Tag: Wainwrights

Scafell Pike – 5th Sep 2023

Little Bean loves walking the fells, indeed it was her New Years Resolution (made at school, nothing to do with me) to walk up a mountain this year. And yet somehow we had got to September, done many amazing things, but not climbed many mountains. The weather was set to be great. Too good to be honest but also a great chance to get out. It was hot hot hot and we were so grateful of the streams on the way up and back down to throw cold water over ourselves and jump into by the end of the walk.

Walking with Grandma to, we started and finished our walk up Scafell Pike from the National Trust car park at Wasdale Head. Lots of sweets, treats and food snacks to make our way slowly to the top.

About half way up Bean said she was getting sore heels – and we had forgotten the compeeds…. Big packing error. Thankfully some incredibly kind lady on her way down (our way up) gave us two of hers and the walk was saved.

Made more interesting near the top by avoiding the path and instead going from rock scramble to rock scramble, we finally topped out. What a celebration on the top!

Glad to be carrying many litres of water, after about our 3rd lunch we started the long decent, singing songs and playing games to keep up amused until we reached the pools to lie in again.

A much deserved meal in the Wasdale Head Inn, a quick swim for mummy and grandma in Wasdale, before carefully starting the long drive home in the dark.

Hallin Fell – 25th October 2020

A wet and windy October day but needing some air without anything too epic, Hallin Fell ticks the boxes.

This is a Fell special to mummy and daddy, the Fell they went up on their wedding day. One of dramatic views no matter what the weather.

A steep little Fell, your little legs at just over 2&1/2 years old do so well to get up to these cairns with great views.

One of your best phrases …. ‘What a view’!!

Walla Crag – 17 Oct 2020

It was fancy dress walking up Walla Crag with buddy Oliver today. Very sweet as they set off with their bags and poles.

You keep the poles a surprisingly long time but then realise that it is easier to run free so they get dropped and mummy has to go back and find them…

Multiple games of hide and seek, dragon chasing, tigers in the woods, we made it to the top for a picnic. Not that Evie and Oliver ever really sit down!

Oliver gets down on one knee….. a bit young yet, but they do like a kissing gate!

Acorns, scrambles and bridges. Finally back at the car, a full but lovely day put up Walla and it’s amazing view.

New Years Eve 2019 – Lonsdale Fell, Skiddaw Little Man and Skiddaw

We wake up to a stunning New Years Eve day. So we pack the bags and get going out of the house and head to the car park on top of Latrigg. With no definite plan as all walks are now dependent on Evie’s mood, we head off along the flat path of Lonsdale Fell.

Evie takes multiple trips through the river before we are allowed to move on.

Back in the pack to make a bit more progress we head up the very steep nose of Lonscale Fell.

Not before long Evie protests very loudly to being in the pack so we stop and have some food. Evie walks a little further and the progress is so slow that we consider turning back.

However within moments of being back in the pack she falls into a deep sleep. So I take my chances and put on a pace and keep heading upwards.

Making the decision to add in that little additional climb, we go through some snow patches to get to the top of Little Man. May be a long time before we find ourselves back up here so high again so may as well.

Finally we make it to the top. It’s been a long hard carry in the pack but Evie stayed asleep all the way to the top, which is the only thing that made it achievable.

A spot of food in the shelter, but even with our layers it was too cold to hang around for long.

Time to descend, I think Evie realised how cold it was as she put up no resistance to going back in the pack. And then we played horsey horsey most of the way back down the hillside to keep her amused.

A paraglider put enjoying the views as well.

Finally when we were down to warmer climes Evie gets out of the pack and gets a good walk down, jumping the rocks and other borders and running around.

The light doesn’t get much better looking back on the hills as we take our final few steps.

Look mummy – you must need one of these!! We enjoy a hot chocolate before getting back in the car. Its been a big day out and we are both tired. What a way to say goodbye to an amazing 2019

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!!

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.

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!