Wisp Hill & Pikethaw Hill 3rd January 2009

The trig point on the summit of Wisp Hill

Wisp Hill (595m)
I started the walk up Wisp Hill at 11.15 am from a layby on the A7 just north of Ewesless Farm. I took a short walk along the road before hopping over the fence and climbing the open slopes. It was a beautiful sunny and cold morning but I was out of condition after the Christmas break and I was soon feeling hot and out of breath. Initially the climb was steep but views opened up to Roan Fell, Ellson Fell, Cauldcleuch Head and the valley of Ewes Water. In addition Pikethaw Hill looked impressive and its large cairn was clearly visible. When I reached Whin Fell there was a breathtaking view of the Ettrick and Moffat Hills covered in snow, and Wisp Hill finally cam into view. The upper part of Wisp Hill and Pikethaw Hill were covered in either snow or hoar frost, it was difficult to tell. From Whin Fell it was a short climb to the trig point on Wisp Hill, which I reached at 12.25 pm. The panorama taht met me was fantastic. I was especially drawn to the views of The Cheviot, the Eildon Hills and the white line of the Ettrick and Moffat Hills. I attempted to take photos but the temperature was so low that my batteries kept running down, even the new ones. I had to blow on them to regenerate them each time they failed, so it took me about 20 minutes to take all the photos I wanted. Once I'd taken all my photos I descended to Ewenhope Fell and then to Ewes Doors, the pass between Wisp Hill and Pikethaw Hill. I had a quick 15 minutes break for lunch here.

The Ettrick and Moffat Hills from Wisp Hill

Pikethaw Hill and Causeway Grain Head

Pikethaw Hill (564m)
After lunch I ascended the north east ridge of Pikethaw Hill. This was a steep climb but gave good views back to Wisp Hill, and I reached the large cairn on the summit at 2.05 pm. The view was similar to that from Wisp Hill but I stayed until 2.20 pm, hardly able to tear myself away from the wonderful vista. I descended the north west ridge down to Ewes Water and followed a path toward Eweslees Farm. Wisp Hill and Frodaaw Height rose steeply to my left and right and straight ahead rose Crude Hill. Near the farm the path disappeared but the correct way was obvious and clear track soon appeared. The track went through the farmyard, where there was a barking sheepdog. I went through the adjacent field to avoid the dog and then had a short but scary walk along the A7 back to the car. I reached the car at 3.35 pm, meaning that the whole walk had taken 4 hours and 20 minutes. I felt that this wasn't bad considering my lack of fitness.

The cairn on the summit of Pikethaw Hill

Wisp Hill from Pikethaw Hill

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Wendover Woods 22nd December 2008

The monument containing the summit plaque

On the way from Liverpool to Portchester for Christmas I managed to pursuade my girlfriend that we should take a detour to take in Wendover Woods in Buckinghamshire. The road up the hill wasn't very well signposted but we found it eventually and paid the £3 charge to park in the car park. It was less than 5 minutes from there to the monument signifying the top. However, this isn't the summit and so I spent a few minutes wandering around trying to identify the actual top of the hill. There was one area amongst some yew trees and another on the exit road which both seemed higher than the monument. From there it was back to the car to continue the drive south.


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Muncaster Fell (231m) and Dent (352m) 13th December 2008

Muncaster Fell

Muncaster Fell (231m)
It was a damp and drizzly day as Mark and I travelled to the western part of the Lake District. The car was parked at a lay by on the A590, near Muncaster castle and the ascent of Muncaster Fell was started at 11.50 am. We walked up a track known as Fell lane, which gave views through the drizzle to Black Combe and a snow dappled Whitfell. At Muncaster Tarn the track became a path and climbed the rugged flanks of Muncaster Fell. I was surprised that the fell was such a rugged little hill and it seemed higher than it really was. A trodden path left the main path and went to the summit, which was reached at 12.40 pm. We stayed for 5 minutes and admired the misty view of Whitfell, Black Combe, Selllafield, the Irish Sea, Harter Fell, Hard Knott, the Scafells and the Wasdale Fells. We descended the way we came and reached the car at 1.20 pm, giving a round trip time of an hour and a half.

Harter Fell from Muncaster Fell

Dent (352m)
After lunch in the car we travelled through the town of Cleator Moor and then up a road called Nannycatch Road, at the end of which there is an area where cars can be parked. The walk up Dent started from this parking area at 2.30 pm and followed a track through the forest. It was raining heavily, which felt quite unpleasant but at least there was no wind. The track left the enclosure of the forest and entered open ground, which gave views of the cloud covered Ennerdale Fells. A path, part of Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk, left the track and headed for the summit of Dent. There was a small cairn marking the top, although we weren't sure if a further point was the top or not. We walked over to it just to be sure and I had a little celebration as Dent was my 300th Marilyn. There was a view of St Bees Head from here but most of the surrounding hills were in cloud. It was getting drak so we quickly retraced our steps to the car, which we reached at 4 pm. Again, this was a round trip time of an hour and a half.

