Tag: Walking

High Pike – 14/07/19

A walk out in a different part of the Lakes, we set off up the old mine tracks from Caldbeck Common towards High Pike, with a loaded backpack of Evie Bean and her friends!

It’s not long before Bean decides that today she wants to walk! So walk a while she does, before another short spell in the pack.

Despite it not being a particularly long walk, we have another stop before the summit for lunch and more play.

Evie practices her Nordic walking…

And then she falls to sleep for the summit!!

But awake again by the time we get back to the car, and playful…. come on Evie, it’s time to go home

31st August – Another Waynwrights Day

Supporting a local charity ‘Another Way’, Aimee at promoting sustainable living, the 31st August had been in the diary for a long time to walk to the summit of and to teach Pilates on the summit. The aim being to get people doing an activity on the top of every summit and to write their environmental or sustainable living pledge.

Evie got herself and her bag ready for the big day out. The rain cover is already on as it is set to be vile weather!

We have a super turn out for our fell and a very good mix of ages.

After walking up in mainly rain we get to this mildly sheltered spot, the rain stops, the sun makes a small appearance and so we make a group decision that this is a good place for a spot of Pilates!

Evie decides its a good time for a sleep whilst I teach!

Because the weather seems to be fairing up we cut the Pilates short and decide to do more on the summit as per the original plan.

Ha – plan foiled by horrid weather. We instead end up inside of two storm shelters on top so that we at very least write our pledges on the summit! Evie is amazingly still asleep despite the phenomenal noise in the storm shelter from the wind.

She does of course wake on the descent and does some good walking back down the Fell. Well timed as the rain does finally seem to be stopping.

Evie goes to hitch a lift with one of the two really amazing participants of our group who cycled to and from the start in the rain and wind.

Time for a warm up and chat with tea and soup in the Mosedale Quaker House tea room.

Well done all for turning up and making the effort to summit in such terrible weather – and to Evie for having a good sleep in her rucksack shelter!

Warton Crag, Carnforth- 29/06/19

Meeting kind of in the middle, we met Auntie Imo and Cousin Sam at Warton Crag for a walk and picnic.

Setting off from a car park that looked more like a quarry, my expectations were low! However after walking up through a few trees, suddenly the view opened up to a stunning vista and the meadow towers on the crag were beautiful.

A great place with tiny paths for the kids to run around in a world of gassy adventure.

Some scrambling to be had for the bigger kids!! These rocks slightly too big for Evie yet.

Not quite the turret we thought on the top, but a good cairn to sit on!

For those tired moments when the legs have done enough running for a bit, Sam takes a break and rides Auntie Imo’s shoulders!

Then how much more fun can you have than a big pile of sawdust to dance in!

This is the walk when, through playing lots of chase with Sam, Evie learns to ROAR!!! She managed such a scary roar that she even frightened Sam and he thought we were going to eat his mummy!! Towards the end, there were downhill running races to be had!! As we stood and clapped the runners on….

A place I would definitely recommend if you are after a short but pleasing stroll in the area.

Red Pike 26-06-19

A hot hot day for a walk and not quite as planned (missing the friends we arranged to walk with), we set off for Bleaberry tarn and Red Pike.

The path is steep and unrelenting from the outset, but at least the first bit was in forest.

Once out of the forest the views are beautiful but in the heat the incline was tough.

Stopping for some lunch at Bleaberry Tarn and for Evie to have a run around. I would have been amazing to jump in, but not possible yet when we are on our own and she is still just 15 months.

Evie decides its her turn to use the poles to walk!

Finally packing up, I made the decision to continue heading up for the summit.

Leaving Bleaberry Tarn behind it is another steep climb, starting out on manageable steps. Close to the top this turns to loose scree and on more than one occasion I was very close to turning around.

After a lot of scrambling and a huge amount of care we did eventually make the top. Having gained all this height it seemed a shame to turn around and head straight down. But we had arranged to meet daddy at Greystoke Pool for a swim, so turnaround we did.

Eventually time for Evie to have her afternoon snooze whilst I took the steep descent carefully back down the hill. We both dreamt of the refreshing waters of the pool!

High Seat and High Tove 09/06/19

Setting off from Watendleth it was a steepish start to the walk, but a good path…. to begin with…

Soon into the land of cotton grass, which is very pretty but a sign of what was to come.

Passing the cairn to mark High Tove

Then the landscape got wet. At this pointer we’re still trying to keep our feet dry!

Over this style and then gave up on dry feet!

Finally after lots of trogging through big, we got to the summit, which suddenly get windy and cold!

Evie set off down the track on the way back – until it got too wet underfoot – or overfoot!

Finally back onto a dry path with these pretty little wild flowers amongst the stones.Typical – almost back at the car and Evie decides its time for a sleep!Still, great view to enjoy for us whilst she has a snooze.

A day out around Buttermere 10/05/19

With our friend Winter to stay for a few days, what better place to take her than back to the beautiful bluebells at Rannerdale. A visit to there on this cold May Day seemed a great way to spend an otherwise grey day.

Although Evie was tired and not looking best pleased here, at least this time it wasn’t raining and the blossoms were out which were really beautiful.From there we drove back to Buttermere, had some lunch, and then set off for a walk along the lake path around Buttermere.

Stopping for the odd moment to take in the view, it’s a truely beautiful place.

Also we had a moment of human kindness – a man who we passed in the opposite direction a few minutes previous, was suddenly running back to us carrying one of Evie’s BOGS (wellies). He passed it to us saying it was too cute to leave on the ground, then ran back to his friends. How lovely.

