Walk Report: The Coniston Fells (cntd) & Pike of Blisco
Thursday 31st March
Once again the weather was cold, cloudy and windy, ideal walking weather in fact, it is just a pity about the lack of a view. This morning I set off from the Coniston Coppermines youth hostel down the road towards Coniston but turning off to the left near a row of cottages heading up the hillside. I don't know where I made a mistake but I must have strayed onto the old miners track to the disused quarry below Sweeten Crag; I realised I wasn't on the right road when the path petered out soon after the quarry! Going around the edge of the marsh near Kitty Crag I headed north-east towards the ridge I was supposed to have been walking on, crossing over the clear path through Hole Rake on the way. I headed up the side of the ridge never finding a clear path until I finally reached the top of the ridge. Maybe it was an unorthodox route, but I eventually reached my destination so who can complain?
Wetherlam was my first hill in the Lake District; it was a warm July afternoon three years with clear views across the surrounding countryside. I remember it having very good views, but then again I had nothing to compare it with at the time, but today the views were nonexistent, Wetherlam was completely covered in cloud. In the cloud the summit seemed much smaller and rather inconsequential; a lot has changed in three years, oh well. Heading west I bypassed Black Sails and climbed up the Prison Band returning to hill that I had been at the top of yesterday, Swirl How. Continuing west I bypassed Great Carrs and descended the grassy plain of Fairfield before climbing up to the top of Grey Friars, which I'd never been on top of before. The weather was still rather hostile and there was now a strong easterly wind blowing at me while I was on top of Grey Friars. Returning to the top of Great Carrs I paused at the wartime aircraft wreck before beginning the descent over Little Carrs and Hell Gill Pike.
At the marker cairn I turned off the ridge and descended to the Three Shires Stone immediately beginning the ascent up to Red Tarn. The weather now appeared to clear somewhat and I even saw a patch of blue sky above Pike O'Blisco, but the Coniston Fells behind me remained shrouded in clouds. Not being keen on the Cringle Crags I headed up to the Pike of Blisco and then crossing Wrynose Fell I descended the steep staircase-like path to the road. Going around Side Pike I climbed to the top of the ridge and followed the fence across Lingmoor Fell. Despite the limited visibility the walk was highly enjoyable as I skipped across the top of the hills; there really is nothing like hill walking, I love it. After passing the disused quarry I descended the hillside to the byway from Dale End farm into Elterwater. Tomorrow I'll bag Red Screes and also visit Fairfield and St Sunday Crag, but first I'll have to brave Ambleside!
Once again the weather was cold, cloudy and windy, ideal walking weather in fact, it is just a pity about the lack of a view. This morning I set off from the Coniston Coppermines youth hostel down the road towards Coniston but turning off to the left near a row of cottages heading up the hillside. I don't know where I made a mistake but I must have strayed onto the old miners track to the disused quarry below Sweeten Crag; I realised I wasn't on the right road when the path petered out soon after the quarry! Going around the edge of the marsh near Kitty Crag I headed north-east towards the ridge I was supposed to have been walking on, crossing over the clear path through Hole Rake on the way. I headed up the side of the ridge never finding a clear path until I finally reached the top of the ridge. Maybe it was an unorthodox route, but I eventually reached my destination so who can complain?
Wetherlam was my first hill in the Lake District; it was a warm July afternoon three years with clear views across the surrounding countryside. I remember it having very good views, but then again I had nothing to compare it with at the time, but today the views were nonexistent, Wetherlam was completely covered in cloud. In the cloud the summit seemed much smaller and rather inconsequential; a lot has changed in three years, oh well. Heading west I bypassed Black Sails and climbed up the Prison Band returning to hill that I had been at the top of yesterday, Swirl How. Continuing west I bypassed Great Carrs and descended the grassy plain of Fairfield before climbing up to the top of Grey Friars, which I'd never been on top of before. The weather was still rather hostile and there was now a strong easterly wind blowing at me while I was on top of Grey Friars. Returning to the top of Great Carrs I paused at the wartime aircraft wreck before beginning the descent over Little Carrs and Hell Gill Pike.
At the marker cairn I turned off the ridge and descended to the Three Shires Stone immediately beginning the ascent up to Red Tarn. The weather now appeared to clear somewhat and I even saw a patch of blue sky above Pike O'Blisco, but the Coniston Fells behind me remained shrouded in clouds. Not being keen on the Cringle Crags I headed up to the Pike of Blisco and then crossing Wrynose Fell I descended the steep staircase-like path to the road. Going around Side Pike I climbed to the top of the ridge and followed the fence across Lingmoor Fell. Despite the limited visibility the walk was highly enjoyable as I skipped across the top of the hills; there really is nothing like hill walking, I love it. After passing the disused quarry I descended the hillside to the byway from Dale End farm into Elterwater. Tomorrow I'll bag Red Screes and also visit Fairfield and St Sunday Crag, but first I'll have to brave Ambleside!
posted by David Keates at 7:16 pm
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