" Watendlath and Great Crag "

Date & start time: 26th April 2011, 2.45 pm start.

Location of Start : The NT car park, Watendlath, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Watendlath, Dock Tarn, Great Crag and back.

Walk details : 3.75 mls, 700 ft of ascent, 2 hrs 45 mins.

Highest point : Great Crag 1,500ft - 456m

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

Weather : Sunshine and a few clouds. A warm breeze.

It is over three and a half years since we walked to Great Crag from Watendlath.

I don't know who was more surprised about that, Ann, Jo or myself !

Today we only have just one of that 2007 group with us rather than all six OFC friends.

(Above) . . . We meet up with a cheerful Jo and Jodie at the car park at Watendlath.     - - - o o o - - -   (Left) . . . Free parking for Fishers folk then . . . Roger will be okay !

Jo and I make our way through the buildings that comprise the small hamlet of Watendlath.

The very attractive bridge that spans the beck near the houses.

It is warm and dry but slightly overcast.

These two boats were not in use, but there were lots of fishermen dotted around the perimeter of the lake.

Looking back at Watendlath and the slopes above that lead to High Tove.

Further back now and the summit of High Seat and Bleaberry Fell come into view.

We continue on a path that leads us towards Dock tarn and Great Crag	The going is very soft under normal conditions but not today.

This stone path has been built to save the boggy areas from too many boots and to keep us on the straight and narrow !

Splashes of colour from these primroses.	The sign that says it all.

Not bracken but rather nice ferns :-)	Pretty violets emerge to give a different splash of colour.

We make our way towards Dock Tarn.

Ullscarf is the high fell ahead.

Our first objective of the walk comes into view.

Dock Tarn is a peaceful place and has a delightful island just offshore.

The trees have been able to establish a foot hold on the island.

Presumably that would be a case for the rest of the fellside if the sheep weren't about.

Harry looks as if he has already been in for a swim.

Happy faces as we rest awhile and take in the peace of this lovely tarn in this isolated position hidden beneath Great Crag.

Behind you Bethan !

She had a swim out to talk to the mallard duck but it ignored her and swam away.

Can you see me ?

A basket case in the rushes . . . no sign of Moses !

Making our way up to Great Crag after leaving the lake shore.

A grand viewpoint for Roger on the edge of the Great Crag summit.

From the left, Glaramara, Great Gable and Green Gable leading down the ridge to Brandreth.

The glacial valley of Gillercombe with Base Brown in front of the ridge is just above his head.

Looking the other way, Eagle and Sergeant Crags with High Raise

with the pointed summit of Pike O' Stickle in the far distance.

This view looks up the Seathwaite valley at the head of Borrowdale.

Great Gable is apparently the highest fell, but that honour goes to Scafell Pike, further away and to the left.

The village of Rosthwaite nestling below . . . Dale Head is the prominent fell ahead.

Jo and myself enjoying the views from the summit.

We are temporarily in shadow, as Skiddaw behind seems to be hogging all the sunlight !

Making our way back down towards Watendlath Tarn from the second summit of Great Crag.

We are now enjoying more sunlight as the skies turn blue again.

Not far to go . . . dark heather gives way to green grass once again.

More flowers down by the lakeside . . .	. . . a group of bright yellow Marsh Marigolds (Kingcups).

Back at the bridge at the end of the walk.

- - - o o o - - -

Back to the car but not the end of the mountain scenery as we have yet to drive back down Watendlath Valley.

On our way home we stopped to admire the view of Derwent Water from Surprise View.

Looking down on the Lodore boat landings and Mary Mount Hotel	The hotel is the venue of the OFC Anniversary dinner next Saturday.

Close up of the landings . . .	. . . and down onto the Lodore Hotel complex.

We can't drag ourselves away from this "surprisingly" lovely view !

Ashness Bridge, quiet at the end of the afternoon . . . it looks quite different from this angle.

That's better . . . Ashness Bridge taken from its usual side . . . the 'chocolate box' photo.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a lack of crowds at either Surprise View or Ashness Bridge !

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Previous walk - 24th April 2011 Easter Rannerdale Bluebells

A previous time up here - 10th Nov 2007 Great Crag and Grange Fell

Next walk - 27th April 2011 Savouring Sallows Sunshine