I just had to include a picture of these sheep with their amazing red fringes.

Then finishing the day by sharing an ice cream from Sykes Farm, some of the best homemade ice-cream around the Lakes for sure!

Strangely the ice-cream made Evie really happy!!

Rannerdale bluebells

After a fun swim session and a lovely cafe lunch (picnic aborted due to pouring rain!), where there was fun to be had on an old trike Evie, Sam, Paula and me set of on a very short walk to see the gorgeous Rannerdale bluebells.

Not quite the weather or light for stunning bluebell photography, but dressed in waterproofs and BOGS, Evie and Sam had great fun splashing in all the puddles and wading back and forth through the massive river (small stream).

They spent a little time taking in the beauty of it all to

They even obliged us for a moment, for a photograph in the pretty bluebells.

Once all nicely wet it was time to get into dry kit back at the car and head home .

Dale Head and Hindscarth

Setting off later than planned (as always), I picked this walk as I was hoping to meet Evie’s Auntie Imo on the tops, who was doing a Fell race in the opposite direction to our walk.

A combination of the start time, a very long walk in, and a very steep and therefore slow ascent, meant we didn’t see her. But we did have a lovely day!

Parking in an obscure layby by Birkrigg Farm, we set off through fields on a beautiful warm Easter weekend day. Up a long track until we came to the path that veered off to the right over the stream.

I looked at the stepping stones but didn’t fancy them with a weighty pack on my back, so went for a mildly wet feet river crossing instead.

From that point onwards the uphil was relentless. And because the walk in had taken longer than predicted, by 2/3 of the way up we were both ready for our lunch.

So Evie had a good leg stretch before we were back in the pack up to the summit of Dale Head.

Time for another run around whilst I enjoyed the view.

The next question was Hindscarth, Robinson, both, or straight back down? Having missed Auntie on the top, we didn’t want to miss her completely before she and Sam went home again.

After much indecision we plugged for Hindscarth, making the most of being up high! To do Robinson as well was quite a drop and climb again. And the hours were ticking by.

So on up to Hindscarth and a quick break from the pack for both of us.

Coming down the Hindscarth ridge was not easy with a pack on. Quite a few rocky scrambles meant that the decent took considerably longer than anticipated.

So lots of singing later we finally made the bottom, but we needed a second picnic snack stop and further Evie pack break.

Once over it was an pleasant walk back through the fields, past the lambs, and a gorgeous bank of primroses, to the car.

Time to get to the pub to meet the others and enjoy a well deserved tea!

Underskiddaw (AKA another failed Skiddaw attempt)

Easter Sunday so after a relaxed Easter Breakfast, painting our eggs as is tradition in our family, we set off far too late for a walk.

One day I will learn how walls that look short on maps in reality take many hours.

Parking in Millbeck Underskiddaw, we set off up a very steep path (is any path up Skiddaw not very steep?)

We stopped for a picnic lunch at an outcrop with a gorgeous view over Derwent Water, from a slightly different aspect to what I have seen before. Evie enjoyed a good run around and then we made the decision that despite our height gain, Skiddaw was well and truely out of our sights today.

We toyed with Dodd but from where we were it would have been a big down to go up, to go down and finish a fair way from the car.

So instead we agreed that the best thing was just to enjoy the beauty of the day, give Evie another decent run around, and head back down.

Despite no summits – it was still a very lovely walk and a big effort when carrying a Bean!

Latrigg – 19 April 2019

After starting the day with a swim at Keswick pool and a play in the park with cousin Sam

The bank holiday Friday was so beautiful and warm that we decided to head up a fell that was achievable for Sam.

So parking at the Underskiddaw car park, we set off in search of the Latrigg summit!

Sam and Omi make it up the hill and Evie decides that the day is too exciting for sleep, but this does give the opportunity for some lovely cuddles on top!

A nice place for al to enjoy the view

Evie and Sam enjoy a good run around, and Sam is very good at looking after Evie to make sure she stays safe!

Sam runs down the hill – this time a bit fast for Evie, leaving her to look for him and toddle in her own time.

The inevitable fall happens and a cuddle with Auntie Imo to make everything better

And a nice picture at the viewpoint. Before heading back to the car.

9th December 2019

A winter trip up Latrigg – to cold and too late in the day for anything big, but just enough time to get up and down quickly.

We need lots of warm stuff and once up it’s definitely a day to let Evie run, just so she doesn’t get too cold.

The views are spectacular today, just something else. So golden.

Enjoying the view, but it’s so cold that after a satsuma we are quick to turn around and head back.

Enjoying the colours of the winter sun on the trees on the way down.

Place Fell – 14 April 2019

A great local fell, from which we set off from Patterdale in this cold April morning.

It’s a steady climb up the path to where you get to the first plateau,but gorgeous views all around to keep you going.

Turning left for Place Fell the climb up steepens until you are almost at the top.

Where there was still ice!! So time to put the jackets and hits back on after the climb.

The summit cairn is quite obvious on the top of Place Fell, on a rocky outcrop which makes it difficult to let Evie walk around on.

But she does like to make sure she knows she has visited the summit!

After a little picnic sheltered out of the rain, we decided on a decent down that we had not done before.it was also pretty steep and rocky to, dropping up out just a little way along the lakeshore path.

Another snack and a little chance for Evie to stretch her legs, she certainly does enjoy her walks to. Before finally heading back along to the car, at which point Evie wanted to walk the other way back to the hill…. of course!