Tag: Lake District

Red Screes, Raven Crag and Middle Dodd – 30/11/19

One of those days that is so much better than you could ever even imagine – as soon as it is light everywhere is a picture of winter perfection.

After driving down through some beauty, turned fog, and then up a dicey and slippy Kirkstone Pass, we load up the packs and set off from the pass car park.

Not long into the walk, Evie’s favourite thing – ice! So with her and Oliver given icicles to suck on we start up the path.

Where steps turn into full on scrambling, throw in a bit of ice and we had to be pretty careful up some of the ‘path’

Making it up to the icy cairn of Red Screes

The views were phenomenal

A spot of lunch in the shelter before we continue our walk to the nearby top of Raven Crag

Summit pics

Evie surveys the very large icy puddle with funky wind blown ice patterns on top.

Enjoying the walk between the two, with lots of banks to scramble on, ice puddles to skate on and an enjoyable flat top to run on.

We make it to Raven Crag (only about 500m from Red Screes). And then they want to keep going!!

Wrong way, so we call them back…. turnaround point.A beautiful view over Windermere though.

They are back in the packs, tired and sleeping, so Claire and myself decide to make a mad dash down to Middle Dodd. We get there, take the compulsory pic, and turn back around up to where we came from!

It was worth the down and up though. More beautiful views and with sleeping minis we actually get a decent chat…

The frosted grass – not often you get it this good.

Once finished we have just enough light left in the day to get to Ullswater.

A cold swim for mummy with the swans whilst Evie, Oliver and Claire enjoy freezing ice cream for doing so well today.

Does it get any better?

The Knott and Rest Dodd – 10/11/19

It’s a stunning day, crisp and clear with a sprinkling of snow on the tops. We are wrapped up warm and ready to go, setting off today from the car park in Hartsop.Evie does some route planning with Omi to make sure we are on the correct path.

And she walks, slips and slides her way up. There are some really icy patches. Here we are on top of The Knott. The temptation to continue round high is huge, but we don’t quite have the time.

Evie discovers the chocolate, and there is no getting it off her! She is determined even though it is almost solid!!enjoying a good run around on the tops before we head back down.Evie plods down, following this little path along by the wall. She does exceedingly well.

I look back with astonishment! At 19 months old she walked all the way down that wall. How much her walking is coming on. our 2nd summit, Rest Dodd. Time for more snacks before heading back down to the car.

A brief stop at Hayeswater, so good stone throwing to be done..

And her crazy mummy has another refreshing swim! literally JUST before we get to the car, Evie Bean falls fast asleep – what an energetic day it’s been.

High Hartsop Dodd and Little Hart Crag – 27 October 2019

On a grey day but high enough to see the tops, with Sally to join us , we finally decided on these lower Wainwright’s with a variety of route options to have a go at today. A steep climb up the nose of High Hartsop Dodd brought us to these fantastic views through the rocks.

There was also a super view back down the valley, looking at where we set off from – Brothers Water.

All cheese for the first summit of the day!!

The views never fail to amaze me and I love the lines of the fells within the views.

Time for Evie to do some waking with a small down before more up between the summits

It’s cold up here and we made the correct decision not to do any of the ‘biggies’ on this day. Here we are at Little Hart Crag, where we ate our lunch and then made the decision to head down. The third potential summit (Middle Dodd) looked that little bit too far extra , especially as as Evie was by this point very keen to walk as well.

More cracking views, this time down towards Windermere before we head onwards .

We start the great decent – opposite would be the ascent to Middle Dodd – so tempting….

Evie very independent in her walking.Finally back at the bottom. But mummy – look at the lake!

Could it get more beautiful? Maybe we didn’t get the third Wainwright in, but we did get to see this, throw stones and enjoy a very refreshing swim!!

Ullswater with the twinnies 19/10/19

After starting the morning taking in the art exhibition by a Maria Burton and enjoying some cake, we went to meet Liz and the twinnies, Isaac and Jacob.

Also enjoying a walk out.

We make it to the lake just in time for the drizzle to set in as we get out our picnic!!

Some tourists who are packing up their tent kindly offered us the use of their kayak, so we had a short trip out on the lake in the rain!

This led to tired minis who just needed a good sleep after their adventures.

We say goodbye and leave the twinnies watching a local football match!!

Small Water – 14/10/19

This was a special walk day – a walk that I have done since I was toddler. And it was Evie’s biggest walk yet . We headed up to small water where I enjoyed a swim.

Taking in the beautiful grasses.

Evie then enjoyed walked all the way back down, thinking nothing of the tricky terrain.

Very independent with her walking!

Getting a little tired – but she made it!

Another celebration!

The big one – Scafell Pike and Lingmell – 8th September 2019

A clear weather window in what had otherwise been a dreary month, so whilst I still felt capable we decided to attempt Scafell Pike. We also decided on a longer drive around for the shortest route up, but once there also figured we may as well take in Lingmell.

Driving along – had to stop to take in these phenomenal reflections

A local enjoying the view – well why not!

And Evie is thoroughly enjoying herself before having a very well timed sleep – means that we actually got a chance of making it to the top without her wanting to walk it all!

Heading up Lingmell nose – there is kind of a path….

I was somewhat pleased that Evie was asleep at the summit as the drops were something else, not a place for a Bean to be running around.

But then she did wake and it was a well timed lunch stop before a second hike up . Evie did of course want to do some walking now!

Some pack, some walking. But Evie did do the last few steps herself to the summit.

