A good day was forecast so we drove to the Old Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood, north of Keswick. We planned to walk up to Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side and then down to Dodd. A 7 mile walk. Very little snow was left on even the high fells. The walk…

On Thursday I drove with Ged through Mungrisdale to Bowscale, parking in the parking spaces opposite the track up to Bowscale Tarn. We would walk up to the tarn then descend back to the valley floor, cross the river and walk up to Carrock Mine, then…

On Monday I drove to Mungrisdale to walk the Blencathra Round: Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags, Blencathra and Souther Fell. A walk of just over ten miles. I left home at 6am, arriving at 7.30am. The forecast was excellent, warm with no wind. I arriv…

On Friday Ged, Kas and I drove to the Blencathra Center at Threlkeld in order to climb up to Blencathra. Blencathra is comprised of five separate fells. Today we would ascend via Blease Fell, a route that I have only used once, to descend by. We woul…

On Wednesday Ged, Kas and I took a walk from Peter House Farm up to Dash Falls and then on up to Bakestall. The Orthwaite Road was closed (bridge work) so we had to find a route via Bassenthwaite Village to get to the farm. We didn’t start walk…

On Thursday Ged, Kas and I drove to Scales, on the A66, to walk up Souther Fell. An easy, grassy, circular walk of six miles. The walk took about three and a half hours, a very easy walk. There were a couple of rock steps on the descent, but these co…

On Friday Ged and I drove to Longlands, via the Orthwaite road, to do a circular walk over a few of the Uldale Fells. The weather was a bit dull, but the northern fells would see the best of the weather. We parked near the small United Utilities buil…

Thursday was going to be a glorious blue sky day, so Tom and I decided to have a walk up Skiddaw (3,053ft). Skiddaw is a very safe mountain in snow, there is nothing to fall off or over, if you take the Jenkin Hill route up. Microspikes help enormous…

The A591 between Grasmere and Keswick reopened yesterday after six months, so no more detours via the Kirkstone Pass and Dockray to reach the fells on the other side. Today we would drive over Dunmail Raise to reach Peter House Farm near Orthwaite an…

After our recent energetic mountain walks in snow I thought it would make a pleasant change to walk up a couple of easy fells. We decided on Great Mell Fell (1762ft) and Binsey (1467ft), both are easy, short walks on grass but with excellent views ou…

On Monday I met up with Fr. John in the car park of Our Lady of the Lakes R.C. Church in Keswick and we headed for Mosedale, off the A66, in order to Climb Carrock Fell (2174ft) and High Pike (2157ft), then to return via Lingy Hut and Swineside. A wa…

On Wednesday my sister, Ness and I drove to Keswick to amble along the very easy Railway Path and up to the summit of Latrigg. A walk of about 6 miles. The back of Latrigg has a very gentle incline and is easier to go up than the Spooney Green Lane p…

Yet another glorious, blue sky day, so I can’t waste it. Ged, Kas and I drive to Dodd Wood to walk up to The Edge, over Ullock Pike, Longside Edge, Carl Side and up to Skiddaw, then climbing down the back to Broad End and Barkbethdale, then Sou…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I drove to Mungrisedale to Climb Bowscale Fell (2306ft) by the east ridge and continued on to Bannerdale Crags (2241ft) and back via the Glenderamackin Valley. A walk of 9 miles. The weather was much better than it had been for…

Yesterday Ged and I went to Keswick and walked along the Old Railway Path and up to Latrigg. The weather has been awful for the past month, endless rain and gales. Ged was having a problem with a foot ligament so we just did something small and combi…

On Wednesday Brendan, Ged, Kas and I went to Threlkeld to climb Blencathra (2847ft) via the Hall’s Fell ridge. A walk of about six miles. An excellent walk! Jo….

On Sunday Brendan and I drove to Dodd Wood, parking on the free car parking spaces on the road just outside Mirehouse in order to start a 19 mile circuit of Skiddaw. We would include Latrigg (1203ft). The 19 mile walk had taken eight hours and 15 min…

Yesterday was due to be the last good day before the cloud and winds arrived on the hills, so I set out alone to climb the northern fells of Ullock Pike (2230ft), Long Side Edge (2405ft), Carl Side (2420ft) and Skiddaw (3053ft). I usually climb them…

This morning I drove to Mosedale to climb Carrock Fell (2174ft) and High Pike (2157ft). Only a six and a half mile walk that I could do in about three hours. I set off from home at 6.45am and was walking by 8.15am, early enough to have avoided all th…

