Greystones to Barf with Fr. John

Name of walk Greystones to Barf with Fr. John
Date of walk 2017-08-08
Distance walked (miles) 7
Duration of walk 5 hours 15 minutes
Weather Warm, good visibility, but not much sunshine
Peaks on walk Greystones, Broom Fell, Lords Seat, Barf.
Walked with Fr. John Inglis
Parking Whinlatter Visitor Centre and Spout Force car parks.

John and I had decided to walk four grassy Wainwrights: Greystones, Broom Fell, Lord’s Seat and Barf. I parked my car at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre and we drove John’s car to Spout Force car park (free), a couple a miles further up the Whinlatter Pass. It was unlikely that we would include Whinlatter Fell into our walk, so using two cars would make the walk a more comfortable length. 7 miles.

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From Spout Force car park we take the small path on the left that will lead us towards Scawgill Bridge. Greystones ahead.

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Before we begin our steep ascent of Greystones by the wall, we first have to descend into the valley and cross the gill.

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View in the other direction towards Lord's Seat.

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Scawgill Bridge.

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We cross the gill via two small wooden bridges, then look for the diagonal path that heads up to Greystones.

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Looking back down at our ascent route, and across at Ladyside Pike and Hopegill Head, with Grisedale Pike on the left.

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Looking across to Mellbreak on the left and Great Bourne, Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell, Burnbank Fell, Low fell and Fellbarrow.

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Nearly at the end of the steep bit.

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We stop on the rocks for a coffee with a suberb view. Whinlatter on the left. I got to know this bit of the trail very well, as John's coffee flask cup ended up bouncing back down the fell and I volunteered to go back down and collect it!

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On Greystones summit.

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Looking over our next summit, Broom Fell to a cloud covered Skiddaw.

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We head for Broom Fell.

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All the woodland has gone since my last walk here seven years ago.

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Heading towards Broom Fell.

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Broom Fell shelter and summit cairn.

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We cross the stile and head for Lord's Seat.

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Lord's Seat on the right.

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John on Lord's Seat summit.

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We don't hang around, we head for Barf.

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This crossing is always boggy, today is no different.

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Finally we reach dry land! The heather is looking very good on Barf.

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Bassenthwaite Lake.

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Looking across Bassenthwaite Lake to Ullock Pike, Carlside, Dodd and Skiddaw.

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Close up of one of my favourite churches, St. Bega`s. It has a 3/4 of a mile drive....no vehicles allowed! It`s wonderfully isolated. Most of the parishioners used to arrive by boat. The chancel and nave date from around 950 AD, the rest is from 1300. Well worth a visit!

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John on the summit.

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The summit cairn with Lord's Seat beyond.

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Our lunch spot.

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A seat with an excellent view. John had once more provided smoked salmon sandwiches.

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Looking across to Derwent Water to the Helvellyn range.

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Cat Bells to the right of Derwent Water.

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Looking north towards Binsey.

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We head down.

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We will cross the gill and head into the forest.

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The forest track.

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The white 'Bishop of Barf' can be seen towards the base of the fell.

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We take a combination of forest roads and side tracks, but keep heading in the direction of the Visitor Centre. There are numerous numbered way marker signs, but without the map to accompany them, they are of little help.

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We took the red 'Two Gills' track and made it back to the centre avoiding the more circuitous routes.

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I bought a Whinlatter Walking Trail Map in the Visitor Centre, for next time I arrive for a walk an hour before the shop opens! We visit the cafe for a much needed coffee.

The walk took us five hours and fifteen minutes. The weather was perfect for walking. Not too hot and with good visibility. With hindsight, the ‘pay when you leave’ extortionate £8 car parking charge at Whinlatter was not worth it.  Park at Spout Force, add Whinlatter Fell to the walk, so avoiding the Visitor Centre altogether, and have a free 9 mile circular walk!

Jo.

 

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