Riding the Wainwrights

@thegeneralist

I would say go up via Levers Water and  Swirl Hause. The carry from the latter is not as steep or as long as you would expect. Makes for a pretty loop.

Very jealous!

Cheers

Sanny

Regarding Mellbreak there’s an easier ascent from Kirkstile up the western flanks. Still plenty of push / carry but not as fierce or loose as the northern end. Some of the tracks on these flanks are sheep tracks so keep bearing left at any fork.

You’ll see it on here running almost along the N-S grid line, joining the top at the saddle
https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map/idld?x=313800&y=519976&z=115&sv=313800,519976&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=map%5BFS%5Didld&searchp=ids&dn=751&ax=311800&ay=519476&lm=0

@scuttler

Spotted that when going up Hen Comb. Looks like it could make for an interesting descent too.

@thegeneralist

So did you do Wetherlam then?

Cheers

Sanny

****, wrong valley 🥵

Also, cramp

What a noob 🥺

So did you do Wetherlam then?

Er, not yet. I’m working on it.

Badly.

PS. How the hell do I have reception here…..

@thegeneralist

So where did you end up then? Did you learn anything from the experience? If it was me then probably not! Ha! Ha!

Right. The solitary photo…

So I went up slightly right behind the youth hostel, instead of slightly left, so ended up in Red Dell Instead of by Levens Water.  I decided to continue anyway, but the path was pretty scrotey…. bog and stuff.

In mitigation, I was utterly gubbed by that point as I took a mate round Coniston during the day: Semi Walna, Torver Common, Parkamoor, Hawkshead etc. So I was 40km in when I started up Wetherlam. Just looked on Strava and it appears I did 2.1km ascent, which is about what I’ve managed the rest of the year put together.

Anyway, so Wetherlam. Was a nice day out but I won’t be back. As someone said, loads of grass. Also loads of techie rock bits, but it just didn’t gel. The rocky sections tended to be unhelpful spikey with no real line. The easiest way was nearly always off the path down the side. Very unsatisfying. There were a few nice sections, after the junction but nowhere near as good as some of the classics.

Anyway, great to be out after such a long break, and even better to find I can almost do big days out still.

Just need to find the right hill fir the next one….. Which I think is Great End.  Just such a bloody long drive

@thegeneralist

Interesting. When I rode it the week before last, I have to admit that it was right up my street. I really enjoyed the rocky sections as I was able to play about with lines. The grass was super dry when I rode it too which made it flow nicely. Did you go down the stone pitched path at the bottom to drop down by the river where the weir is? Funny how two folk can ride the same route and have a totally different experience.

Re Great End.

That has the makings of a cracker as you can ride off the summit down to Esk Hause then have multiple options – Angle Tarn and Rossett Gill, Sprinkling Tarn and Styhead Gill (the classic) or even XC via Rossett Pike to Stake Pass. Did the latter in reverse last summer and saw tracks indicating it gets ridden down to Stake Pass. The only problem is deciding which route to take. I reckon Styhead Gill tops it followed by Stake Pass and Rossett Gill but that’s just me!

Kidsty Pike and Haweswater fells are next up for me. Return via Harter Fell to finish with Beda Fell. Big day out!

Cheers

Sanny

While I am on, has anyone ridden from Blea Rigg or Sergeant man down to Grasmere?

Cheers

Sanny

I’ve done Blea Rigg on foot. Please take the following with caution as it was a while ago…

Around the summit would be unrideable. Big chunky rocks and steep steps.

I climbed from Goody Bridge via Lang How. Descending this way would be OK once you got away from the summit, some mellow singletrack followed by a boggy stretch. The lower parts would be fun but short lived.

I descended directly down to Easedale Tarn. I think this was steep and narrow, probably unrideable in places but I don’t recall it being an absolute no go – you’ll probably be able so scope bits of it from the summit and make a call. Bridleway down from Easedale Tarn is good.

right up my street. I really enjoyed the rocky sections as I was able to play about with lines. The grass was super dry

Part of my problem was the grass being wet. I had one point where I was just accelerating with both brakes just below lock, hoping I would hit a flatter bit before the next drop. It was ok that time but it made me very nervous of the gradient.

