An unusual one this time as the three maps indicate.
Ian, who lives in Bedford's Captain Tom's village of Marston
Mortaine, has a son who's a commercial pilot but also has shares
in a light aircraft.
Mark wanted more small plane flying time and offered to fly
his dad to Cumbria, so that Ian could do a Cumbrian fell and
back, in a day from home.
Helvellyn has a reputation for landing aircraft but it is a
bit rough and no doubt frowned upon nowadays,
so Ian was looking for someone to drive them from the club
airstrip at Troutbeck (on the A66) to the nearest fell.
Who lives in Cumbria and has a car ? He knew just
the chap . . . we'll offer him the bribe of a free flight !
A real composite of photographers and cameras makes up
today pictures
After a favourable forecast Ian and Mark prepared to take off
from Northampton in their light aircraft.
Think "Cessna" only smaller, two seater, single prop,
single joystick for controls, thermos flask if you get cold
!
To be fair it was a beautiful little aircraft, comfortable
with full electronic navigation aides and Gps.
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Flying north
over the Midlands |
Up to the Lakes . .
. recognise Windermere ? |
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Looking
down on the Ferry and Marina. |
Heading north towards
Grasmere. |
[ Often the pictures were slightly blurred
due to looking through the perspex of the cockpit windows.]
You can travel with the top section of window
open to improve the view.
Here Mark is flying over Steel Fell, heading
up the Thirlmere Valley towards our rendezvous point . . . with
Skiddaw and Blencathra ahead !
- - - o o o - - -
Meanwhile the ground crew were in position,
ready for their arrival.
I was looking in the skies to the right, thinking
they would have followed the M6 from the south, if only to simplify
navigation.
We became aware of a light aircraft arriving
on time but from the westerly direction.
Unknown to us at the time was the fact that
they had taken the scenic route up through the centre of the
Lakes.
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Setting
up the approach to the airfield . . . |
. . . nearly down to
the rich green swathe of the landing strip. |
A soft landing . . . even the plane was looking
happy !
Taxiing to a stop, away from the runway.
Dr Livingston I presume !
Ian and his son Mark after their hour and a
half flight from the Midlands to Cumbria.
The plane is a two seater but they somehow managed
to fit an air hostess in the luggage rack.
- - - o o o - - -
The thought was that if I could provide local
transport and a suitable fell walk
then I might like the opportunity of a quick
flight around the northern Lakes . . . it would be churlish
to say no !
After quarter of an hour or so, Mark was ready
to take to the skies once again.
I took the co-pilots seat, as mark instructed
me as to what I could and could not touch and where to put my
size 12 feet !
We swung the plane around and prepared for takeoff.
The comprehensive Gps and flight information
dashboard included all the usual information about the aircraft,
e.g. speed altitude, etc,
plus a full navigation system with Ordnance
Survey and 3D photo mapping.
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Final pre-flight
checks complete, time to increase the throttle. |
He heads back out to
the runway. |
Ground crew photo of the pre take-off taxiing.
With a increase of the throttle the plane surged forward
and before I knew it we were airborne.
- - - o o o - - -
Where do you fancy going was the question ?
The aircraft banked as we headed back towards Keswick . .
. climbing to an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 feet.
Immediately I was captivated by fresh views of familiar fells
. . . This was Blencathra with its grey coloured arête
of Sharp Edge.
The heather provided a deep purple to the southern slopes of
the same fell.
Far below was the gradual curves of the A66 roadway, heading
west towards Derwent Water.
Keswick seen from the air.
The general rule was that you should not be lower than 500
feet above any habitation.
Our altitude here also gave us confidence to fly through the
high fells ahead and avoid any paragliders.
The islands of Derwent Water with Causey Pike, Eel Crag, Grisedale
Pike and the North Western Fells beyond.
We descended slightly for a better view of the lake.
Recognise the trees and the rock escarpment ?
This was Walla Crag to our left.
Passing over the delta as the River Derwent enters the lake
at Lodore.
Grange Village with its double arched bridge over the Derwent.
Rising slightly over King's How and approaching Rosthwaite.
Pike O'Stickle can be seen to the left, Bowfell in the centre
and Scafell Pike to the right.
We bank left at Chapel Farm and head into the Langstrath Valley.
Not too many tents on the campsite today.
Into the long valley of Langstrath . . . the track below leading
to Blackmoss Pot, a favourite swimming spot for many.
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- - - o o o - - -
Two thirds of the way up the valley we take a left
again
and follow the winding path up and over Stake Pass.
Ahead is the obvious landmark of Pike O'Stickle,
one of the famous Langdale Pikes.
The light aircraft doesn't fly that fast as some
but that is certainly the fastest
I've ever travelled
up the length of the Langstrath Valley.
- - - o o o - - -
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Looking out through the open window at Great
End and Scafell Pike, the highest summit in England.
The unmistakable shapes of the Langdale Pikes
. . . but seen from an unusual angle.
We have to stay 500 feet above the ground below,
but that does mean we can't fly lower than the summits.
Looking down now as we fly towards Side Pike.
Below is the National Trust campsite, the sprawling
Wall End Farm and Blea Water on the approach to Little Langdale.
We flew down the main Langdale Valley and on
towards Windermere.
Chapel Stile is the housing seen on the left
side of the valley, with Elterwater Quarry ahead.
The deep azure blue of the pool of the now closed
Slate Quarry,
with our aerial view clearly showing the rock
terracing of this deep fissure into the valley floor.
Our route was not planned in detail so as Ian
and Mark had flown north over Grasmere and Dunmail Raise earlier
in the day,
Mark and I decided to continue more to the east,
towards the Haweswater area.
