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Date & start time: Saturday 31st January 2009. 11.30 start.

Location of Event : Seldom Seen track end, Ullswater, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 387 184 )

Places visited : Seldom Seen, Glencoyne Valley, Nick Head, Sheffield Pike, Heron Pike, Glenridding Dodd and back via Mossdale Valley to the lakeside.

Walk details : 5.5 mls, 2050 ft of ascent, 5 hours exactly, including lunch.

Highest point : Sheffield Pike, 2214 ft ( 675m)

Walked with : Sara, Jo, Hilton, Ann and the dogs, Jodie, Suzy, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Fine and dry but with a strong, cool, southerly breeze.

Parking at Seldom Seen track end for a couple of cars.

 

The forecast was for a fine day, especially on the eastern side of the Lakes, but very windy at the same time.

We opted to climb Sheffield Pike as it was not too high, and as Sara joined us again, an eastern fell would be convenient for her too.

The dogs were eager to start the walk . . . hold your cursor over the photo to let them out !

Immediately we started up the track we get the first of many fine views of Ullswater.

This view looks east down towards Pooley Bridge, past Gowbarrow on the left and Birk Fell, and outlier of Place Fell on the right.

Glencoyne, a classic linear farm, added to and improved over the years.

The old miner's cottages at Seldom Seen. Twelve identical chimney pots but very little sign of mining in the valley.

Our route up and over the back of Sheffield Pike would have taken workers directly to the important Greendale Mine workings presumably.

Distant views of Cross Fell on the Pennines with just a touch of remaining snow on it's flanks.

A pause to enjoy the view as we climb up the valley track.

Ahead . . . blue skies and Glencoyne Head.

The snow lying on the northern slope of the fell had frozen solid

and as a result needed care to cross as it was almost impossible to kick steps.

Nick Head and the gradient eased.

Reaching the top of the pass and we get our first views of the Helvellyn range. Plenty of snow here.

The ridge starts with Hole in the Wall, leading to High Spying How, Catstyecam, Helvellyn and Helvellyn Lower Man.

This is Raise Fell as seen from Nick Head.

A close up of the ski slopes and the lift which is busy with skiers today.

Across to the south facing slopes of Green Side where the snow had melted.

We're looking directly across the slopes and the snow cornices of Glencoyne Head towards Hart Side Fell on the skyline.

Wrap up warm, a thicker pair of gloves and zip up the jacket against the cold breeze.

The full force of the southerly wind is felt on the ridge.

We met and stoped a short while to talk to a friend of ours who was walking the fell too, but in the opposite direction.

We haven't seen June for a while but our friendship goes back probably 30 years to the days of Black Sail Hostel in the 80's.

No doubt the snows of St Sunday Crag have reduced its temperature even further.

A relatively snow free summit of Sheffield Pike despite it's 2214 ft altitude.

Click here or on the photo above for a 380 degree annotated panorama.

[Note: extra value from Loweswatercam . . . 380 for the price of 360 degrees]

Happy lunchtime photo of Jo and Sara.

It took several attempts to get this shot as someone was throwing dog biscuits ! [ roll your cursor over the photo ]

Hilton enjoying a lunchtime sandwich . . . under pressure.
You won't like Mr Acomb's Mince Pies . . . really !
   

Aerobics . . . no just arm swinging exercises to warm his cold hands.

Place your cursor between the photos and joggle it left and right ! [ Sorry to give you all this work ]

Lunch over, we make our way down to Heron Pike, the eastern edge of Sheffield Pike.

There's snow in the hollows and Hilton had a intentional slide down the smooth bank.

Climbing back up for another go !

Jo kicking steps.

I had a go followed by the girls !

Click here or on the photo for a brief video of the Lady's event

The short video should open and play in your Windows Media Player.

[ It may take a moment to download on slower connection speeds - please be patient]

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More hard covered snow to cross . . .
. . . with deceptively soft patches occasionally.

One of three small frozen tarns (oversize peat bogs) on the way down.

Heron Pike's diminutive cairn overlooking Patterdale and the southern end of Ullswater.

Ann at the iron boundary post on the Heron Crag viewpoint.

Descending rapidly now past a small Juniper tree seemingly growing out of the rock.

A rather dramatic but small Scots Pine as we reach the wall surrounding the head of Mossdale.

A wider shot as we climb Glenridding Dodd.

Group photo at the summit to show the smiles despite the cool breeze.

Technical note: photo courtesy of Sarah ( taken on her camera by Hilton )

Not the summit cairn but the lower viewpoint overlooking the Inn on the Lake and the boat landings.

Doubling back to the wall, we enter the Mossdale enclosure on the start of our descent back to the lake.

The path gets steeper as we enter the trees but the views are excellent.

Thornthwaite Crag and Caudale Moor form a backdrop to the bottom end of the valley.

Half past four now and the later sunsets are noticeable.

That combined with a nice blue sky gave us a beautiful end to the walk.

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Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . some snow to play in and friends who join in too !

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Previous walk - 29th January 2009 Mellbreak and some cloud

A previous time up here - 25th June 2006 Sheffield Pike and Hart Side with Jo and John