Sunday, 20th September 2009
| Walk: | Deepdale Bridge, St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike, Fairfield, Hart Crag, Dove Crag, Bakestones Moss, Scandale Pass, Red Screes, Caiston Glen | ||
| Start Point: | Cow Bridge car park | Grid Ref: | NY 402 134 |
| Distance: | 13 miles | Ascent: | 4,650 feet |
| Weather: | Sunny with some cloud cover and a cold breeze on the fell tops | ||
| Accompanied by: |
8 members of the group, led by John L |
||
| Comments: | With a good day forecast we had high hopes of a fine day on the fells and we were not disappointed. Taking a more unusual route we left the road at Deepdale Bridge and before long we were heading up the hillside making our way through bracken - no path! Eventually we found ourselves on the hause between Birks and St Sunday Crag. A 'scrambley' climb later and we were sitting on St Sunday Crag enjoying a well-earned coffee break. Then it was down to Deepdale Hause before making our way over Cofa Pike and up onto Fairfield. As expected, with such a nice day, there were hordes of people on the summit so we soon made our way towards Hart Crag, stopping in the shelter of some rocks for lunch on the way. After the rocky descent beyond Hart Crag we quickly reached Dove Crag - and another Wainwright 'bagged' (for those who hadn't got it already). After descending to Bakestones Moss we decided to bypass Little Hart Crag, leaving that for another day. Climbing up to Red Screes, the last climb of the day, we passed a herd of cows - an unusual sight in this area. After visiting Red Screes most of the group descended to the Kirkstone Pass and followed the path alongside the road and back to the cars. A small group retraced their steps Scandale Pass and took a gentler route down Caiston Glen. Arriving back at the cars within five minutes of one another we all agreed that it had been a very good day. | ||
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Unfortunately there is no path as we head up through the bracken . . .
to the start of the climb onto St Sunday Crag
A little higher up the climb we have a good view of Ullswater over Grisedale Valley
Helvellyn takes pride of place in the centre with Striding Edge and Catstye Cam to its right
Time for a coffee stop . . .
on St Sunday Crag
Then we head down to Deepdale Hause . . .
with Grisedale Tarn on the right below Seat Sandal
A better view of Grisedale Tarn and distant fells as we head towards Cofa Pike . . .
and Fairfiled comes into view
Looking back to Cofa Pike and St Sunday Crag from the climb to Fairfield
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn can be seen from the large plateau . . .
that is Fairfield's summit - lots of people around today . . .
so we continue on, past views down the Rydal valley to Windermere . . .
before we stop to have our lunch
A brief stop at Hart Crag . . .
and then its on to Dove Crag where Ross is determined to touch the cairn
Brothers Water is in view as we descend to Bakestones Moss . . .
before passing Little Hart Crag . . .
which look more impressive in retrospect
We are surprised to see a herd of cows as we make our way up to Red Screes . . .
and reaching the cross wall we can almost see the cars just past brothers Water . . .
but first we have to find the trig point on Red Screes
One vantage point reveals the Kirkstone Pass road far below us . . .
whilst another looks over Middle Dodd to Place Fell
A small 'break-away' group retraces the route to head down Caiston Glen whilst the rest of the group return via the Kirkstone Pass
Back on flat ground I wonder where this huge boulder originated from?
Passing Brothers Water Angletarn Pikes point up to the sky on the left, with Brock Crags on the right . . .
and looking up the Hartsop Valley Knott is in the centre with Gray Crag to the right
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