| Name of walk | Blue Skies and Snow on Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike |
| Date of walk | 2016-01-20 |
| Distance walked (miles) | 7 |
| Duration of walk | 6 hours 15 minutes |
| Weather | Blue skies and sunshine |
| Peaks on walk | Glenridding Dodd, Heron Pike, Sheffield Pike. |
| Walked with | Ged |
| Parking | Glenridding car park |
On Wednesday we decided to return to Glenridding and climb up Glenridding Dodd, Heron Pike and Sheffield Pike. The forecast was good, and the day turned out to be superb! I had only been in my car for a couple of minutes when I had to stop and take a few photos from Walney Promenade across the channel to Barrow, before continuing on to Great Urswick to pick Ged up.
Furness College on the left and Devonshire Dock Hall on the right.
Barrow Town Hall on the right.
I stopped again overlooking Windermere, once again the fells were still pink from the sunrise, but there was also mist above the lake.
Looking towards The Langdale Pikes.
The view in its entirety.
No ice in the car park today. We made our way up Greenside road. Glenridding Dodd on the right.
Just past the houses is a cattle grid, after that you take the grassy track that snakes up the hill.
The sheep were chilling in the sunshine. It was very warm. My ruck sack thermometer said 10C.
At this point we took the path that went straight up.
Mist in the valley.
When you reach the hole in the wall it is right for Glenridding Dodd, left for Heron Pike and Sheffield Pike.
View back to the way up to Heron Pike. Glenridding Dodd is just a there and back walk.
Glenridding Dodd summit with the Heron Pike ridge to the right of Ged.
View down Ullswater.
View to Keppel Cove Dam on the north side of Catstycam.
The 'M' is the Marshall Boundary Stone, which separates the Marshall Patterdale Estate from the Howard Greystoke Estate, 'H' is on the reverse.
Looking back to Glenridding Dodd from our ascent of Heron Pike.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot movement, a female Grouse, I'm not sure if it is a Red Grouse or a Black Grouse.
Rather a pity it isn't 'Famous Grouse'!
Excellent views all around today!
All the way up we have great views over to the Helvellyn range.
We stop here for a hot drink and admire the views in all directions.
Looking across to Birkhouse Moor, where we were on Saturday.
The climb is ever upwards and once again the snow is soft and quite deep.
Beyond Birkhouse Moor is Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Catstycam, Helvellyn Lower Man, Whiteside and Raise.
Heron Pike summit cairn view.
View along Ullswater.
View ahead to Sheffield Pike summit, far right. The ground is usually very wet, and probably still is under the snow!
A large bank of cloud/mist is rapidly approaching.
We have our last look at blue sky and sunshine over the Helvellyn range.
We pass a small frozen tarn.
We attempt to keep to higher ground on our way to Sheffield Pike, avoiding deep snow, there are no visible paths.
In comes the cloud, and we say goodbye to the view!
Sometimes the deep snow is unavoidable.
The footprints are knee depth. Exhausting to walk in.
Sheffield Pike summit looking over to Glencoyne Head. We would be heading down and to the right into the Glencoyne Valley.
No views to Raise or Stybarrow Dodd or Helvellyn, the cloud is just sitting on the tops.
Me on the summit (2,215ft), at least we can see Ullswater still.
I am sitting on another boundary stone. We have lunch on the summit. We also meet the first person we have seen since we left the car park!
An iron boundary marker. The other side has an 'H' on it.
We make our way down the Old Miners Track which goes all the way around the head of the valley. It is dangerous in snow, but we will only be walking a small exposed section of it which has already been walked by other walkers.
On a last look behind us we see that the mist is starting to lift.
On the Miners Track, a steep drop on the left.
I can make out bits of the Old Miners Track below the Head of Glencoyne, and I have walked it twice before, but I'd not attempt it in these conditions.
The track on the other side is much clearer. Hart Side above.
A little precipitous, best not trip up!
View back to Glencoyne Head, blue skies again!
There is a chap on the path behind us.
We head down towards the lake shore.
On the way down we pass these houses. They are called 'Seldom Seen'.
The path comes out opposite the bus stop. We cross the road and take the lake side path back to Glenridding. A wonderful view back down the lake from Mossdale Bay.
Looking to Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor behind, Arnison Crag on the right.
View up the lake to Gowbarrow Fell. Place Fell on the right.
Place Fell.
A double photo of Place Fell. Click to enlarge, click again to return. We soon reach Glenridding. The seven mile walk had taken us six and a quarter hours.
View down to Ambleside from the top of the Kirkstone Pass.
The moon behind the Kirkstone Pass inn.
We drive on a bit more until we see the sunset.
An excellent day for both walking and photography! Walking in the soft snow was slow going at times and quite tiring. I didn’t even get to have a rest in the evening as I had to go out and ring some church bells!
Jo.