Yesterday I left home at 6.50am to drive to Braithwaite in order to walk up Grisedale Pike (2593ft). A walk of six miles. Then to do two more walks after that.I started walking at 8.20am from the car park at the start of the Whinlatter pass where the…

Yesterday I decided to climb a few odd fells in four distinct small walks. The rest of this week was due to be windy so Sunday seemed to be the best day. I set off at 7.15 am and had completed Latrigg (1203ft) before 9am. I had meant to do this fell…

Snow had fallen on the higher fells on Monday night, so on Wednesday I drove to the Latrigg car park with Ged and Kas to climb Lonscale (2344ft), Skiddaw Little Man (2837ft), Skiddaw (3053ft) and Bakestall (2208ft) returning on the Cumbria Way track …

I haven’t done any wild-camping since over-nighting on the summit of Carran in County Kerry over two years ago. Brendan and I haven’t done any together since touring the Outer Hebrides 20 years ago!  Where did all the years go? So on Wedn…

Today Ged, Kas and I went to Mungrisedale to climb Bowscale Fell (2306ft) and Bannerdale Crags (2241ft) via the track to Bowscale Tarn. The walk was 6.75 miles and took four and a half hours….

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I went to Scales to climb Blencathra (2847ft) via the Sharp Edge ridge. I`ve done it twice before by the Halls Fell ridge, but as it was dry and windless we decided that today would be ideal to tackle the infamous Sharp Edge. T…

Yesterday I chauffeured newly elected Labour Councillor Sweeney (formally known as Brendan) to Longlands and parked by the bridge, heading off along Longlands Beck towards Trusmadoor. We had planned to climb Great Cockup (1720ft), Meal Fell (1770ft),…

On Tuesday we decided to drive north of Keswick and climb Ullock Pike (2230ft), Long Side Edge (2405ft), Carl Side (2420ft) and Dodd (1646ft). A walk of about 7 miles. We started from the car park at the Sawmill Tearoom at Dodd Wood and walked throug…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I went to Mosedale to climb Carrock Fell (2174ft) and High Pike (2157ft). On the Mungrisedale to Mosedale road we came across a group of Fell Ponies……so cute and friendly! An interesting walk of about eight miles. W…

Today I was at the Rheged Centre, Penrith for a course on “Conquering Challanging Behaviour For Effective Learning”. What a great way to spend a Saturday Morning! After the course I looked around Rheged, having not been there for at least…

Today was a sunshine and good visibility day so I decided to climb Lonscale (2344ft), Latrigg (1203ft) and Whinlatter (1696ft). I drove to the Gale End car park for Skiddaw arriving at 9.30am. The car park was already full with like-minded people, so…

The weather today was supposed to be better than Tuesday`s. It wasn`t! We drove to Longlands and parked by the bridge, heading off along Longlands Beck towards Trusmadoor. We had planned to climb Great Cockup (1720ft), Meal Fell (1770ft), Great Sca F…

Today Ged, Kas and I went to do a couple of fells from Back O`Skiddaw. Great Calva (2265ft) and Bakestall (2189ft). We parked at Peter House Farm and walked part of the Cumbria Way path which leads to Skiddaw House. The walk took us five and a half h…

Yesterday Ged, Kas and I went to Mungrisedale to climb Bowscale Fell (2306ft), Bannerdale Crags (2230ft), Mungrisedale Common (2068ft) and Souther Fell (1680ft). A walk of nine miles. It was a fine sunny day but the forecast was for 50mph winds on th…

Today Ged and I decided to do four northern Fells, Ullock Pike (2230ft), Long Side Edge (2405ft), Skiddaw (3053ft) and Carl Side (2420ft). A walk of about 7 miles. We started from the car park at the Sawmill Tearoom (which was shut until February!) a…

On Tuesday I took Brendan up Skiddaw (3053ft) and Skiddaw Little Man (2837ft). Another nice day but very windy even at the car park. We took the tourist route up. A large, smooth path that goes all the way up. I left my walking pole on the car bonnet…

On Monday we set off for three days in the Northern Fells. Staying in a B&B at Maple Bank in Thornthwaite. There was low cloud so we went to Dodd Wood. First we visited The Old Sawmill Tearoom for a coffee before setting off on one of the trails…

Went up Blencathra (2847ft above Keswick) with Ged and Kas the dog on Wednesday, via Halls Fell and ridge. I went up this way last Easter but without my camera, so I did it all again! Halls Fell is the ridge that leads to the top summit (seen below)…