A July weekend in Ulverston with a disappointing weather forecast left me with a conundrum. Try a long run in the rain and clag and risk getting lost or choose shorter options with guaranteed success. With 9 months left in this challenge I chose certainty over adventure. Coniston Fells Saturday and Kirkstone Pass Sunday.
Saturday 22nd July
A familiar car park above Coniston was accessed via Coniston Water and the town. The lake looked foreboding with reduced visibility an example of what to expect. Today’s plan was to climb Brim Fell before moving on to new Wainwrights Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar and Wetherlam with a couple of possible extensions.
Brim Fell
I’ve been to Brim Fell a few times before and I’m using it today as a bridge to Swirl How and a circular route back to the car park. After climbing through a quarry I take a right turn near a tarn and head directly for the top. Even near the summit I’m struggling to see anything familiar despite having visited in March. As expected there isn’t anyone around and only the rain and clag for company.
Swirl How
Swirl How is at the end of a long crag. On a nice day I would be able to see Levers Water below but today I can’t see anything. There are a few false tops on the ridge but I eventually reach the summit. I’ll be back here later for the path to Wetherlam.
Great Carrs
Great Carrs isn’t far away from Swirl How on the same ridge. It is most famous for a Haxifax Bomber crash in 1944 that killed all crew members. It doesn’t take me long to reach the top. Now for the hard part, leaving the ridge and finding Grey Friar.
Grey Friar
I’ve passed Grey Friar in the Old County Tops Fell Race but haven’t climbed it before. I’m expecting to have difficulty but after a couple of hundred metres descent there is a nice path. It joins the path to Swirl How so I know where to go after Grey Friar. After a couple of likely summits I finally get to the top. It should have great views of Cockley Beck and the Scafells but today remains Grey.
Wetherlam
I follow the path back to Swirl How where I see my first walkers since the quarries a couple of hours before. The path takes me down the crag and accross a ridge called prison band (no idea why) a gradual climb takes me to the top of Wetherlam and now the only thing left is to get back to the car. There isn’t a recognised path so some contouring is needed to get started.
Back To The Car
The most interesting part of the run. On a gradual downhill run. Pathless at times into the valley then past Consiton Copper Mines before cutting back into a network of trails leading to the car park. I miss a right turn and have to fight thought a few hundred metres of bracken to get back on track. Finally it is a relief to hit the road. Only half a mile uphill to the car. It is a relief to be back with only a short detour.
Summary
New Wainwrights bagged Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Wetherlam,
Wainwrights left 35
Northern Fells
Great Sca Fell, Brae Fell, Meal Fell, Great Cockup, Longlands Fell, Binsey
North Western Fells
Castle Crag
Southern Fells
Lingmell, Allen Crags, Slight Side, Cold Pike, Harter Fell (Eskdale), Seathwaite Fell, Hard Knot, Green Crag, Lingmoor Fell, Black Fell, Holme Fell
Western Fells
Starling Dodd, Great Bourne
Central Fells
Pavey Ark, Loft Crag, Tarn Crag (Easedale), Blea Rigg, Gibson Knott, Helm Crag, Silver How, Loughrigg Fell
Eastern Fells
Completed
Far Eastern Fells
Stony Cove Pike, Gray Crag, Hartstop Dodd, Sallows, Baystones, Sour Howes, Troutbeck Tongue
Companions: None
Sunday 23rd July
Tracy and the dogs didn’t enjoy my running gear drying on the radiators Saturday night. Dry heat in July isn’t good for anyone.
On Sunday morning I was ready to go again. Stony Cove Pike, Hartstop Dodd, Thornthwaite Beacon and Gray Crag from Kirkstone Pass. The only other vehicle in the car park is driven by a bald middle aged man. He gets out while I’m putting my shoes on. “I love the fells like this, much more pictucesque” he say taking a photo of Red Screes. I say something about going up but he gets in his car and drives away. Looks like I’m climbing on my own.
Best Weather Of The Day
I experience the best weather of the day not long after the first climb. Soon after reaching St Raven’s Edge the cloud lifts and I’ve got a glimpse of countryside below. The wet and misty weather is still ahead of me and I continue to climb.
Stony Cove Pike
Stony Cove Pike sounds like a hill on a bay in the West Indies but it is our first new Wainwright today. It is also known as Cauldale Moor and John Brown’s Banner. Wainwright called it Cauldale Moor but Ordnance Survey mark the peak he chose as Stony Cove Pike. The gradual climb has been undertaken in driving rain.
Hartstop Dodd
Turning left from Stony Cove Pike takes me to Hartstop Dodd. It is longer than I thought to reach the top which is 150 metres lower than Stony Cove. On a nice day the views across to Red Pike would be astounding but today it is 10 metres or less. Climbing back up is much more interesting and seems to take pass quicker.
Thornthwaite Beacon
I’ve been to Thornthwaite Beacon before on the Kentmere Horseshoe and today it is in the route as the end point for the Gray Crag ridge. The route from Stony Cove Pike to Thornthwaite Crag takes in a descent to 400m and a climb back up the 784m. Part of the climb is scree similar to Fairfield from Grisdale Tarn and I’m not keen on sliding down in the opposite direction. The beacon always looks imposing and in the reduced visibility today even more than usual.
Gray Crag
Another left hand ridge run takes me to Gray Crag. It is the least exciting top of the weekend and I need to check the OS maps on my phone to make sure the small pile of rocks is indeed my last new Wainwright of the weekend. The technology confirms it is my destination and I’m delighted to be able to head back to the car.
Back To the Car
I’m happy to find an alternative path which cuts off the scree descent off Thornthwaite. It isn’t long until I’m back in the pass and climbing up to Stony Cove Pike. I find some grassy trods to avoid the paths and soon the sound of the windmills reaches my ears. They are still turning in the gloom as I jog past to the car. There is a young couple in the car park taking a selfie. I offer to take their photo as I’m totally soaked anyway. Their next stop is a campsite and erecting a tent.
After a 40 minute drive I’m back in Ulverston and washing another set of clothes. I’ve done 7 new Wainwrights over the weekend but haven’t seen much at all.
Summary
New Wainwrights bagged Stony Cove Pike, Gray Crag, Hartstop Dodd
Wainwrights left 32
Northern Fells
Great Sca Fell, Brae Fell, Meal Fell, Great Cockup, Longlands Fell, Binsey
North Western Fells
Castle Crag
Southern Fells
Lingmell, Allen Crags, Slight Side, Cold Pike, Harter Fell (Eskdale), Seathwaite Fell, Hard Knot, Green Crag, Lingmoor Fell, Black Fell, Holme Fell
Western Fells
Starling Dodd, Great Bourne
Central Fells
Pavey Ark, Loft Crag, Tarn Crag (Easedale), Blea Rigg, Gibson Knott, Helm Crag, Silver How, Loughrigg Fell
Eastern Fells
Completed
Far Eastern Fells
Sallows, Baystones, Sour Howes, Troutbeck Tongue
Companions: None
If you enjoyed reading this blog I’m sure you would like others in the Wainwrights The Final Countdown series.