Which is odd really as the gradient is generally pretty mellow. Certainly nowhere near that 40% figure where I generally know I have no chance whatsoever.

Ho hum. Some days it doesn’t quite click.  I’ll try something else.

Great End, yes indeed, my plan was to drop into Esk Hause and then follow the bridleway all the way down. Love that descent.

Interesting that you rate Stake North. I’ve only done it once and wasn’t master enough of endo turns to make it worthwhile.

There’s a theme emerging here….. 🤣

Kidsty Pike. I thought it was pretty good. Steep and techy until the last grassy bit.

@thegeneralist

Wet grass is no fun.  We had it bone dry which I suspect made a big difference. Felt super confident riding down it while the rocky path at the bottom was most enjoyable for a man made track.

Stake Pass is totally marmite. I love it but then i love an endo hop having practiced so many in verbier over the years. My pal Tristan did it with me  and hated it with a passion.

Great End will be a winner for you. It never seems to feature on lists of great Lakeland descents but it really should. When I was up it last June, it was a beautiful summer’s evening and I had a couple of gliders swoosh past me as I enjoyed the scenery in peaceful solitude.

@lowey

Great picture. Have you ridden the footpath on the shore of haweswater? My plan is to start at the Brotherswater side then up, over and down Kidsty Pike, loop the lake, up the two outlying fells beside the coffin road, drop onto Gatesgarth at the saddle, Harter Fell, High Street then head over to Angle Tarn which is a banger in my book before finishing with Beda Fell and the Ullswater shore track. Thoughts? It’s a big day for sure but satisfies my desire to link up the familiar and the new to me in a figure of eight loop. Basically a High Street highlights ride.

@Mark88

Thanks for the tips there fella. Most helpful. Any others you wish to share in that area, please do!

Cheers

Sanny

@lowey

Is there anywhere in the Lakes that you have not ridden? You seem to have a pic for every occasion which I very much approve of. Ha! Ha!

@sanny this wouldn’t link into Harter Fell, so probably not what you want, but from a couple of pages back re Branstree and Selside Pike:

The Wainrights aren’t worth riding but the Old Corpse Road to Haweswater would be a good techy descent – one for the dry I’d suggest.

From memory the Wainrights were boggy and pretty unremarkable.

head over to Angle Tarn which is a banger in my book before finishing with Beda Fell and the Ullswater shore track.

Place Fell instead of Beda Fell??

Sanny,

The lakeside path is pretty good actually, very undulating and quite rough in places. Not to be underestimated. I did it after Kidsty and an awful climb up High Street and the Pen Bridleway. It just about finished me off.

Your ride would be quite the day. Look forward to the report!.

@Mark88

I am expecting them to be boggy. The stuff round there is well known for it!

@scuttler

What is Place Fell like to ride? Never ridden it but looked at it many times.

@lowey

Assume you mean the Ullswater shore track?  I know it well and you are absolutely right, it is not an easy spin on flat track.

Any experience of the Haweswater footpath along the shore heading north-ish?

Cheers

Sanny

@Sanny

That was in reference to the Haweswater west Shore. Not the Ullswater BWW.

@lowey

Brilliant! Loving the pics. May have to revise my plans on the day but that is the beauty of riding in the lakes. Great to have options.

You got a great day there. Very jealous.

Cheers

Sanny

Another week, another adventure. I decided that the call of the Far Eastern Wainwright’s had to be answered so I picked the best weather day last week and headed down. Starting at Glenridding, it was an easy road spin along to Hartsop. Cutting off up the bridleway, I passed through the picture postcard pretty hamlet as I gradually gained height on tarmac and Land Rover track. Taking my test Pivot e bike, it was an easy if steep rise up to the washed out footbridge at the head of Hayeswater. The climb up to The Knott is a push / carry but the trudge was broken by speaking to several coast to coasters. One had come all the way from Albany in Western Australia. He was three days in and had gotten accustomed to wet feet! A narrow singletrack push took me over Rampsgill Head before quickly reaching the summit of Kidsty Pike. The views down into Riggindale and Haweswater are impressive. As I looked over Riggindale Crag, I wondered if anyone has ridden it? Later in the walk, I met an older walker who came up it and said it had a couple of steep sections but as the ride progressed and I viewed it from different angles and  am sufficiently intrigued to want to try it.

