4 Wainwrights from Hartsop.

27/08/2018.

After yesterdays wet washout we were promised a much better day, well that's what Tomasz Schafernaker told us...sunny spells for most of us with higher temperatures. Thanks Mr weatherman. We awoke and drew back the curtains expected to be blinded by sunlight..Nope just grey skies and a light drizzle...oh well this is the Lake district after all. After a leisurely brecky we were off with a prompt 10 o clock start. Waterproofs on...Im sure we will be able to take them off later when the sun breaks through we thought..Fingers crossed..We passed through the hamlet to find the steep path rising up the grassy slopes...im not keen on steep /grassy slopes neither is Karen...we were both soon completely buggered...we stopped often to look back down to Hartsop and the Patterdale valley...a valley that I have now officially changed the name of...to Pitter patterdale.

We eventually beat those Steep/Grassy slopes to arrive at the days first Summit..Hartsop Dodd standing just above the magical 2000ft ..Some say that  the criteria for Mountains is that they are above 2000ft..no...for me Mountains are rocky..there is no doubting that this is a hill..there is also no doubting that this is a bloody good hill.. A quick photograph as we passed the summit cairn heading off for Caudale moor a mile or so ahead..an easy walk that followed an old wall all of the way.

Caudale moor deserves far more respect than it usually gets as its a huge hill with no fewer than 6 ridges leaving its 2502ft summit.The summit is known as Stony cove pike which I think is a far better name.For a second or two I toyed with the idea of visiting a nearby Birkett top called John Bells banner but the swirling mist came down so we headed off towards Threshthwaite mouth cursing that smarmy Schafernaker..The col between Stony cove pike and and Thornthwaite crag turned out to be the highlight of the walk for me, there was no doubting the fact that we had moved from Hill to Mountain as we had a gruelling rocky decent followed by a steep path on scree to reach the summit of Thornthwaite crag, the days third top.

We slipped and slithered but eventually made it up that steep slope to arrive at the tall pillar of stones on top. Thornthwaite crag occupies a commanding position overlooking four valleys, its also our highest point for today..Thornthwaite crag is really a subsidiary summit of nearby High street..but this proud top refuses to play second fiddle to the broad plateau, its one of the better known fells east of Kirkstone and always worth visiting. It is sometimes difficult to recall the details of some summits but those that climb here will never forget the 14ft column that stands on the top here as it is one of the most distinctive cairns in the whole of Lakeland...also to its merit it has a wicked view down the length of Windermere.

Our packed lunch was enjoyed here tucked behind the wall, along with several other Lakeland devotees...Cheese and coleslaw being the filling of the day, not that im getting much as I shared my scran with a ravenous Alfie..As we ate people came and went..one bloke fell on his arse on a slippery rock...he said he was ok but was clearly in pain..We eventually moved on, raising a numb posterior wasn't easy but we were soon going again...hats and gloves came into play as we walked the lofty Gray crag ridge...every single finger was numb..

Some great view along this ridge...to our left the Fairfield massif to our right lies High street, Kidsty pike and the Knott while ahead we saw Brock crags ,Angletarn pikes and Place fell....so many great hills..we hoped that the slopes off the hill were not going to be as steep as our earlier climb...sadly not..feet took a battering...any hill walker will tell you that it is far easier going up than it is going down....

Boy was I glad to get down from those slopes to eventually reach the track alongside Hayeswater gill. Almost back now...it had been a great day..boosting Karens Wainwright list by three to 143 and my second round to 40..Days this good are rare, but we are on holiday so I am hoping for more to come this week...there will be more believe me...im not a weatherman....lets get in and get these waterproofs dry ready for tomorrow.

Much to admire from Redmires.

19/08/2018.

Really nice today...cool and breezy with some lovely skies, so much nicer than those weeks and weeks of hot weather that we had to endure...Decided to go out today to recce my walk that I have submitted to Doncaster Ramblers winter programme, a moderate walk of around 10 miles. The starting point being the road end at Redmire reservoirs, a string of three reservoirs at Fulwood on the western boundary of the city of Sheffield. The reservoirs are filled from streams draining the Hallam moors, but at the moment the top reservoir is completely empty. There seems to be lots of work going on there at the moment to the dam wall,so im not sure if the reservoir has been drained while the work continues or just a lack of rainwater. we set off in light drizzle heading up the track beside the trees bound for Stanage edge..after 10 minutes or so I wondered if I had locked the car door, why do I do that? I couldn't remember, did I or didn't I?..Karen decided to go back to check [bless her]...she looked angry on return...yeah it was locked.

Before long we reached Stanedge pole, a landmark on these moors standing at 1437 ft, the pole marks the boundary between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. A pole has stood on this site since at least 1550 beside an old packhorse track which followed the line of a Roman road. ...Its an interesting place also said to be the ancient boundary between Northumbria and Mercia...Wonderful history.

Shortly after passing the pole we reached Stanage edge..early in the walk, but this was to be the highlight of the walk,popular with walkers, joggers and Climbers, the Gritstone edge seems to go on forever...There are many of theses edges in the Peak district, far more edges than peaks...walking along it i wondered why they never called it the Edge district instead of the Peak district..i got to thinking of the different edges we had walked and did I have a favourite?...I suppose my favourite would be The Roaches with Stanage coming a close second...but then there is Derwent...Curbar/Froggatt,,,Baslow...Birchin...etc etc etc...whatever the fave it looked beaut up there today.

