Lake District Holiday
Thursday 5th July 2018
Today we decided to have a fairly restful day as we were both quite tired. We had a lie in and then went down into Ambleside, we had a few shopping bits to sort. We then headed over to Rydal and walked up to the caves. W had seen one of them across the valley when we did the Fairfield Horseshoe Walk.
We next went to Hawkshead and had an ice cream before going to have a look round Coniston. From there we went back via Skelwith to wander out to the waterfall Skelwith Force.
We managed to park for free on the edge of the road and joined the footpath along the edge of the river up to the waterfall.
We then headed back to the apartment for some dinner and a relaxing evening reading up about tomorrows climbing options.
Lake District Holiday
Wednesday 4th July 2018
Today we decided to try again head up past Keswick to park at Kettlewell Car Park for a paddle on Derwent Water. We called via Booths supermarket in Keswick to pick up BBQ supplies and then headed to the carpark. We got there and once again it was full! We decided we would try the carpark further down the road and see what it was like for carrying the kayak etc down to the lake. It was manageable so we set off with everything to the stoney beach.
With the kayak inflated and everything in dry bags and tied on we set off round the lake. It was a smaller lake than some of the ones we have paddled on this holiday so we decided to try and paddle right round the whole lake. We stopped on a couple of the islands on our way round too but didn't stay on them long as there was plenty of Goose poo around!! Back at the beach Tim sorted the Kayak out and hung everything up to dry and I went to the car to get the BBQ stuff. By now we were both quite hungry. Most of the times we have paddled over the last 2 weeks there has been someone having a BBQ and making us feel very jealous. Today was our turn, it was very nice too!
Lake District Holiday
Tuesday 3rd July 2018
Today's chosen activity was climbing. We decided on Middlefell Buttress and a route with the same name. This was a multi-pitch route so we would need to carry all our stuff with us up the climb. This meant we were going to pack light and only take essentials. We loaded everything into the car and headed for Langdale Fell.
We parked at Old Dungeon Ghyll Pub and got ready to walk up to the buttress. We could see that there were some climbers on the route we were planning but they were making good progress. The walk up was very steep and hot.
The last climber was just setting off as we got to the base of the climb. We were quite happy to take a pew on a rock to rest and cool down from the walk up till the section of the climb was clear. The first section had a tricky start as the rock was quite polished from many climbers taking on the route. The rock was also hot from the sun shining on it all day!
The next pitch was long at about 45m and would make communication difficult so we divided it into 3 smaller sections.
At the top of this section there was a grassy plateau were we sat and had our lunch. Luckily there was no one following us up the climb so we could take our time!
Just the last pitch to go now. The first bit was slightly awkward with our backpacks on as it made us feel a bit precariously balanced. After this though the rest of the climb was nice. Finally at the top it felt good to have climbed the 80m! We just had to work out how to get down again!! Often harder than the ascent itself! The path was well used but rather steep and slippery with loose stones. There was lots of bracken to old on to!!
Back down the bottom and back at the pub we relaxed with a drink to recover and look back at what we had just climbed!
Tonight neither of us felt like cooking any dinner so we visited the Chinese Take Away in Ambleside!
Lake District Holiday
Monday 2nd July 2018
Today we decided to head over to Coniston Water to have a paddle. We parked up at Machell Coppice and took everything down to the stoney beach. Not long after setting off a breeze made the progress quicker, though it also made the water more choppy!
We planned to paddle down to Peel Island and hopefully we could land on it for a rest! It was lovely on the island and I spent ages paddling to cool off! We paddled back up the other side hoping it would be a bit more sheltered from the wind - unfortunately not, it was quite choppy and hard going in places as we were paddling straight into the wind!
We paddles 5.8 miles by the time we got back to the beach. We sat in the sun for a bit while the kayak dried off before packing it up. There was a family having a BBQ in the beach - definitely a great idea we should do next time we paddle!!
Lake District Holiday
Sunday 1st July 2018
This morning we got up early and got ready to go out for our walk. The route planned is the Fairfield Horseshoe - taking in 9 summits on the way!!
We parked in Rydal and set off walking just past 8am hoping to do the ascent in the cooler sunshine. We crossed the river and headed up past the church - steep going but nice underfoot to start with. Very soon we were on a stoney path amongst bracken gaining height quite rapidly. Even leaving earlier it was very hot! We eventually made it to the summit of Nab Scar.
We still had more ascent to do but we had already done just under half of it. The path continued at a much easier gradient. Heron Pike was the next hill ahead, it had 2 summits - Heron Pike Summit and Heron Pike North Top.
The next section was a much nicer walk along the top of the ridge before more ascent up on to Great Rigg. For the last bit of ascent we were joined by another group of walkers coming up from Grasmere.
The other walkers all stopped for lunch so we thought we would continue on to the top of Fairfield and stop there. The path was hard going and I was relieved to finally be at the top of the highest point on our walk. By now I was very hot and in much need of sitting and cooling down!! We had some lunch and Tim took some photos of the views.
Feeling much more refreshed we set off again. The path was initially a nice going ridge path. The next summit was Hart Crag. There was unfortunately some negative progress in the form of some down hill scrambling. The path then steeply rose again back up again to Hart Crag!
Once again the path descended only to go back up! Dove Crag was next on the list! At this point the main up hill sections were done!
On the way down we went over High Pike and Low Pike.
By the time we got to Low Pike we were still at just over 500m so still a lot of down to go. The path was initially very scrambly and then turned into a track. It felt like it was going on forever and I really just wanted to be back at the car already!!
Just as we were getting to the bridge back to the car ark we saw that there was an ice cream van there. That was a very welcome sight and much required!!
Back at the apartment and a cool shower my feet definitely needed to be up!!
Lake District Holiday
Saturday 30th June 2018
This morning we decided to head back to Ullswater to hire a sailing boat. We had looked into it the day we went there for a paddle. Our boat was a Seafarer.
While we got changed and ready they prepared the boat for us. Once in the boat and Tim got us going he explained the different bits I needed to know and what to do. He took us up the lake to a nice clear area where I could then take the helm! Due to the mountains around us the wind was very variable. We spent 2 hours going back and forth, up ad down round the lake. I really enjoyed my sailing experience!
Once back on land we got dried off and changed and found a spot to sit for lunch looking over the lake. It was lovely sitting in the sun watching the boats as there was a breeze today.
We decided that this afternoon we would walk up to Aira Force and High Force.
This evening we went to the pub for dinner and then had a relaxing evening. Tomorrow we are planning an early start to walk the Fairfield Horseshoe avoiding the heat so an early night is in order!