Kidsty Pike was fairly enjoyable, The section to Kidsty Howes is fast and flowy. There is a short and steep section of rocky channel that I did not fancy riding down with there being evidence of Fix the fells about to do some work there. Oh joy, more stone staircases…………The last section down to the shore was a bit soft in places but it all went.

I had planned to head north on the Haweswater shore track but taking @lowey ‘s advice, I decided to save it for a future ride. The section I rode back to the car park at Mardale Head was a lovely taster though, albeit one tempered by my broken left pedal trapping my cleat leading to a proper smack down on my left shoulder.

From there, I headed to the Corpse Road over to Swindale. It was a push up but as a descent, I reckon it would be a lot of fun. Breaking off the track, I headed over Selside and Bradstree. They were a bit wet but nowhere near as bad as they would be in winter. The views were nice even if the trails were dull. I saw other tyre tracks so imagine folk head up onto Branstree and go in the other direction which to me would make more sense and offer nice views east.

Hitting the saddle of Gatesgarth, I switched on the motor and powered up the climb onto Harter Fell. It was an absolute joy to ride up and I soon found myself at the cairn – cue more spectacular views. Padding up for the descent, I was expecting tech and was not disappointed. The first half is pretty straightforward but things get spicy when it gets steep towards the Nan Bield high point. I happily admit to walking one short section as I did not fancy being clipped in and struggling to unclip. I met several more lovely walkers – a couple with two gorgeous collies, a young woman doing the horseshoe and an older guy who was a new born walker from Grimsby who said he knew I was Scottish when he saw me riding down as nobody else would be so mad to ride it. To be fair, he was right but a lot of Lakes locals would rightly disagree. Was it good? No. It was great and would be a terrific add on to Nan Bield.

After that and a refuel with Jelly Babies, I pushed up onto Mardale Ill Bell. I have ridden it in the other direction previously and pushing up it made me resolve to do it again soon. From the summit, it is an easy schlep to the top of High Street.  Now High Street can get a bit of a bad rep and I think that some of that is unfair (not all but definitely a lot!) However, today was going to be the awesome version of High Street. Dropping down to the Knott, I retraced my steps to the junction where I came up from Hayeswater. It is a lovely mix of fast, grassy, rocky and loose. Simply put, classic Lakeland riding.

Those of a nervous disposition should look away now as I decided I wanted to do more hike a bike so headed up onto Rest Dodd. It was a carry all the way but the pay off was smashing views in all directions. Dropping off the comically steep but totally rideable northern slopes, I plummeted to the saddle before doing an out and back to The Nab. Despite there being another set of tyre marks, I doubt this will ever make it into a repeat visit peak. The way across is littered with peat hags and in the wet, it would be a slog. I enjoyed it but am in no rush to repeat the experience.

Heading back, I trended west to reach Satura Crag and reconnect with the descent from High Street. After chatting to a woman and her dog who had nabbed a cracking overnight spot for their tent and a brief detour onto Brock Crag, I made my way over the slow speed rocky tech of Satura before flow returned with the trails around the side of Angle Tarn. I last rode this over a decade ago and it is still a peach of a trail. The scenery is stunning while the trail bears repeated visits. I had planned a visit to the top of Angletarn Pikes but decided to save it for another day so that I could ride the trail again. Reaching Boredale Hause, I took the footpath down. Since I last rode it, Fix the fells have done their best to turn it into another rocky staircase of despair but riding it with a bit of speed through the high ferns, it was still a proper giggle

In summary, Harter Fell, Mardale Ill Bell and High Street down via Angle Tarn are all terrific descent options. Kidsty Pike was good but not amazing. The singletrack around the north side of Haweswater is definitely getting a future visit. Branstree to the Corpse Road would be nice for a shorter summer blast if you are not wanting tech. Or a frozen winter day perhaps?

