Archive for April, 2007
April 8th, 2007
Walk Stats
Length: 13.6 km
Ascent: 900 m
Highest point: 930m
Time: 4:15 hrs
Condition: Bright sunshine
Maps: Explorer OL4 and Landranger 89 or 90
Difficulty: 3/5
Route download: GPX
Summary:
A pleasant walk which took us along the Allerdale Ramble to Ullock Pike, Long Side, and Carl Side combined with the clear day gave excellent views off into the distance. A reasonably steep ascent up Skiddaw to complete the climb for the day, and a nice decent across Bakestall and back to the car. Definitely worth doing on a clear day as the view was fantastic.
Description:
Starting from a lay-by on the Orthwaite road (off the A591 NY 23623096) north of Keswick & the A66 we headed along the clearly marked foot path ENE, which turned back on itself to head southwards to join the Allerdale Ramble. By accident we crossed the stream just before we joined the Allerdale Ramble, and for an unknown reason I thought I knew best and took a stupid route back to the main path. A steady climb took us up Ullock Pike & Long Side and offered the best views of the day by far (in my humble opinion), of Bassenthwaite Lake & Derwent Water and the surrounding hillside.
столовеThe climb up to the top of Skiddaw, was steep and steady up a scree like path. I wouldn’t like to descend this section as it would be quite harsh on the knees (but that’s just me), as far as a climb goes it was steep but perfectly manageable. There where several wind breaks at the top of Skiddaw which made a nice spot for lunch.
At the top we where slightly bemused by a strange sight of unicyclists riding down from the summit. Its not the first time we’ve seen anything like that, but it still amazes me none the less. (Check out this picture if you don’t believe me)
As you can see from the picture on the right, Nige was bored during lunch and wanted to show his stuff as a potential replacement for buff man, but ended up looking like a lost granny on her way to the shops.
The walk down the far side of the mountain was a little cooler, with a slight breeze, and didn’t have the same impressive views of the lakes. We took a slight detour, but the path came and went but looking at the maps it always followed the fence which was on our right hand side.
A couple of us, found the descent a little painful on the knees but for once i wasn’t one of the ones struggling. But following the descent we followed the road back to our cars.
All in all, a pleasant walk with some fantastic views.
April 8th, 2007
I’ve been pondering for a while over buying a new jacket, and i was browsing around Cheshire Oaks, when i found a nice lightweight jacket, unfortunately i gave in. And i think it was the best purchase i have made for a long long long time.
First things first, its a 5in1 jacket, ie 1 – body warmer, 2 – body warmer with windproof layer, 3 – windproof body layer, 4 – windproof jacket, and last but not least 5 – windproof jacket with a thermal body liner.
Designed for biking this jacket comes with a pack away pouch, and some quick release mounts for your bike, so you can attach it to the frame of your bike. I think its a really good feature and means you can easily take it with you.
I’ve used this in windy, rainy, bright weather and every time it has been fantastic, I tend to use it with a wicking base layer, and a micro fleece if it is cold when i’m walking, but due to its light weight and very high breath-ability it always just right.
If it does get too warm there is always the option of taking the sleeves off to make it that bit cooler.
For walking, biking, anything, this jacket seems to do it all, i picked it up for about £100 and its worth every penny. Especially because it works in cold miserable conditions but is definitely small enough to fit in the smallest of day sacks, as a back up during hot conditions.
If i could describe it in one phrase, “versatile enough to use winter to summer and great value”
April 8th, 2007
Walk Stats
Length: 16.5 km
Ascent: 1034 m
Highest point: 952m
Time: 6:10 hrs
Condition: Bright sunshine, light breeze in the afternoon
Maps: Explorer OL5 and Landranger 90
Difficulty: 3/5
Route download: GPX
Summary:
‘We didn’t end up doing our planned route due to some confusion at the beginning of the walk however it was still a very enjoyable walk, weather was the nicest so far this year I think, will have to be thinking about sun cream from now on! Met up with some friends at Red Tarn and then on to Striding Edge after that and to the top which was fun as usual. Bit knacked by the end especially after doing Skiddaw the day before but all good 
’
Description:
We started off from Glenridding car park we went up the road round the back of the car park and took the path up to the left towards Little Cove following Mires Beck. The gradual climb up was quite hard especially as I’d not done much walking for a while.
Eventually the climb flattened out and we started to head towards the Hole in the Wall seemed like an eternity but once we got there we knew that it wasn’t much further to Red Tarn so kept plodding on as we were due to meet some friends there for lunch. At Hole in the Wall we took the path West down to the tarn and stopped for a well deserved lunch (tasty it was too!)
Our friends decided to take the path up towards Swirral Edge but as usual we fancied a bit more of a challange so headed back up the path we came down to go up Striding Edge and onto Helvellyn. We blitzed Striding getting up to the top just as they got up from Swirral, we would have been up even faster if it wasn’t so busy and Tim wasn’t being such a wuss as usual.
At the top we didn’t hang around long and decided to go back over Lower Man, Whiteside Bank and round the back of Red Screes following the main path down between Glenridding Common and Birkhouse Moor (north side of river) crossing at the Weir passing the Youth Hostal on our left and then back down into Glenridding joining the same path we started on.
Quite a nice walk and weather was superb… bring on the summer!