So last night I packed up the van and left London! Which means one thing... more blog posts.
After a long drive I parked up in my Lakes camping spot, this is a secret location known only to Fran, Howard and myself. Well I'm not publicly announcing where I'm staying. Otherwise I might get mobbed by my avid readers!
I decided to go hit up some scrambles. So this morning over breakfast I got out the guidebook and had a look at what there was to do in the Lakes. Apparently there is quite a lot! 2 guidebooks full to be precise. Being a sensible chap I ruled out any scrambles that got a grade 3 or above. I didn't want to lug a rope around and those are best saved for excursions with friends.
After a long drive I parked up in my Lakes camping spot, this is a secret location known only to Fran, Howard and myself. Well I'm not publicly announcing where I'm staying. Otherwise I might get mobbed by my avid readers!
I decided to go hit up some scrambles. So this morning over breakfast I got out the guidebook and had a look at what there was to do in the Lakes. Apparently there is quite a lot! 2 guidebooks full to be precise. Being a sensible chap I ruled out any scrambles that got a grade 3 or above. I didn't want to lug a rope around and those are best saved for excursions with friends.
The view from part way up Nitting Haws.
Eventually I settled for Nittings Haws, a grade 2, with the possibility of continuing to Dalehead a grade 1. Off I headed. I was about to park up in Grange when I took a second look at the map. Parking here (like the guidebook suggests) would result in a very, very long walk back to the van. I moved it to Rosthwaite. This meant that I had a longer walk in but would have a shorter walk back to the van.
Unfortunately the car park is run by the National Trust. There was a NT ranger who engaged me in awkward conversation as I wandered over to the parking machine. The chap was trying to sell me a membership. I explained that I didn't really have £59 to spend right now. To which he pointed out that it was the equivalent of parking in a national trust car park once a month. He was not wrong! £6.50 to park for the day! I was about to put the money in the machine when I noticed the large sign attached to the building on the other side of the wall. It boldly said that parking in the Village Institute was only £3 per day. So I moved the van to the other side of the wall.
It was a nice walk along the river back to the start of the scramble. Which I did in a rather speedy time. I crossed the field and started up the hill towards the start of the climb.
It was a broken line of rock that was interesting but not sustained, as I got higher the rock disappeared into a juniper forest. It was rather spiky! I stopped for a break on a ledge to chat to Sophie about becoming a DofE instructor. I finally made the top of Nitting Haws. The view was superb. I could have stayed sitting there all day.
But I didn't. I set off towards Dalehead. From the top of the ridge I could see Dalehead. It did not look too inviting. So I decided it was time for coffee in the van. A quick nip down the hill saw me back at the van having a brew, a speedy 5h after leaving it.
Unfortunately the car park is run by the National Trust. There was a NT ranger who engaged me in awkward conversation as I wandered over to the parking machine. The chap was trying to sell me a membership. I explained that I didn't really have £59 to spend right now. To which he pointed out that it was the equivalent of parking in a national trust car park once a month. He was not wrong! £6.50 to park for the day! I was about to put the money in the machine when I noticed the large sign attached to the building on the other side of the wall. It boldly said that parking in the Village Institute was only £3 per day. So I moved the van to the other side of the wall.
It was a nice walk along the river back to the start of the scramble. Which I did in a rather speedy time. I crossed the field and started up the hill towards the start of the climb.
It was a broken line of rock that was interesting but not sustained, as I got higher the rock disappeared into a juniper forest. It was rather spiky! I stopped for a break on a ledge to chat to Sophie about becoming a DofE instructor. I finally made the top of Nitting Haws. The view was superb. I could have stayed sitting there all day.
But I didn't. I set off towards Dalehead. From the top of the ridge I could see Dalehead. It did not look too inviting. So I decided it was time for coffee in the van. A quick nip down the hill saw me back at the van having a brew, a speedy 5h after leaving it.
The rain filling the valley.
The hail had been short lived and the sun was cracking the flags again. So I decided to head over to Blencathra and have a jaunt up Sharp Edge and down Halls Fell. I set off up the hill and could see Sharp Edge after a speedy 40min. I sat admiring the view for a few moments before heading on towards the tempting ridge.
As I was trotting along I saw a group of people advancing down the path towards me. The chap at the front looked rather familiar, just as I thought to myself "that looks like max", an all too recognisable voice hailed me "IS that Calum Wallace?"! A chance encounter with an ex-house-mate made the day. We had a chat, but as they were headed down and I up we parted ways again.
Sharp Edge provided its usual short lived interest. Just as its getting good it ends. A quick nip from the top of the ridge to the summit and a bomb down Halls Fell ridge proved to be an excellent afternoons entertainment.
I would recommend Sharp Edge to anyone wanting to have a go at scrambling. There is a possibility that I might be up it again, with Sue this time, before the end of the week.
A thoroughly good days walking. There might be some selfie videos on snapchat for anyone who has the pleasure of that app.
As I was trotting along I saw a group of people advancing down the path towards me. The chap at the front looked rather familiar, just as I thought to myself "that looks like max", an all too recognisable voice hailed me "IS that Calum Wallace?"! A chance encounter with an ex-house-mate made the day. We had a chat, but as they were headed down and I up we parted ways again.
Sharp Edge provided its usual short lived interest. Just as its getting good it ends. A quick nip from the top of the ridge to the summit and a bomb down Halls Fell ridge proved to be an excellent afternoons entertainment.
I would recommend Sharp Edge to anyone wanting to have a go at scrambling. There is a possibility that I might be up it again, with Sue this time, before the end of the week.
A thoroughly good days walking. There might be some selfie videos on snapchat for anyone who has the pleasure of that app.
Sharp Edge. Iconic.