So @lowey @fergal @scuttler @mark88 @justinbieber @munrobiker @thegeneralist

What adventures in the Lakes have you been on of late then?

Thoughts on my route and ride suggestions always welcome!

Cheers

Sanny

PS I will write up my Coniston Old Man adventure soon. It was also a smashing day out. Not long distance wise but high on quality.

Couple of months off with an old knee injury flaring up but hoping to get out this week.

I’ll be able to get a day time ride Thurs or Fri if anyone wants to join? Probably Angle Tarn, Styhead Tarn unless there’s other suggestions.

Would love to, but I’m going oop north this weekend.

They were probably my tracks down Rest Dodd @sanny. You’re right. I won’t be rushing back there. I carried on off the front of The Nab which I found hardwork walking down. Oh well. Another 2 ticked off.

Thread update time!

Sooooooooo…….the weather last weekend was spectacular on the last meteorological day of summer which meant a trip south was called for. Cruising into the off road parking a shade after 8, I decided to start small and work my way up High Rigg. A short cruise on the road took me onto the bridleway that skirts the eastern flank of the fell. Ignoring the map, I singularly failed to take the bridleway at first and ended up on the somewhat gloopy footpath through the fields. Don’t do that. The bridleway along the side of the wall is lovely and after a bit of cow interaction, I hopped over onto what I should have been on. In the morning with the sun slowly rising, it is a smashing ride up to the little church. Laughing at the “Don’t park here on Sunday signs”, I made my way up the grassy track that would take me to the summit of High Rigg in jig time. The views in every direction are lovely. The initial pull up is a carry but it gets reideable further up. Looking north, it would be tempting to descend and take the footpath over Low Rigg as it looks like flowing loveliness.

Instead, I headed south along the ridge. This undulates up and down over a series of rises and past a pretty little tarn. The short descents are fun but the traverse is a bit on and off at times with one slightly awkward down push. At Wren Crag, things definitely pick up as you drop through the trees. There is a lovely viewpoint where I stopped for a natter with a couple who were getting back into fell walking and were camping down at Bridge End Farm. The descent was most enjoyable with one bit I passed on as I did not fancy an early bath. Stopping for a mum and her daughter coming up, she asked me to tell her husband Richard further down that they were fine. Slightly bemused, I soon came across said Richard who said he was worried about his kid walking up the fell. I rather dryly suggested he was not that worried otherwise he would be climbing up with him. He gave a somewhat wan smile as he pondered my suggestion. The rest of the descent through the trees was lovely and popped me out back at the car.

High Rigg – a nice start to the day but for optimum fun, i would say up and down from the north and doing Low Rigg would be the best option.

Raven Crag

Spinning past Bridge End Farm, I met a lovely motor biker who was also a mountain biker who was riding the six passes. We spoke of all manner of things – biking, motorbikes, the horror show that is Ford wet belt engines, campervans etc before I headed off along the side of Thirlmere.  I had options – a stiff carry up the footpath or a fire road climb up. I chose the latter but easy, it was not. Every corner delivers you to a steep climb that at times feels like a wall of loose gravel. I was bloody glad of the test Pivot e bike. Hitting a levelling, a natural viewpoint presented itself where I got chatting to another couple who had just bought a very fancy VW camper and were staying in the same site as the other couple I talked too. like them, they had tried to come up the previous bank holiday weekend but were fortunate that it had been full. The previous weekend’s weather would have had them building an ark!

Setting off again, the climb continued in an unrelentingly steep manner before finally topping out at the saddle where an empire biscuit was practically inhaled before it got sniffled by a passing Doberman. Annoyingly, the track drops steeply before rising agin. Thinking I was clever, I spotted a path heading up onto Sippling Crag. It started promisingly but soon faded in and out of existence a bit like Shroedinger’s Path! I would not bother with it again. Notwithstanding that, I soon reconnected with the main track for the final carry up the steps to the summit of Raven Crag.  For a small fell, it is a wee smasher offering glorious views up and down the valley from the viewing platform. On a mission, I snapped a few pics then headed down the wooden steps. These were entirely rideable and a bit of a bumpy giggle. Hitting the main track, I decided to head down the steep footpath. An ascending couple suggested that I had some balls for taking on the descent. I am never sure whether that is a compliment or an indication that you are about to do something daft. No matter, I was committed and as it transpired, it was a gem of a descent. Loose in places, it flowed nicely as I plummeted to the valley below through open hillside then mature woodland. There is a drop to flat when you cross the fire road that looked consequential that I carefull walked down but as a whole, it was a real treat. I even got a wave from my new found van life pals at the campsite as I rode by.

