COCKLAW FELL,HOLLOW MOOR ON GREEN QUARTER FELL, KENTMERE

Short walk in the Kentmere Valley, near Staveley. The weather was perfect and the views outstanding, looking across to the Kentmere Horseshoe and then Longsleddale. Saw wild ponies and wild orchids over rough free-ranging, boggy ground. Bill gives the walk at 6 miles in about 3 hours - spot on!

 

 

Cocklaw Fell

 

Hollow Moor on Green Quarter Fell

 

 

CARRON CRAG, OUTLYING EASTERN TOP

Decided to pick off another random Birkett today over in Grizedale. The weather again was magnificent so we braved the traffic and headed down through Hawkshead to the Foresty Commision Centre in Grizedale and parked up. The walk was a pleasant two hours up through the forest onto a rocky plateau with a craggy pinnacle which led to the trig point. We met a feisty old lady who topped out at the same time as us on a coach trip from Wigan. She said she had deserted the others preferring to do this by herself! go girl!

 

Jo talking to our summit companion - the lady from Wigan

 

541 BIRKETTS DONE - 32 LEFT

 

BIRCH FELL,STICKLE PIKE, TARN HILL AND GREAT STICKLE, SOUTHERN LAKES

The weather was set fine for good weather in the east so we left misty Swaledale and headed  towards the Eastern outlying fells in Cumbria to pick up Birch Fell. This fell has been hanging there since we did Gummers How in 2011 and somehow got left behind, since then we have had two abortive attempts to find it - very hard to find and pretty impenetrable.

 

Jo recovering from a migraine at the top of Birch Fell

After the Birch Fell debacle we headed for the southern fells just south of the Duddon Valley above Broughton Mills. Parked at the top of Kiln Bank and followed the ancient grassed track to Stickle Pike just above Stickle Tarn then followed the path around to Tarn Hill and finally Great Stickle. Beautiful hills, beautiful hot evening - perfect, total of four Birketts. Headed back to Broughton Mills, The Blacksmiths Arms, two pints of Pennine Blonde and a wonderful meal outside in the evening sunshine - perfect hill day. 

 

Stickle Pike

Tarn Hill looking back towards Stickle Pike

Tarn Hill

The trig on Great Stickle, to the right of the trig lies Caw - it's on the list!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PONSONBY FELL, STONE PIKE AND SWAINSON KNOTT

Back to the Birketts this weekend over in the Lank Rigg group south of Ennerdale. The walk set off from near Gosforth and went up Blengdale, following the River Bleng through Forestry Commision and up onto the open fell. The walk was about 7 miles, fantastic weather and great views over towards the Ennerdale Fells and the coast. 37 Birketts left!

 

Ponsonby Fell

Stone Fell

Swainson Knott

Don't look down!

 

 

 

CALVER HILL, SWALEDALE

Went for  early morning stomp up Calver Hill from the water-splash side. Still pretty wet underfoot but a bright day with a slight chilly wind, could see a bit of snow further up the dale around Shunner Fell. Returned the same way and dropped in on friends in Arkengarthdale for a coffee, took the picture of their neighbours at Yellow House on the way out of their track to the main road.

Cairn on Calver Hill looking west towards Cumbria and the Tan Inn

Yellow House, Arkengarthdale

 

500th BIRKETT, WHITE PIKE, DOW CRAG GROUP

At long last we made our 500th Birkett, we pulled in Walna Scar just after this so our final tally to finish all the Birketts is 40 including Pillar Rock which we hope to be our final one. We had travelled over on Thursday night to grab the good weather and had a good stay over at Elterwater Hostel - excellent, highly recommended. Having parked in Torver we ascended High Park haw first then picked our way through the rocks at the side of Dropping Crag and followed the wall to the summit of White Maiden. The weather was improving all the time but the wind was intense - jowl wobbling! After a photo call on White Pike our 500th we crossed over to Walna Scar then the road and straight down back across High Torver Common.

 

High Pike Haw

 

White Maiden, or in this case red

Self-timer for the big 500th Birkett



Brown Pike and Buck Pike from Walna Scar Road

 

 

 

 

WHITFELL GROUP, SOUTHERN FELLS

Went over late Friday night and stayed at Uncle Pete's house at Wath Brow so we could make the most of the good weather on Saturday. All packed and ready to go in the morning we were on the hill for about 8.30 and back at the car  12.30. Not a big round, just about five miles, and we pulled in Whitfell which was more by error than planning. The day just got better and better, absolutely beautiful when we finally pulled over Plough Fell. Only people we saw were two guys on the top of Whitfell photographing the new site for Sellafield, there you go, you heard he first! Hill food of the day - scotch eggs and brown sauce sammies! outstanding!

 

Buck Barrow

 

Great Paddy Crag

 

Kinmont Buck Barrow

 

Whitfell

 

Burn Moor

 

Plough Fell