Name of walk | Causey Pike with Fr. John |
Date of walk | 2016-08-12 |
Distance walked (miles) | 5 |
Duration of walk | 4 hours 15 minutes |
Weather | Low cloud and strong winds |
Peaks on walk | Causey Pike, Scar Crags |
Walked with | Fr. John Inglis |
Parking | Road side spaces, Uzzicar. |
On Friday I drove to Keswick to meet up with Fr. John Inglis for a walk up to Causey Pike and Scar Crags. John acts as the supply priest for Keswick and Cockermouth when here on holiday from his parish in Surrey. We try to do a few walks together. We met in the church car park at 9am.
The floor of Our Lady of the Lakes and St. Charles had to be redone after the most recent floods.
We parked in the large road side parking spot at Uzzicar, directly opposite our descent track, and headed up the road towards the bridge. The track up is just past the bridge, in the bushes. View back down to the bridge.
Looking up to the summit which was shrouded and cloud, and would be for the rest of the day. This side of the mountain we were sheltered from the strong winds.
Looking out to Derwent Water with the small hill of Swinside on the left.
A welcome shaft of sunshine on Barrow summit.
The heather was spectacular. View out to Maiden Moor, Hindscarf and Robinson with their summits in the mist.
Looking back to Rowling End, we took the easier route up the side today. Here we meet the only people we would see all day.
We ascend into the cloud.
The last bit before the summit is a scramble. Easy, but you need to be more careful in 40-50mph wind gusts which we experienced. We tried to ascend in the shelter of the rock.
John on the summit of Causey Pike. Behind him should be the glorious views of Derwent Water and Cat Bells.
The winds they were a blowing! Behind me should be Scar Crags, Sail, Crag Hill and a glimpse of Grasmoor!
The winds were really strong along the ridge to Scar Crags, sometimes it would stop you in your tracks. We tried to keep to the right of the fell in order to reduce the wind. John wished he had brought his gloves, it was cold for August!
Once we had descended to the Sail Pass, the winds returned to light as we were now sheltered by the mountain.
We were going to get below the cloud and stop for lunch.
Force Crag Mine.
Looking back up the Sail Pass.
Our lunch spot looking over at the mine. John has provided the sandwiches and coffee, I provide the chili chocolate cookies.
We continue down the path, Outerside on the left.
This is taken looking up to the summit of Outerside, it is covered in purple heather.
The track continues past Stile End and Barrow.
View back to Outerside.
Last view of Outerside's heather.
Causey Pike summit still in the cloud.
Not too far to go now.
Sunshine on Swinside. We get back to the car in four hours and fifteen minutes. The walk was five miles. We now head back to Keswick and park by The Leisure Centre. We are going to the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, next to Fitz Park in Station Road
Ruskin, designed by Sarah Taylor. One of the 'go herdwick' Public Art Trail sheep, raising money for the Calvert Trust.
The museum is holding a 'Wainwright Exhibition'. (The late Alfred Wainwright was the author of the 'Walking Guides To The lake District Fells' books.) After coffee and cake in the cafe we tour the museum.
We both get a footprint sticker to add to the wall map. Not much room left. I don't really have a favourite fell. So I put mine in between Whin Rigg and Illgill Head as I love its views and precipitous edge.
The floor is also a map.
Photo of where we have just walked. We parked where it says 'Adventure Activities', how right they were!
The memorial plaque that used to be on Great Gable summit. A new one was put up in 2013.
One of the original metal plate negatives for a few pages of a Wainwright Guide.
A Kentmere print and its negative plate.
One of the original drafts of The Eastern Fell book.
Some of Wainwright's belongings.
We have a look around the rest of the museum. A stone lithophone make from a Skiddaw stone called hornfels, which has great musical properties. It was made by stonemason Joseph Richardson between 1827 and 1840. You play it like a xylophone.
John doing his best Leslie Philips impression..... "ding dong"......hmm, you need to be of a certain age!
An excellent walk, not too long, easy navigation, just a pity about the low cloud that spoiled the views, and the incredibly strong winds on the top ridge. August is definitely the best time to see the stunning purple heather! The Wainwright Exhibition was interesting, and you can re-use the ticket (£4) until January. John was his usual good company, keeping me entertained! We plan to do a few more walks next week, especially as the weather should be good!
Jo.