All in all, an excellent little fell that rewards the toughness of the ascent.

Good read and slightly jealous  . Best I could muster last week was a Whinlatter then up Grisedale  with the intent of Rigg beck but the wind on top was super strong so bailed down to the mine . left disappointed for sure.

@stevedoc

That was just the morning. The afternoon was even better!

Jumping in the car, I passed through a stupidly busy Ambleside and managed to park up beside the River Rothay. Heading into town, I stopped at Tacos Del Sol for a really rather excellent Burrito. Not cheap but delicious. At this point, nature called me somewhat insistently and was not taking no for an answer. Thank goodness for Ghyllside Cycles coming to my rescue. Relief beyond belief.

Heading through Rothay Park, the back road to Rydal Water was busy with walkers while the shore felt a bit like Blackpool. It was teeming with folk soaking up the sunshine and heat. Fair play, it is a nice spot but there was the usual **** parking on the road up to it. Reaching Grasmere, I headed up to ride the bridleway to Sour Milk Ghyll. The first section is cobbled bumpiness but it is an easy means to an end. I got fairly far up the climb before having to carry and an enjoyable chat with a couple of young lads from Manchester who were fellow bikers and intrigued by the e bike. They were on a mission to get back for kick off so we soon parted company and I pressed on. Sour Milk Ghyll was in fine fettle – the rains of the previous week had seen to that. Breaking off the trail, I crossed the stream by a couple of very relaxed looking walkers sitting on sleeping mats before a short traverse took me to the start of the climb proper up onto Blea Rigg. The path is easy to follow but the chest high bracken made things feel a bit enclosed. i was glad that I had practically bathed in Smidge to keep the ticks off. It was a steady pull up a series of rises broken only by a chat with a group of walkers coming down who questioned my sanity carrying up. My socks drew admiring comments (who looks at socks? Weird) as we contemplated the merits of riding v walking down.

Ever upwards, i eventually reached the top. The views down to Easedale Tarn and the soaring grandeur of Deer Bields crag were lovely and made me want to stay a while. To be honest, looking towards Sergeant Man several hundred feet above, I seriously contemplated heading back down the way i came up. It looks like a lovely descent – there is only one awkward section that is very short so I resolved to ride it. Weighing up my options, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the trails were remarkably dry so i opted to press on. The path, such as it is, comes and goes before disappearing for the last steep section to the top of a Sergeant Man. I found it again but even looking back down, it is not obvious.

Sergeant Man is a prime spot for the fell spotter, offing 360 degree panoramic views. I was up here last summer on a Langdale Pikes mission and that time, I made my way over towards Stake pass. This time, I resolved to head to Blea Rigg and Silver How. Despite the perfect conditions, I did not locate the path until a bit down the side of the fell. What I should have done was head towards the Pikes before turning for Blea Rigg. Although initially vague, I soon joined a clear path that took me along the long ridge line. At points, the track would bifurcate. I opted to keep high but for flow, the better option would be to stay on the lower tracks to avoid the odd steep push up. Things definitely got easier the further along the ridge I got. Reaching Blea Rigg, the rounded grass fell side of Silver How came into view. There are multiple tracks and lines which made for a really enjoyable ride experience. There were several wild campers who looked like they were living their best lives. All seemed to be surprised to see a mountain biker high on the fells so late in the day. To be fair, they were already settled for the evening so not exactly surprising. Silver How is another lovely summit where I met a dad and son camping. They let me try their Nemo camp chair which felt like luxury after some 12 hours out riding. Bidding them farewell, I high tailed it down a very obvious trail that eventually dropped me out on the Chapel Style side of the fells. There were two walk down sections but overall, it was fantastic. A short climb past the youth hostel saw me descending on the joyously swoopy road down to the base of Loughrigg for the final road blast back.