We walked along the edge, camera working in overdrive, keeping to the very edge wherever possible...reaching the trig point we thought of elevenses..a bit early yet, lets press on a bit further...time for one last photograph first.

Reluctantly we left the edge and headed down to Upper Burbage bridge...where we wolfed down Coffee and Cheese butties...A passing walker with three dogs took a liking to Alfie, and Alfie took a liking to his doggie treats...dryed Liver and dryed heart..i stuck to my Cheese..Alfie licked his lips as he watched his new friends walk off..i passed this way yesterday on my walk we walked along the crest of Burbage rocks, today we took the lower path...the views are just as good and far more sheltered.

Such a popular walking area but strangely quiet today...in fact there were more people climbing the rocks today than those walking the paths...love to watch these climbers

Walking down the path here we recalled that this was Alfies first walk...11 years ago...a little puppy 12 weeks old brilliant white,we remembered he was scared of sheep, he walked round puddles, never left our sides...now look at him, covered in crap ...yes covered in crap but I wouldn't want him any other way....boy do I love that dog....leaving the main path we headed off on a track towards the Houndkirk road.

Enjoyed the path crossing the moors here, much quieter...I like quieter..we reached the Houndkirk road and things got a bit noisy..a few motorbikes, I don't mind motorbikes as long as they stick to the rules...lots of mountain bikers...I don't mind them either....boy am I mellowing or what.. Ahead of us lies the city, I don't mind the city either...

Getting thirsty now...but hurrah, we eventually made it to the Norfolk arms at Ringinglow..Dogs allowed [that's a bonus]...we sunk into comfy chairs by the log burner...not lit today but I might reserve this seat for November when I head this way again with the Ramblers..Wow look they have my favourite..Abbeydales Moonshine..I managed 2 pints...I would have been rude to just have had one...Its a nice old pub..dogs scattered about underneath tables..when in a pub I like to people watch....2 young lads came in, can I have a sip of the cider to try said one to the chap behind the bar...of course..oh that's a bit sweet...can I try the red Rabbit...of course..oh tastes strong.....um...just give me a Carling...what a twat !!!

I could have sat there all afternoon, but we needed to press on....press on down to the Porter brook...So close to Sheffield..but silence

A lovely walk up Porter clough followed..then a walk along Fulwood lane, somehow or other I missed the path back to Redmires..a passing walker told us where the path was..why did I listen to him as he hadn't a clue and we walked a mile that we didn't need too...it was my fault as I had a map in my rucksack but was too lazy to get it out to look at...I will never ask anyone again.

We eventually found the path...a Permissive path over Rud hill..where we followed the enchanting path across the moor back to Redmires..Did the walk work?...sort of...might have to tweak it a bit...bearing in mind that in November it will be getting dark by mid afternoon..im sure it will all work out fine.

07/08/2018

Roseberry topping.

A walk in the Cleveland hills today with my old mate Keith, not seen him for a few months so it was good to catch up and have a walk. The old boys not been very well so we are not going far, we decided to walk up to Roseberry topping [ a hill] from Gribdale gate..Keiths a pretty fit bloke being part of Redcar running club...having run marathons and half marathons for years but has been a bit run down the last couple of months after illness,so this short walk was going to help him slowly build up his fitness level and get him back on track...Gribdale gate is a good spot to start a walk, there were already 30 or so cars parked up...never mind.

Gribdale gate certainly is a popular spot, a mile out of the village of Great Ayton which was where a young Captain Cook spent his boyhood..Behind us to the South up on Easby moor stands Captain Cooks monument, we are not visiting it today, but are heading north along the Cleveland way heading for Roseberry topping..Our hill of choice soon came into view, a most distinctive hill, only 1050ft high..its a hill that grabs the attention.

The heather on Newton moor was looking grand today..there is no where quite like the North York moors when it comes to Heather. Spoke to a bloke along here walking a chihuahua..only 9 months and about the size of a large Rat..never been a fan of little dogs, but this little fella made me think again. he gave us a right warm welcome..The man said he was looking after it for a neighbour while he was away on holiday..these dogs are not big walkers and I reckon it will snuff it on a tough moorland walk..i can see him falling out with his neighbour....The Topping got closer and closer..looking quite steep...A spur from the Cleveland way branches off to reach the summit...zig zaging and zag zigging its way upwards.

Several people about now but then this is such a popular hill, families out picnicking.. seasoned walkers[ like me and Keith].. Joggers...kids balling...Grandma's puffing...Dogs marauding...Girls in high heels...designer jeans...Grandads hobbling...White trainers...naughty kids getting rather closer to the edge...Shouting and screaming...selfies to the left...selfies to the right...kids getting shouted at...throwing of Banana skins...Reebok rucksacks...the smell of aftershave..Im sure I saw someone looking at a road atlas.....…..me and Keith found a spot[ relatively quiet ] to empty our snap boxes and flasks..looking out across to Middlesborough, keith pointed out the River Tees, the Transporter bridge and the Riverside stadium, with the help of binoculars..This is his home town..a proud smoggie….we finished our sandwiches turned to look at the crowds and said "lets get the hell off this hill".....away from these imbeciles...Did I just hear a party popper?

Even the Trig pillar had been violated.

We soon returned to quieter paths..some great views and no doubt I will return again someday....possibly a wet Tuesday in February, when the brats are back at school..we returned to Gribdale gate, it had been ok...good to get out...Keith said he was feeling so much better just for getting out...the power of the countryside and walking never fails.