Keeping an eye out for any low flying RAF planes,
but then they would probably have flown below us anyway !
Marks real time navigation did warn of registered
flying events such as hand gliders or military exercises, but
there were none scheduled for here today.
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The prominent wall that hugs the crest
of the ridge up to High Pike. |
Over the Scandale Pass and down towards
the familiar Brothers Water. |
A slight change of route due to the time constrains,
as we turn to follow the valley down to Patterdale.
Below us was the village of Hartsop and its
delightful old housing.
Glenridding and the road to the Greenside Mine
through the open window
with the 'Inn by the Lake' seen through the
perspex below the bar.
There was only one control stick but two sets
of pedals, so I was able to have a turn at flying the plane.
The co-pilot has the disadvantage of having
to fly this aircraft left-handed, well at least that's my excuse
!
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Photography whilst also
flying the plane is tricky . . . |
. . . so after a while Mark was back
in control of aircraft. |
After flying over Silver Point and several of
the Ullswater Steamers
it was time to head north once again, leaving
the lower reach of Ullswater to the yachtsmen and their boats.
Penruddock below . . . we could drop in for
some bird food at Birds Bistro !
But no sooner than we reached it than we were
flying quickly past,
circling around Troutbeck on our approach to
the airstrip.
Mark checking the wind direction and making
sure there were no sheep on the runway.
Another faultless touchdown . . . more seat-of-the-pants
stuff than the Boeing 737's he more usually flies !
- - - o o o - - -
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Having had my half hour
of fun
it was time for me to offer my side of
the bargain.
The four of us packed walking gear and
dogs into the car
and headed off towards Threlkeld.
- - - o o o - - - |
Loes preferred not to walk and she also had
things to do in Keswick, so she dropped us at the railway path
and headed off towards town.
Here's Ian and Mark as we make a start on the
old railway track down the Greta valley.
The railway closed at the time of the Beeching
cuts in the early 1970's
and now the track is a sustrans cycle route
and all weather footpath from Threlkeld to Keswick.
Three dogs ? . . . one belonged to the
little girl and her dad.
The bridges have been renovated since the devastating
floods of Storm Desmond
which played havoc with the old track bed and
several of the bridges.
I had forgotten this short tunnel section on
the way down the valley.
Some of the bridges that had sufficient height
over the water were deliberately built upside down for stability
and a better view.
The track-side hut at Brundholme, familiar to
those that walk the path.
It would be where we leave the railway to start
our climb up Latrigg.
It was later than we thought but perhaps too
early for lunch given the climb ahead . . . the answer was close
at hand !
Refreshments courtesy of the Lakes 'Luxury Dairy'
Ice Cream Van . . . strategically placed to catch the passing
trade.
Another customer had travelled here by a beautiful
Series one Land Rover, looking stunning in its classic green
paintwork.
- - - o o o - - -
In the back, a suitably well behaved spaniel,
patiently waiting for a left over wafer perhaps
?
- - - o o o - - -
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The eastern end of Latrigg is quite a steep
climb, albeit on a track not footpath.
As we climbed we could feel rain in the air.
Fortunately for us, it seemed to be passing
by closer to Clough Head than us . . . and we hardly needed
waterproofs.
One last slope as we climbed past the Scots
Pine, towards a summit that Ian had visualised all those weeks
back.
Okay it wasn't the summit he'd planned, but
in view of the time, the weather and the great views on offer,
it was perfectly acceptable.
Summit achieved we felt we had earned some lunch.
What better than a view down the length of Derwent
Water, to calm the soul and rest the legs.
The rain shower had travelled on, leaving us
clear views of Clough Head and Great Mell Fell away to the east.
As we thought . . . the viewpoint seat was taken
so we were happy that we had lunch close to the top.
Time to head down now and meet up with Loes.
We followed the all terrain path and joined
the Cumbrian Way as it descents through the woodlands to the
base of the fell.
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Across the
bridge over the A66 . . . and on the short distance
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. . . to Loes and the
car waiting at the entrance to Spooney Green Lane. |
- - - o o o - - -
After a trip into Keswick to buy petrol it was
back to the airfield at Troutbeck.
The Flying Club had really nice facilities and
several stored aircraft and micro lights in the hanger.
Mark paid his landing fees and signed the Visitor
Book and spoke to the owner, then it was time to be leaving.
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Time to
re-fuel (using a brilliant little air pump to avoid
lifting or spillage) |
People love work, they
can stand and watch others doing it for ages ! |
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- - - o o o - - -
One of the discussions of the day
was the cost and efficiency of flying all that way
for a walk.
It worked out that the plane was powered by a small-ish
car engine
which ran at about forty miles to the gallon of unleaded
petrol.
Add to that the fact that the aircraft could fly
in straight lines
and didn't have to follow the road,
it meant that the trip up was shorter and cost less
than if they had driven the same distance by car.
Plus they'd be home before dark . . . a real bonus
!
- - - o o o - - -
All that remained was to clear the runway of sheep.
[ That sounds like another ground crew job ]
- - - o o o - - -
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With brooding skies beyond Great Mell Fell,
Mark prepared for take-off.
Taxiing along the skyline . . . yes, they are
in there.
A burst of power and they were airborne.
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- - - o o o - - -
With a final couple of photos
the first with a telephoto lens (I wasn't that close),
they were up and away south
after their unusual day in the Lakes
- - - o o o - - -
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Ian sent me a few photos of their flight home . . . first
via Windermere.
Passing over Chesterfield, with the crooked and leaning church
spire.
. . . and finally home to the small grass airstrip near Nottingham
where they had started their day.