St Bees Head from Dent

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Baugh Fell 6th December 2008

Yarlside, Howgill Fells from the valley of the River Rawthey

I started walking at 10.45 am from Rawthey Bridge, a few miles from the town of Sedbergh on the A683. As events transpired this was far too late to start a walk of this length in early December and I was to find this out the hard way. It was cold, with a temperature not far above freezing, and there was a considerable amount of snow. Initially I followed a track that climbed the hillside until I came to the bridleway that led along the River Rawthey. The tracks were covered in snow and difficult to follow but the views were lovely. The Howgill Fells rose behind me, whilst to my left was Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell, and the snow made the fells seem wilder and higher that they are. I followed the River Rawtheyuntil I came to a bridge. Here the river fell in a series of impressive cascades and waterfalls. Here I left the track and climbed the open hillside. This was hard work, as the snow had a crust on top which I broke through into the soft snow underneath. I regularly sank to my knees, which made walking laborious and slow going. The climb started off steep but soon levelled off and became long and gentle. In fact, in the sugary snow it seemed to last for ever and despite the cold I felt hot. My progress was slower than I thought, as I kept thinking I was near the top only for another long slope to come into view.

Calders and Great Dummacks, Howgill Fells. The Coniston Fells and Langdale Pikes behind

The trig on Knoutberry How, buried in snow

Lunch was taken near West Baugh Fell Tarn and I could see Knoutberry Haw, the 676m high secondary top of Baugh Fell. I estimated that it would take me about half an hour to reach this point, when in fact it took me an hour and a half. The view was an impressive one. Baugh Fell seemed like an arctic wilderness, as did the hills of the Yorkshire Dales such as Great Shunner Fell, Lovely Seat, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill. Beyond the Howgills rose the mountains of the Lake District, with the Coniston Fells, Langdale Pikes, and the High Street group looking particularly prominent. Tarn Rigg Hill, the summit of Baugh Fell rose a short distance away. However, it took 25 minutes of hard walking to get there, with the result that it was 3.35 pm and nearly sunset by the time I had reached the top. It had taken me nearly 5 hours and I was exhausted.

The sun setting behind Great Knoutberry Hill

The setting sun made for a beautiful sight but I only had time to take some photos and quickly admire the view before beginning the descent. Luckily the sky was clear and the moon was shining, meaning that it was bright enough to walk without a torch even after the sun had set. The gloaming from the setting sun gave enough light to see by until about 4.50 pm and then a combination of moonlight and torchlight got me down. The torch was used for comfort more than providing any extra light. It took a long time to get off the summit plateau and then to descend the slopes between Rawthey Gill and Swere Gill. My this time I was exhausted but after the sun set the temperature plummeted and so I couldn't rest without risking falling asleep and dying of exposure. I crossed Rawthey Gill a couple of times and made sure that I kept it to my left. This would ensure that I would remain on the same side of the river as the farm of Uldale House. This was the nearest point of civilization, and therefore the start of the nearest road. I had seen a group of trees from above and I knew that Uldale House lay just beyond. With the depth and consistency of the snow, however, it was two and a half hours before I reached this group of trees and another hour before I got to Uldale House. In between the trees and the farm lay Whin Stone Gill and this was the trickiest section of the descent. The beck had carved a hollow and this was full of fallen trees which made for a difficult negotiation of the beck.

Looking to Knoutberry Haw on the descent of Tarn Rigg Hill

I had difficulty in finding my way through the grounds of Uldale House but after going down a couple of blind alleys I found the road out of the farm. This track led to the metalled lane that would take me back to the car but it was covered in slippery ice and meant that I had to walk in the snow by the side of it rather than risk slipping over and injuring myself. After what seemed like an age, I reached the car. The time was 8.45 pm, meaning that the descent had taken me over 5 hours and the whole walk had taken exactly 10 hours. The car was covered in ice, which took ages to scrape off and my bootlaces were frozen, meaning that I couldn't get my boots off. I had to keep the car engine running and turn the heater on before the laces thawed enough for me to get my boots off and drive home. I had pushed the boundaries of safety to the limit and I was annoyed with myself for treading such a fine line between life and death.

Swarth Fell in the moonlight

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