Return to
Whittle Wanderer|
(Fairfield horseshoe) Ambleside, High Pike, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Heron Pike, Cumbria. Wed 28 June 2006 |
|
|
The weather forecast of a sunny morning and rain in the afternoon turned out to be completely wrong. The rain started as I drove to Rydal, north of Ambleside. I parked outside St Mary’s Church, put on all my waterproofs and set off. I walked past Rydal Hall and found the track that skirted Rydal Park and by-passed the main A591 and took me to the outskirts of Ambleside. |
|
|
At the roundabout I headed up Kirkstone Road a short way then left up Nook Lane. I was surprised by the amount of development and also what looked like extensions to the Education College. At Low Sweden Bridge the track climbed up onto the fell and into the mist. For a short way I caught glimpses of the valley below but soon all I could see was the mist and a few metres of track before me. It was uncomfortably warm in my waterproofs but I preferred that than getting soaked from the outside. |
|
|
The mist looked settled and hardly any wind meant it was unlikely to clear. I plodded in into thickening gloom. I suppose this is payback for the relatively reasonable run of good weather I’ve had on my day walks. Eventually I saw the metal post that indicated High Bakestone and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I reached the Hart Crag area. The wall I was following took a turn to the left and I stopped by the small tarn at the start of the descent. I thought a coffee break was in order and as I had a one man storm shelter in my sack I used it to sit in a calm and warm environment while I sipped my coffee. The comfort can be too relaxing and it took some effort to pack up and get on my way again. Following the wall through the mist I came to the short bouldery climb to the summit cairn on Hart Crag. With nothing to see I pressed on, following a compass bearing to find the path towards Fairfield. I was soon on it and wandered along in the misty but windless conditions. The summit of Fairfield is fairly flat with a few stone shelters. I picked the first I came to and stopped to have my lunch. There was still nothing to see so I didn’t linger long. |
|
|
|
Once again using my compass I headed south towards Great Rigg. I descended through the mist hoping for a view, any view. At Heron Pike I could see a little more but no views of the surrounding mountains. I started the steep descent to Rydal and in the distance saw a group of teenagers coming up. |
|
|
|
|
They asked where the path went. I told them ‘Fairfield’ which didn’t seem to register. They were heading for Grasmere and had taken the wrong path. They seemed to be a party of Germans and a man and woman were in charge. I recommended they turn round and descend, which they did. At the lane in Rydal they went in to Rydal Mount, which was the home of William Wordsworth from 1813 to 1850, while I had a look round St Mary’s Church nearby. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
