Tuesday 20th July 2010

Start point: Torver (SD 285 945)

Torver - Tranearth - The Cove - Goat's Water - South Rake - Dow Crag - Buck Pike - Blind Tarn - Cove Bridge - Tranearth - Torver

Distance: 6.2 miles     Total Ascent: 700 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours     Start Time: 08:55

Weather: Dull and damp. 18oC

Route Map

I didn't really know where I was going to end up when I set off in the car as it was pretty damp and miserable. By the time I got to Torver, it was dry-ish so I headed from there up towards Dow Crag and decided to scramble up the South Rake. Miraculously the weather brightened for a spell as I climbed the Rake and the views from the top were quite good. The rain returned by the end though so I think I caught the best of the weather this morning.

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Before I got to the walk, a bit of déjà vu at Lowick Bridge - the River Crake is flooded and it was still raining.

By the time I got to Torver, the rain had stopped but it was still a bit murky at Tranearth looking towards The Old Man under cloud.

Crossing a raging Torver Beck - Casper, get out of there!

Torver Beck further upstream.

The Big Hole, Banishead Quarry.

Dow Crag from The Cove.

In and out of the mist it was today.

Old Man (look at me now, I'm a lot like you were...song anyone?)

Brown Pike.

Twin peaks...and the way we are heading.

Yes Casper and Dougal, up there.

The mist was still shrouding round on the approach but it did seem to be getting brighter.

Having a dip at Goat's Water (them, not me).

Dougal the fell dog finds the path. Go on son!

Goat's Water.

At the start of the South Rake.

Sunshine! Looking down on Goat's Water.

Onwards and upwards boys. I did find out today that Dougal is not an elegant climber with rocks raining down on me from above, whilst fleet of foot Casper lightly strode the lot with no bother. There's time yet I suppose.

The view from the top of the South Rake.

Popping out onto the Dow Crag ridge, Dougal checks out the Duddon Valley below.

The Old Man from the Dow Crag ridge.

...and again from the summit.

Heading for Buck Pike.

The cloud is lifting from Coniston Water.

Looking back to Dow Crag summit.

Dow Crag, Swirl How, Brim Fell and the Coniston fells from Buck Pike.

Brown Pike, Blind Tarn below and we are heading straight down to it.

We found the outlet of Blind Tarn today (supposedly there is none, hence the name). Just where Dougal is standing, the tarn was overflowing.

Buck Pike across Blind Tarn.

The Old Man across The Cove.

Looking back to Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag on the way back to Torver.

This photo is at the head of the waterfall in the 'Big Hole' photo near the start of the walk. From here on it was rain, rain, rain once more.

Later, the view along Windermere from the ferry to Bowness. The Bowness to Newby Bridge Road was pretty well flooded on the way home and The River Leven was swollen adjacent to The Swan Hotel.

I stopped at Backbarrow to see how high the river was there and it was pretty high! Will they repair the parapet damaged last time in time for winter?

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