn and decided it would be a perfect moment to break out the food. We chatted and ate as the cloud thankfully began to lift ever so slightly. We then noticed a figure running down the Corridor Route towards us that was being shadowed by a hound. It was Peter and Oscar catching up with us after enjoying the sun on the opposite side of Lingmell.
We all chatted for a good 45 minutes or so before we packed away and begun the accent up Great Gable. I’ve done this route up the mighty Gable from Sty Head before when I came for a Solo Wildcamp a few years ago, I knew it was going to be steep and unrelenting. Gary and I decided that the best plan of attack was to put our heads down and just go for it, that’s what we did. We powered on up higher and higher. I resisted the need to look around and I also put my GPS away so I didn’t give in to the temptation to check our altitude. My calf muscles and energy levels felt invincible so In what seemed like no time at all we were on the summit. It felt great to once again be admiring the 360 degree views on what is my favorite Lakeland Fell. To be honest I think I had built the climb up in my mind a little, last time I was here my pack weight was a lot heavier so today it was a breeze.
I think we must have spent around 45 minutes up there today, I took plenty of pictures, sent out a couple of tweets and recorded a 360 Degree video on my iPhone.
We headed off the summit of Great Gable down towards the next Wainwright of the day which was Green Gable. the slippery and rock descent down to Windy Gap was over quickly and then all that was left was a quick accent up on to the summit.
Green Gable stands side by side with Great Gable at the head of Ennerdale, it’s a place I have visited in my childhood many times. I have also walked here with my friend Stevo in recent years, memories of that 2 Day Wildcamping Adventure came flooding back as I stood gazing towards Haystacks and down to the Black Sail Youth Hostel.
Base Brown was to be our last fell of the day, Side by side we walked and talked across the moor and then up on to the grassy summit. It was here where we decided that the lure of the pub down in the valley was too great, instead of pitching up early on Base Brown we chose to head down to the campsite at Seathwaite.
We pitched up at the campsite and quickly got ourselves ready for a few drinks to celebrate a great couple of days. we chose to head around the valley to The Langstrath Country Inn. I think we had half expected it to be empty but we were surprised to find it heaving with people. We took up the last remaining seats at the bar and toasted a job well done.
The next day Alex and I decided that it would be rude not to tick off the last remaining fell in the area which was Seathwaite Fell. We had walked in the hills surrounding it for 2 days so it would have been a shame to leave it unclimbed.
The weather was perfect this morning, glorious sunshine with just a slight cold bite in the air. We headed up towards Sty Head tarn where we had had lunch the day before and then swung east towards Sprinkling Tarn.
We spotted a few Wild Campers who had pitched up by the banks of Sprinkling tarn. They had a few rather large tents with them and it was now 09:45. The unwritten rule or generally accepted code when wild camping is to pitch late then leave early, this group of people obviously had other ideas.
In no time at all we were stood on the summit of Seathwaite Fell ticking off the final remaining Wainwright in this area. We stayed for a very short while before heading straight off the summit via the most direct route down towards the path at Styhead Gill. We chatted all the way down and before I knew it we were back at the cars and this adventure had drawn to a close.
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I’d like to say a big thank you to Alex and Chris for the invite to join them this weekend. I’d also like to say what a pleasure it was to finally meet up with them and also with Gary, Peter and Oscar. The power of twitter made this weekend possible and I’m sure it wont be long before our paths cross again. We had climbed a total of 10 Wainwright Fells, of which 9 were all new ones for me. I have currently only climbed 45 of the Wainwrights but this weekend has renewed my need to complete them.
Day 1 of the West Highland Way started early and at completely the wrong end of the 100 mile stretch. We awoke this morning early at the Glen Nevis campsite as we had a train to catch from Fort William station at 07:45. It was raining as usual so we quickly chucked the tent in the boot of the car as they were both staying at Glen Nevis for the 5 days that we were due to be walking. We got our gear sorted and made our way along the road to the station as the rain started to ease.
We got on the train at 07:30 and settled in for the ride, it is a fantastic stretch of railway from Fort William to Glasgow with some fantastic views. We have done this stretch many times before and all we wanted to do was be in Milngavie and setting off walking. The train journey seemed to take a long while, although the views are great those 3 or so hours seems to drag on manly due to the fact that the seats are so uncomfortable.
Finally we arrived at Glasgow Queens Street Station, a quick hope to another platform and we were on the local service to Milngavie. The rain was still holding off so once we emerged from the station we walked straight to the starting line and got prepared. We filled our water bladders up, took some pictures and off we went on our West Highland Way 2011 adventure.
Those who have done the WHW before will know that the first few miles are somewhat un remarkable as you walk out of Milngavie. Nothing is wrong with the scenery but the anticipation of seeing the mountains surrounding Loch Lomond kind of overshadows the still rather nice Mugdock Country Park.
Through the Forest, Over the boardwalk, along the Loch, past the log cabins and then down to what we call Lothlorien. The Lord of the Rings fans among you will recognise the name. We have given this name to the wooded hill that is called Dumgoyach in the real world. As we have done the WHW a few times before we have reference points in our heads of what is coming next… as time goes on the distance between those points seems shorter in memory, it’s always a surprise when your actually walking when you find it is actually a lot further than you remember.
Down the hill, sharp left turn and along side the pipe. In reality that is along the pipe past the Drumgoyne Distilery and then on towards the Wig Wams at Gartness another sharp left and you are on the road to Drymen. We always have a quick stop on the bridge at Gartness as it is a rather nice little hamlet. In previous years we have had to shelter from the rain here so it is burned hard in to the memory.
In not time at all you arrive in Drymen after the short road section, A quick stop to stock up on local produce at the butchers next to the pub and we were on our way again. Up in to the Garadbhan forest and along the track. There were diversions in place again this year in the forest but we had a chat with the loggers and they let us through along the original route with no problems.
We got to the very edge of the forest and then began to look for a spot to pitch our Tarp for the night. After a good 20 minutes or so of searching in the rain we decided to just drop anywhere we could and give up the search for the non existant perfect spot.
We pitched the Tarp in record time and got our sleeping arrangements sorted and celebrated a good day with a beer. The forest was nice and silent, it felt good to be back in on the Way and camping in the forests once again.
Peak District Routes 