Hiley Website

We met Alan through the Online Fellwalking Club

and have enjoyed his photo-reports of his walks in the Lakes and Lancashire under the name of Pennine Walker

When he announced the imminent completion of his first round of 214 Lakeland Fells we took the chance to join him on his celebratory walk.

Myself, Bill, Sherran, Alan, Maggie, Ann B and Ann H.

Meeting place, the National Trust car park at Seatoller in Borrowdale.

Photo courtesy of the top of the car and the self-timer . . . there were not many other people about on this overcast day in November.

Walking up through Seatoller Village at the start of the walk.

We passed the Yew Tree Cafe . . . unfortunately it was closed and so would not be a welcoming refreshment stop at the end of the walk.

Plenty of water about in the rivers and on the fields

but this flood-defence wall in Seatoller is more than coping with the amount of water.

From slightly higher as we start to get a wider view of the fells.

The path from the road at the bottom of Honister Pass leads up to the "old road" which was the original direct route

from Honister Mines down to Grange. It is now part of the "Allerdale Ramble" footpath route.

As we climbed, we could see a wintery dusting on the high tops . . . this week's competition . . . name that fell.

[ It qualifies for a chapter of its own in the Wainwright Books.]

Be aware that there are no prizes on offer . . . only a school report that says "could do better" if you get it wrong !

Any ideas . . . perhaps this picture will give an added clue . . . it is the name of the one at the far end we want.

Hold your cursor over the picture to find the answer as to the name of the snow and cloud covered peak.

Moving on . . .

Before joining the top path we turned right and headed up through undulating ground to High Doat.

One of the many tops of this undulating fell . . . low down in mountain stakes but a really good local viewpoint on a fine day.

A famous back . . . but how often have you seen the face of this Lakeland photographer . . .

Welcome Ann Bowker

We have walked with her before

in fact she joined us on the completion

of our first Wainwright Round in 2001

Today she and the rest of us

are joining Alan on the completion of his 214.

For those who have not visited it

Ann's Mad about Mountains website

can be found on the link above.

The drifting cloud layers were starting to clear from some of the high fells.

Here we look across the minor summit of Castle Crag at Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man.

High Doat, as I said, was a fine viewpoint even on this overcast day.

Click here or on the photo above for a Loweswatercam 360 degree annotated panorama

There's a fine view of Castle Crag to keep you distracted . . . but mind you don't slip as the grass is wet !

My long lens was used to capture this photo of the sheep gathering across the way in the corner of the field.



Across a slight bog and we reach the stile.	A permissive path rather than a right-of-way.

Thanks to the owner and the National Park for facilitating access to this fine fell.

[ p.s. Is there any chance of a new rung to replace the missing one on the other side of the stile !]

Colourful sheep . . . at what is effectively the start of the new upland farming year.

Characterful Herdwicks . . . now colourful as well.

Having finally gained the main footpath we set off towards Castle Crag.

Three abraded streams as the water descends from Tongue Gill . . . but only two footbridges.

Fortunately the third crossing was relatively simple.

Before we start to lose height we take the green path off to the right that follows beneath the first crag.

With a clatter, and at times a musical tinkle, we climb up the zig-zag path towards the summit.

Alan contemplates the view south towards High Doat before the start of the final climb to the summit.

That cloud is hanging on Great End once again and the Scafells are difficult to see in the gloom.

Anticipating the last ten feet of the climb . . . Alan cracks open a bottle . . .



After lunch we head back down . . .	. . . using the ladder stile most folk use to get up the fell.



Down again past this rather colourful holly . . .	. . . and onto the path towards Grange.

At the bottom of Broadslack Gill, where the valley path meets the rive,r

we turn upstream and start our walk back to Seatoller.

Ducks . . .

. . . and Drakes . . . Mallards a-plenty.

Bill holds the gate open . . . ever the gentleman !

Alan has never been to Millican's Cave, high on Castle Crag

so we detour back up the quarry area slightly to reach the top workings.

Plenty of water about at the entrance . . . but a nice dry patch in the centre of the cave.

With flash this time . . . looking up to the upper entrance.



Another flat area . . .	. . . and Millican Dalton's inscription.

Difficult to see in the wet, but it says :- " Don't waste words . . . jump to conclusions. MD. "



Maggie starts out on the homeward stretch.	Ann at the gate as we leave High Hows Wood.

Steady Bill . . . this is becoming a habit.



The stepping stones to Rosthwaite . . . not for us today.	We take the equally slippery riverside path on this side.



Longthwaite Youth Hostel, Rosthwaite.	Ann stops by the entrance.

Ann last posed here long before she ever owned a colour camera . . .

The year would have been 1959 when she stayed in the newly built, newly opened wooden building

on her first holiday away from home.

We continue along the path . . . this is the bit of the river you don't see

when travelling along the road from Seatoller to Rosthwaite.

A sloping and wet rock perched above the River Derwent

hosts the little known Rosthwaite 'via-ferrata'.

Ann leading the way . . . the chain available to use if required.

The small bridge leads across to the stone clad rear of the properties . . . the fronts were painted white a few years ago.

The Glaramara Centre . . . undertaking some new building work to enlarge the accommodation.

Finally without crossing the river, we are back in Seatoller at the end of the walk.

Congratulations to Alan . . . and thanks to everyone for a very sociable day out.


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