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June

River Wharfe

Route

 

Walk leader

Lance

Route

Burnthwaite Farm – Mosedale – Black Sail Pass – Kirk Fell – Beckhead Tarns – Great Gable – Sty Head Pass – Burnthwaite Farm (7 miles, 3480ft ascent).

Weather

Magnificent, very light wind, good visibility, mostly bright. Temperature around 18 degrees C.

Walkers

Lance, Julie, Sandy, Ron, Carol.

Excuses

Ashley - Damaged knee.

Bernie - running the Blaydon Race.

Evelyn and George - Walking at Wallington before having tea and cake.

Olwen - in Wales.

Comments

Carol did not do the walk but went to Muncaster Castle instead.

There were stunning views of the Lake District throughout the walk. The ground was very dry due to the continuing drought, although Ron did manage to find the only wet patch about a quarter of a mile into the walk. Fortunately, he had plenty of time to dry out.

Walking through Mosedale, we noticed the poor condition of Dorehead Screes due to too many walkers. Lance admitted to having been partially responsible, having descended the scree about thirty years ago.

Quick refreshment stop at the top of Black Sail Pass and then on to tackle one of the scrambling gullies up Kirk Fell. Then over Kirk Fell and into the middle of a fell race. A hundred or so runners were doing the Ennerdale Horseshoe, many looking rather knackered although they had only completed just over half the course.

Lunch was taken at Beckhead Tarns (the only one of the tarns with any water in it, due to the drought), spectating the fell race.

After lunch and on Sandy’s insistence, we made a direct assault on the northwest ridge of Great Gable. The ascent gradually opened up splendid views of Wasdale until we finally made it to the summit plateau, where we were joined by many dozens of folk. A short walk along the plateau took us to Westmorland Cairn, for what is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Lake District. Reminiscences of Ashley Falls in the Langdale Pikes (clearly visible) and other stories of derring-do were told as we absorbed the view.

Descent was made to Sty Head Pass and then down Lingmell Beck and back to Burnthwaite Farm B&B, but not before trying and failing to re-unite a lost lamb with its mum. Four grown adults outsmarted by one little lamb!

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Almost a complete absence of midges due to the drought (which we celebrated). Very large and inquisitive beetles were to be found everywhere on the summit of Great Gable – one even bit Sandy. Spring flowers were abundant. Swallows and martins were very busy.
Lots of LBJ’s everywhere (unidentified little brown jobs (birds)).

Meal

Wasdale Head Inn, very busy. We all had the same meal: pancetta wrapped monkfish on a bed of leafy vegetables and fried potato, followedby white chocolate and pine-nut tart. Nice food, friendly and efficient service although it was unfortunate that Carol had to send her fish back to be cooked properly. An excellent range of real ales available.

Photo Gallery

Rain

Walkers and Friends

 

Walkers

Walking the valley

Duck

Mosdale and Dale Head screes

Trees

Water stop at Black Sail

Group

Starting the gully

Money tree

Into the Kirk Fell gully

 

Bridge

Relief at the gully top

 

 

Bolton Abbey

Kirk Fell

 

River

Ascent of Great Gable

Ruins

Summit of Great Gable

Monument

Stony descent

 

Ducks

At Westmorland Cairn

 

Perched high

 

Bluebells

View from Westmorland Cairn

 

View

Memories of great days

 

Grass, rock and stream

 

 

 

 

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