MY WALKING WORLD

A Lake District Weekend

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My long planned weekend in the Lakes turned out to be a wet and stormy one. I set off from Macclesfield early on the Saturday morning with the intention of walking the Dale Head Horseshoe as described in the Collins Book "The Complete Lakeland Fells by Bill Birkett" However the weather had other ideas. I parked near Hawes End and after climbing Skelgill Bank I followed the ridge along over Catbells in increasingly windy conditions. Frequent showers were sweeping in from the west and by the time I had reached Maiden Moor the wind was up to gale force so my revised plan was to carry on to the summit of High Spy and then to walk down into the valley to Rosthwaite. After Maiden Moor summit I walked as far as Blea Crag but conditions were atrocious and I was being buffeted by winds that occasionally forced me to crouch down to prevent myself from being blown over.  It was at this point that I decided the time had come to retreat back the way I had come. While coming back over Maiden Moor a hailstorm swept in and was so powerful it forced me to lie down in the grass for a while to try and avoid the worst of the storm which was stinging my body despite all the layers of clothing I was wearing. I then went down Hause Gate and followed the track along the side of Catbells and back to my car.

On Sunday I parked at Seathwaite and along with hundreds of others I walked up Sourmilk Gill and over Green Gable to attend the Remembrance Service on the summit of Great Gable. There was low cloud on the tops with occasional showers but it was good to be up there with so many like minded people
 
The view of the Northern end of Derwentwater with Keswick in the distance
   
Looking to the southern end of Derwentwater from the slopes of Catbells
   
The summit of Maiden Moor in the gale force winds
   
On the way down Hause Gate after my retreat from the ridge. The autumn colours were superb
   
Sunday 12/11/06  
Looking up to Sourmilk Gill from the Valley
   
Heading along Gillercomb with Base Brown on the right
   
Still heading towards Green Gable
   

Near the summit of Green Gable
   
On the summit of Great Gable, waiting for the service to commence
   
A people jam as everyone leaves the summit

It is slow progress as the rocks were slippy with the rain. If the weather had been good most walkers would hang around the summit for a while to enjoy the stunning views
   
Looking back at Sourmilk Gill from the valley after the walk
   
This photo was from last year when conditions were superb

The view from Great gable looking south down towards Wastwater

 

Link to last years walk
   
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