Here we are, Omi, Evie Bean and Mummy on top of Scafell Pike. Enjoying the view but aware that it took us a good while to get here to! my summit Bean

Evie of course wantsto continue walking as we head down.

Finally though it is time to pack up and Evie insists we all have our hoods up!!

Coming down through the Mickeldore gap, that was exceedingly tricky and took a considerable period of time!

Finally down the gap of doom – we all made it safely!

Under the big rock! Then down an awful lot of thigh aching steps carrying a Bean.

Finally she is out of the pack and enjoying a run around. A lovely grassy slope to enjoy on the way back to the car.

Come on mummy, time for tea!

And finally, a well deserved G&T to celebrate the day! And what a day it was.

Watching a fell race – 7/9/19

Auntie Imo was doing a big fell race local to us – The Grizedale Horseshoe- so we thought we would go and watch. It turned into a fun packed afternoon following a morning of jobs.

We walked against the flow of the race down the beautiful Grizedale valley to get to the river crossing, where we made it in time to watch the runners cross the river,

Including Auntie Imo

Of course then Evie HAD to go in the river, fall in the river, need a change of clothes…. before heading to the finish line.watching the runners last rediculously steep climb up

We took the gentler route up past Lantys Tarn, which had gorgeous reflections

At the finish line we finally (all previous plans having gone wrong) met cousin Sam and Omi, and went for some well deserved late lunch for all.

Walking back to Patterdale we came across a secret door!

And then we finished our afternoon meeting up with Daddy and going for a gentle paddle board.

Action packed, we headed home ready for sleeps.

Kidsty Pike and High Street – Sunday 25th August

A bank holiday weekend and good weather and August – seems too good to be true. So we set out on a walk with Lou & Evan around part of the Haweswater valley.

The day couldn’t start off any more beautiful with these reflections as we drove along the lake to Mardale Head.

Looking up at our route on the skyline through these beautiful flowers

It’s a steep ascent so plenty of stopping time to take in the views of Haweswater below and take on board plenty of water in the sweltering heat of the day.

Finally getting towards the top, we stop for our picnic – everyone is hungry!

Evie has been released from the pack for a while by this point. She steadily makes her way uphill and reaches Kidsty Pike summit on her own two legs.

Enjoying tromping along the tops – why take the path when the other bits are more exciting!

It’s time to get back in the pack for Evie so we can pick up some speed – starting to feel it, plus we have another uphill push!

Reaching High Street and Evie is asleep, but Evan is enjoying the view!

We randomly bump into a friend Chris on our way down the Rigg as he is making his way up.

Looking down on one of my favourite tarns – the teardrop that is Blea Tarn.

Even the sheep is enjoying the view today!

After a dicey descent from the top of the Rigg, we finally get to Blean Tarn for a swim…. so refreshing. Even Evan and Evie enjoy padding in the deliciously cold waters today.

Finally back down – it’s been a long descent. We head to Askham swimming pool. Evie and Evan have done fantastically well today – the walk took much longer than anticipated, so time for some well deserved pool fun and an ice-cream!

Seat Sandal – 24/08/19

The weather has faired up, it’s the weekend, Claire and Oliver are around, so what else to do but hit the fells…. for an adventure.

Every walk is now becoming a mini adventure, as the minis want to walk!

We meet at Dunmail Raise and set off up the footpath towards Grizedale Tarn.

Released from the packs and off they set…. The bracken is super high to begin with but the path soon opens out.

For the first time ever Evie and Oliver positively wanting to hold hands whilst walking.

In truth I think Evie initially thought that between Oliver and Claire she would get a 1-2-3…. wheeeee, but she soon realised that was not to be the case!

Claire is the chosen one for helping at this point!

We make slow progress but it doesn’t matter. Today is a gorgeous day and we have nothing to rush for.

It’s also a truely gorgeous setting and the stream that you follow up is beautiful as it falls down the hillside drop after drop.

After a little pack time and a lot of whining noises, we stop for a picnic in the hope that this solves some of the problems for the minis who can walk but not yet verbalise.

Packed up again and ready to go, we continue up the last bit, a short but steep section….

Evie ‘singing ‘ and Oliver sleeping we make the summit.And what a grand summit it is- may not be the tallest but the views are spectacular.Lots of rock climbing to be had…

And more rock climbing….

….eventually we manage to get Evie back into the pack once more to descend the slightly dodgy path back to Grizedale Tarn.

Evie and Oliver have a blast – paddling and throwing stones don’t lose their amusement value in an hour. And it allows me a swim in this most beautiful of settings.

Finally though it is time to have one last picnic before we all get dressed, pack the bags and descend. Evie’s turn for a sleep …..

What an amazing day of adventure and fun for us all – one to be remembered .

Small water walk and swim – 13/08/19

A walk that I did many many times as a toddler and child, it was lovely to take Evie to small water just as she is starting to want to walk.

This time she was happy to stay in the pack for the way up, meaning we got up there with time to spare. Good job as there was an alternative motive as well.

Evie munched some food as both her mummy and her Omi had moments of madness, and on this wet and windy day, went for a dip in the Tarn.

Evie watched on, and then we went for an explore to the sheep houses!

Wellies that fit today made splashing in puddles much easier!! Great fun when the puddles were almost rivers!

Then Bean surprises up both by walking all the way down back the the car (with the odd 1-2-3 swing and occasional carry).

So after all that walking, jumping and splashing she should definitely be tired. I don’t think it made a jot of difference – bedtime came no earlier!