Wednesday 14th November 2012

Start point: Longlands (NY 266 358)

Longlands - Longlands Fell - Lowthwaite Fell - Brae Fell - Little Sca Fell - Great Sca Fell - Meal Fell - Trusmadoor - Great Cockup - Longlands

Distance: 6.9 miles     Total Ascent: 673 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 40 minutes     Start Time: 10:20

Weather: Warm but windy on the tops. 12oC

Route Map

Firstly, thanks to all (the many!) who attended the book launch in Keswick and Bowness this weekend, it was great to meet so many of the StridingEdge family and I was humbled by the amount of people that had travelled from far and wide to attend the event and meet Dougal and Casper (and two blokes that have brought a book out!). Thank you.

The weather has completely turned around from my last walk with the temperatures reaching a heady 12C and the snow has completely disappeared from the fell tops now. I wasn't expecting much from the weather but was pleasantly surprised when the weather was much brighter than expected on these rather dull fells. The wind however was biting up there and it was really quite cold on the tops.

It was a bit dull but Grasmere was flat calm on the way past today.

Binsey and Over Water from the climb to Longlands Fell.

Longlands Fell summit.

It was mighty windy once up on the top (as demonstrated by my able assistant, Dougal) and hat and gloves were required from here.

The view to Lowthwaite Fell with Skiddaw to the right beyond Great Cockup.

The small cairn on Lowthwaite Fell.

The route to Little Sca Fell (following the path up to the left).

Drama over Skiddaw.

Looking over to the Solway Firth from Brae Fell.

The path to Little Sca Fell, left to centre.

High Pike and a hint of blue sky.

Sun on Brae Fell.

Lowthwaite Fell and Longlands Fell.

A spontaneous outburst of sunshine.

The sunken wind shelter on Little Sca Fell.

Knott from Great Sca Fell.

The steep descent to Meal Fell, Great Cockup beyond.

A solitary figure walks the path to Meal Fell.

The valley of the River Ellen looking to Over Water and Binsey.

Burntod Gill.

Meal Fell, the summit is the small shelter to the left.

Looking across Meal Fell summit.

Little Sca Fell, Great Sca Fell and Knott from Meal Fell.

Windswept Casper, nine years old on the 15th November.

Trusmadoor.

The view along Burntod Gill.

The Back o' Skidda' from Great Cockup.

Dougally Doo and Casperoonals on Great Cockup.

Skiddaw panoramic.

Bassenthwaite Lake.

Today's tale from the fells...when I was descending steeply towards the River Ellen, I could see by looking at the lie of the land the best route of descent. I could also see a crossing of the River Ellen and a path on the opposite bank marked by the gap in the bracken. The person a little further ahead of me had a hand held GPS at which he was intently gazing. He managed to descend the horribly steep way without lifting his eyes from the screen and continued across a bog towards a crossing of the River Ellen which would have been a nightmare, as it goes into a deep ravine further downstream from the crossing. I could see him looking around for a crossing place when I was well on my way back to Longlands...they are alright those GPS's but sometimes it's better just to look!
 

Following the wall back to Longlands.

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