Today, Sunday 2nd October 2011 my Husband David, myself and Dog Sabre set out to conquer our first Wainwright fells in our 214 challenge. We had decided to attempt a walk that would include 4 fells, called “A Swindale Round”.
The route directions we were following advised us to park, on open ground beside the road just beyond the dam at Swindale! However, after eventually locating the dam a farmer had thoughtlessly parked all his farm vehicles here and therefore we had to park further away than we would have liked probably adding an additional 1 ½ miles to the walk! By the time we parked and were kitted out in “wet weather” gear it was 11.05am.
We walked on the tarmac public road up to the farm at Swindale Head (we had already driven to the point looking for parking but there was no parking there) where we turned sharp right up the footpath known as The Old Corpse Road. This track dates back to when coffins needed to be brought over the hill from Mardale to Shap for burial. Just before the crest of the track, we turned left on a grassy path rising easily towards Selside Pike.
By now the weather had deteriorated and visibility was exceptionally poor due to very low cloud. We were also experiencing strong winds as well as rain! We came across a peat overhang which provided us with shelter from the elements so we took the opportunity to stop for 15 minutes to eat lunch! We got cold very quickly so were soon back on the track up the hill, only to discover that we had stopped for lunch only a few hundred metres from the substantial shelter marking the peak of Selside Pike (2149 feet) – I cheered in delight at actually climbing our 1st Wainwright fell although we could only imagine the view as all we could see was mist!!
We continued on our way following a path alongside a fence and we lost very little of the height already gained to ascend Branstree, at 2399feet, our 2nd Wainwright fell and the highest summit of the day. The cairn marking the top of this peak was pathetically insignificant and had what looked like a stone dish alongside it, which Sabre, (our Sheltie) took advantage of and used it as the perfect dogs water bowl! The view was still nonexistent, and at this point we had to rely on a compass to find our way as we could not see far enough ahead to see where we were heading! The path again followed a fence down Selside Brow but by now the ground had become exceptionally boggy in places with peat mounds. We kept climbing and beyond a peaty saddle we had to divert away from the fence to reach the summit of Tarn Crag (2178 feet) our 3rd Wainwright fell. As visibility was still poor we again relied on the compass to retrace our steps and ensure we ended up back on the right path heading towards our final climb of the day to Grey Crag. Luckily as visibility was still poor navigation was once again simple as we followed the fence line up to Grey Crag (2093 feet) our 4th Wainwright fell, which is a part of Sleddale Fell. The ground was even more waterlogged on this section, as Wainwright had mentioned in his pictorial guide. Apparently the view down into Sadgill and Longsleddale and away south west to Windermere was one to behold – unfortunately we didn’t experience this! Once we had photographic evidence at the top of this fell we retraced our steps and followed another fence to the Cairn at Harrop Pike (NOT one of Wainsrights featured peaks!)
We strode out across the access land down into boggy Mosedale. This was very remote lakeland , not a soul, a building or a power line, Indeed nothing seen for several miles other than fells, moorland, and a beck. There were no footpaths either for almost two miles until we reached the bridge that crosses Mosedale Beck, which made it exceptionally difficult terrain to navigate given the weather conditions and poor visibility. Poor Sabre disappeared into the beck at one point which was hidden by overgrowth, I’m not sure who was more shocked, me at seeing him disappear ahead of me or him! My husband had to haul one very wet and dirty dog out the beck as the sides were too steep for the dog to get out unaided!
It seemed to take us an exceptionally long time from leaving Grey Crag to reaching the car in Swindale, I was slightly nervous about ending up lost as the path was very unclear. We eventually reached the road again and just had to retrace our steps to get back to the car, arriving there at 5.15pm. We were beginning to think perhaps the car had been stolen as the return walk back along the road seemed much further than the outward!!! Perhaps being tired, muddy and wet through to the knickers had something to do with this!!!
We had walked 12.38 miles in 6 hours 10 minutes and had climbed 4 of Wainwrights fells!!!
I was elated to have completed 4 Wainwright fells on our first adventure! To view our walk on Runkeeper click on this link:http://runkeeper.com/user/fitlesley/activity/54590038210 Fells remaining!
Where shall we conquer next ...?!
View photo's by clicking here!
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