As a ride, it was massively enjoyable. I would definitely do it again. I was hoping that the ridge would be fun and that is what it proved to be.

So @justinbieber @fergal @stevedoc @mrlinderly @mark88 @lowey @thegeneralist @scuttler @munrobiker

What have you been up to?

Cheers

Sanny

As usual these days, not much. Did get out for a quick Jacob’s on Friday night, but that’s about it.

Currently tracking the weather forecast for next weekend. Got a potential plan to do Gooey, MacDui and Avon if the meteo gets better .

As above not as much as I would like .  Not long since back from Maderia where my bike took a back step to my boots.  Before thank I managed a couple of mornings around Kentmere and the horseshoe adding just fun miles and heights in.  As you mentioned Sanny  its not the best time of year to attempt heading into Ambleside or Keswick of a weekend, way to many privaliged people visiting the area which does spoil it in my eyes .  Im going to watch the weather next weekend and maybe head up to Keswick early or head further a field Thursday evening  and see how far north of the border I can get .

I had a cracking day recently – Scafell Pike via esk hause then down the corridor route. Really good fun, 99% of the summit was rideable and the corridor route was equally as good. Lots of chunky slow speed tech, one minor scramble and a few lovely trialsy bits. Some video action from the day is on my instagram (@jamesvincent) if anyone fancies a look.

Holy thread updates, Batman!……….as Robin never said.

Taking advantage of the Indian Summer, I was up and out the door by half fiver yesterday for the long drive down to Wasdale. My dog decided to help me by waking me up just after three barking at a fox outside the house. I tried to get back to sleep but the damage was done. Reaching Greendale at half eight despite the best efforts of Miss Daisy’s on the roads to go at 25mph everywhere, the riding up only lasted a couple of minutes before the long but steady push up on to Middle Fell. Aside from a scottish runner who had camped in his lifestyle van there overnight, the fell was mine alone to enjoy. The trail leads to Greendalew Tarn but I took an obvious hill track off it and gained height quickly. The summit offers great views as you would expect but all the way up, all I could think was that it would make for a lovely descent. There was nothing on it that looked problematic and as an out and back, I think it would be a winner.

From the top, I headed down a clear path to the saddle above the tarn. It was a little bit squishy in places but not badly so. The push then carry up the side of Seatallan got progressively steeper the further I ascended. It would be a plummet to ride down and not worth the effort. From the top, I dropped down a track that was clear despite not being on my OS 1:25000 map and was able to ride a fair way over to High Pikehow beneath haycock. There is a track that appears to go up the crag but I broke left for an easier climb on mostly grass. Again, it was hike a bike time. In terms of scenery, Haycock is a bit of a gem as it looks down in to Ennerdale as well as over the Scafells and beyond. I decided to do Caw Fell as an out and back. It started with a bit of rocky jank which was really fun to pick a line through. The trail follows a wall and even in the mist, it would be easy to navigate. It was here I met a fellow biker (in walking mode) who had come up via Iron Crag and reckoned the way he came would be mostly rideable on ascent. There is a clear track over to it from Caw Fell so I put that in the one to explore in the future box. There is a bridleway that comes up from Skalderskew Wood. If anyone has any knowledge, feel free to share!!!!!!!!! Yer man had run out of water so I was able to share some of mine for his beta sharing. I think he came up from Crag Fell and the link below suggests there is a decent path.

https://www.masarnenramblers.com/crag-fell-iron-crag-caw-fell–haycock.html

Out and back to Caw fell was grassy loveliness. The golden grass gave a lovely late summer feeling. However, the flying ants congregating round the summit cairn decided that I was to be their all you can eat buffet for the day thus forcing a hasty, expletive laden retreat.

