Tilberthwaite, Hole Rake, Erin Crag, Black Sails, Wetherlam, Dry Cove Bottom. Cumbria. Thu 28 June 2007

I had a clear drive to Coniston then on to Tilberthwaite Gill car park. It was overcast when I set off and surprisingly chilly for late June. During the walk the temperature had dropped to 8deg C. There is a nice large car park and surprisingly no pay and display meter. I hope this blot on the landscape doesn’t appear. I set off up the path that climbs above Yewdale Beck and at the fork took the left branch along the high path on the south side of the valley.

Copper Mine workings.

The narrow valley climbs to Crook Beck where it widens and the imposing east wall of Wetherlam dominates the panorama. The path swings to the south and continues easily up towards Hole Rake. It must have been an important route in the past as higher up it is a well engineered track. The wind increased considerably at the summit and it made me think how it would be on the summits. A sharp contrast to the steady climb followed. It was a steep stony descent to the Coniston mines access road and the next part of my walk. On the way down I noticed some tents strung out along the side of Mouldry Bank. One was actually pitched on the path a bit lower down so as I passed I had a nosey. It turned out not to be tent but a shelter and inside was someone in a sleeping bag apparently asleep. This was very strange as the time was 9:15am. Further along the path was a man lying on the grass in a sleeping bag and no tent or shelter, another strange situation. I continued up past a large rock slab with many initials cut into it and on to a substantial ruin which looks like it housed a large waterwheel.

Across the valley was a steep incline going directly to the top of Kennel Crag. I decided to follow it as I could see what looked like a mine entrance at the top. Half way up I came across another one I hadn’t seen. It was a horizontal adit and part way in was a grill barring the way. When I’d climbed to the higer one that was barriered off as well.

Interior of a mine heading.

Summit of Black Sails.

I met a path which took me on to Erin Crag and I followed it up along the ridge. It was quite faint in places and obviously not often used. I couldn’t understand it as it was a superb route up the ridge and a far superior way onto Black Sails. There are good views both sides and no horrible sqelchy bogs like down in the valley bottom. I walked steadily up and even though the wind increased a bit it was nothing like as bad as I’d expected. Just below the summit was a nice alcove behind some rocks and this was the perfect place to eat my lunch. On the final approach to Black Sails summit I came across a very nice spring issuing from the fell side. I made a note for a future possible tent pitch.

The cloud base had been clipping the surrounding summits but Wetherlam seemed to have escaped. I crossed the saddle and followed the stony path to the summit cairn. I was lucky as I had reasonable visibility; the top can be difficult to find in mist. There were great views all around and I stopped to take a few photos before starting the descent of the NE ridge. It’s a very nice way up Wetherlam but not a particularly nice way down due to some steep sections which are slippery in the wet.

Summit of Wetherlam.

Above Dry Cove Beck.

At Birk Fell Hawse the gradient reduced and a nice path took over. I was soon back into old mine workings and tracks and wandered down to rejoin Yewdale Beck. Many people were coming up as I descended. Just before the car park I had a look in one of the side slate quarries and noticed a collection of climbing helmets and other climbing gear hanging from a climbing rope. Presumably the owners will be turning up sometime during the day to use them.