Wast Water, Brackenclose, Corpse Road, Illgill Head, Whin Rigg, Greathall Gill, River Irt, Cumbria. Wed 23 May 2007

As I approached Wast Water the cloud base was fairly low. I parked near the entrance to the Youth Hostel at Wasdale Hall and started walking along the road by Wast Water, heading for Wasdale Head. It was totally overcast but I had a nice view of the screes even though all the tops were in cloud. The walking was easy and pleasant and few vehicles were around. About half way along the lake the drizzle started and the cloud began to drop.

England's green and pleasant land,
Pay up or else!

By the time I reached the National Trust car park at Brackenclose I had to take shelter under the trees to put on all my waterproofs. I was opposite the car park charge sign and I’ve mentioned this before but I’ll mention it again. The extortionate charges, £4.80 for the day, are going to make people park on the road for free. The cost is equivalent to town parking without any facilities. Lower and more sensible charges will tempt people to use the car parks. I headed up the Old Corpse Road and into the rain. There was a bit of wind but not too much yet.

Near the top of the pass I turned right and followed the wall up the side of Straighthead Gill and on up towards the summit of Illgill head. I climbed into the cloud and that was the last time I’d be able to see anything for many miles. Higher up the wind increased but near the summit I was able to find some shelter behind a wall to eat my lunch. The climbing was now over and I had an easy walk along the summit. I could just about see the two large tarns on the approach to Whin Rigg. Over the top I descended to the top of Greathall Gill where I turned right and left the main path. As I started down I saw a group of walkers coming out of the mist from the Irton Fell path.

Wast Water outlet.

Bridge overt the River Irt.

I didn’t get chance to talk to them as I’d already started my descent by the time they reached the path branch. The descent path improved as I got lower and I had to descend almost to the bottom before I could see anything. The lower reached of Wast Water appeared but I couldn’t see very far up the lake. At the bottom I followed the River Irt for a while before crossing the stone bridge and re-joining the road then back to my car.