The descent from haycock to the saddle was short and sweet. It bisects the bridleway from Wasdale to Ennerdale. I was sorely tempted to head into Ennerdale as I saw it snake off in the distance so again, any knowledge appreciated! Being on a mission and being on the test E bike, I cleaned the grassy climb up on to Scoat Fell. It would be a right grunt on a normal bike. Steeple was calling me as I had never been up it. The bike was an unecessary companion but not being mine, there was no chance of me leaving it on open fell side. You can take the boy out of Glasgow………

Ever the one to explore new tops, I did an out and back to Red Pike. I managed to ride right across to the far top and looking down towards Dore Head, I’m not convinced continuing down would be worth doing. Taking a bypass trail, I made my way over to Black Crag. I started on the bypass track beneath it but it looked a bit too rocky so I tracked back to the summit. That was a mistake. I did it so you don’t ever have to……..

More to come……

So Wind Gap…….if you are ever tempted to look at the map and think, yeah, I fancy that then let me just stop you there. It would be dire on a bike, both up and down on either side. Consider that itch well and truly scratched. I had a funny notion to do it but seeing it up close, I rapidly disabused myself of that.

To get to the top of Pillar requires a carry of some 150 metres of vertical. You would not be able to ride down it so don’t bother contemplating it. The summit of Pillar was a fantastic place to be just after five last night. There was not a breath of wind and you could hear a pin drop. The climb up had been to the soundtrack of the Mountain Rescue captor flying around the Mosedale valley. Talking to three women walkers on the road back along Wasdale later, they told me that there was a walking festival on the far side of the Lake and that someone attending had spannered themselves on Great gable. Oops! The summit of Pillar is pan flat and had I had my gear with me, I would have been sorely tempted to camp out. I lingered for a good length of time before finally rousing from my mindful state and got back on the bike for the final descent down to Black Sail Pass. I had really high hopes for it and in places, it was picture perfect trail. However, there were extended sections of unrideable rocks and boulders that meant it was a disjointed and disappointing affair. On balance, it was not worth the effort from a riding perspective but as fell to explore, it was a cracker. Fair to say, it was mixed emotions for me but on the plus side, I had the entire Black Sail pass descent to enjoy to return balance to the force.  To be fair, I knew that Pillar was going to be a gamble so no complaints from me.

On reflection, I had a most enjoyable day in the fells. I came away eager to explore more of the hill tracks on the Western Fells. Middle Fell is a must do in my opinion and the tracks south and west of Haycock have done enough for me to demand a return visit.

Cheers

Sanny

@fergal @lowey @mark88 @stevedoc @scuttler

Have any of you guys explored the tracks in Copeland Forest near Caw Fell? Or the bridleway that goes via Tewit How?

Cheers

Sanny

Sorry Sanny   no . Of late my Lakeland visits have been lacking to say the least.. as he types this he realises he was on Grisedale 3 weekends ago ….  Im half tempted to head back up later in the week but I have some Cairngorm stuff planned.

Good work Sanny, and thanks for sharing – Middle Fell added to my list. I don’t know anything in the Western Lakes so I’ve got no intel to pass on unfortunately.

@stevedoc

What are you up to in the Cairngorms then?

@mark88

Middle Fell was a steady carry and all the way up, I kept thinking that it would make for a lovely descent. Nothing too technical so good for a fast up and down blast.

Re the western fells

It was @fergal who wrote about the north spur off of Caw Fell into Ennerdale being 600m of loveliness. I definitely want to try that, whether climbing up from the south or via Black Sail Pass to make it into a nice loop.

Cheers

Sanny

Not sure where to go next. Have a hankering for Scafell via Slight Side then down Green How before carrying up Illgill Head and heading south west along the ridge to Whin Rigg then returning via Miterdale. Green How is the only bit I really know.

Gowbarrow Fell, Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell are appealing as a join the dots exploratory ride in the late autumn too. I also want to do High Street again when it is hard frozen. Decisions. Decisions.

@Sanny  ,   Cairngorms plans have taken a turn a little . So am up to Glentress for something differnt with a stop over in the Lakes on the way back down and an early play from Keswick in the morning  Up Skiddaw all being well and from there I cannot say 😉