Walk Report: Harter Fell and the Coniston Fells
Wednesday 30th March
Today started grey and cold, but despite the weather I still headed off on another walk on the road up the valley before heading up the bridle path straight after crossing Whahouse Bridge. Once out of the trees into open country I had a steep climb ahead of me up Birker Fell and then up to the top of Harter Fell. It was very cold and overcast, yet it seemed almost like ideal walking weather: there were few people on the fells, and there were none on Harter Fell. I descended towards Dunnerdale Forest but once I entered the Forestry commission land I discovered no trees but a bleak barren landscape where the trees had been. Ennerdale had been in a similar state where the Forestry commission had removed all the trees, but coniferous forests have a destructive effect on the ground, poisoning it so that nothing else can grow. With all the trees gone we are left with nothing but bare earth across the hillsides; this is not what you come to the Lake District to see. It is not a pretty sight and the sooner it is sorted out the better.
After negotiating the steep, barren landscape I descended to the bottom of the valley and crossed the River Duddon. Walking south along the road until I crossed a cattle grid I went over Troutal Tongue and then headed through Tongue House and Long House farms, crossing several muddy fields in the process. Eventually I reached the beginning of the Walna Scar Road and ascended the track to the summit near Brown Pike. Braving the strong wind I headed along the ridge northwards over Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag, crossing over Goats Hawse and then climbing up to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, which was inevitably surrounded by cloud. Heading back north I passed over Brim Fell and climbed up onto Swirl How.
I was now unsure of what to do. I have planned to go along the ridge down from Great Carrs tomorrow but wouldn't it be a good idea if I was to leave something else in this area to do tomorrow? With this in mind, and also with uncertainty on when I'd get to the hostel otherwise, I didn't go up Wetherlam but descended from Swirl Hawse past Levers Water and down to the hostel in the Coppermines Valley. Tomorrow after leaving the Coniston Fells I may go up the Cringle Crags or maybe I'll just walk over Pike O'Blisco and Lingmoor Fell. I'm not sure, we'll see.
Today started grey and cold, but despite the weather I still headed off on another walk on the road up the valley before heading up the bridle path straight after crossing Whahouse Bridge. Once out of the trees into open country I had a steep climb ahead of me up Birker Fell and then up to the top of Harter Fell. It was very cold and overcast, yet it seemed almost like ideal walking weather: there were few people on the fells, and there were none on Harter Fell. I descended towards Dunnerdale Forest but once I entered the Forestry commission land I discovered no trees but a bleak barren landscape where the trees had been. Ennerdale had been in a similar state where the Forestry commission had removed all the trees, but coniferous forests have a destructive effect on the ground, poisoning it so that nothing else can grow. With all the trees gone we are left with nothing but bare earth across the hillsides; this is not what you come to the Lake District to see. It is not a pretty sight and the sooner it is sorted out the better.
After negotiating the steep, barren landscape I descended to the bottom of the valley and crossed the River Duddon. Walking south along the road until I crossed a cattle grid I went over Troutal Tongue and then headed through Tongue House and Long House farms, crossing several muddy fields in the process. Eventually I reached the beginning of the Walna Scar Road and ascended the track to the summit near Brown Pike. Braving the strong wind I headed along the ridge northwards over Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag, crossing over Goats Hawse and then climbing up to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, which was inevitably surrounded by cloud. Heading back north I passed over Brim Fell and climbed up onto Swirl How.
I was now unsure of what to do. I have planned to go along the ridge down from Great Carrs tomorrow but wouldn't it be a good idea if I was to leave something else in this area to do tomorrow? With this in mind, and also with uncertainty on when I'd get to the hostel otherwise, I didn't go up Wetherlam but descended from Swirl Hawse past Levers Water and down to the hostel in the Coppermines Valley. Tomorrow after leaving the Coniston Fells I may go up the Cringle Crags or maybe I'll just walk over Pike O'Blisco and Lingmoor Fell. I'm not sure, we'll see.
posted by David Keates at 7:08 pm
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