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OS Grid ref: NY 36489 30016
Lat/Long: 54.6612130,-2.9860750
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The weather forecast for today is mixed with wind and showers.
Its better later in the week but another lockdown (no2) is due
on Wed midnight and I’m not sure how it affects travel to
Cumbria. I arrived on the outskirts of Mungrisdale in the rain
but it soon slackened as I set off. I put full waterproof on
anyway as it was fairly cold at around 4degC. My car was the
only one there as I left the muddy layby to the south of the
village. I headed west passing the phone box and cottages then
through the gate to follow the very wet track to the stone
slabbed path diversion across the bog. |
The Tongue ahead. |
Rainbow above Bullfell Beck. |
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Some of the slabs have sunk and are partly submerged. I reached
the bridge over Bullfell Beck and shortly after took the right
track heading towards Bannerdale. My objective is the east ridge
up The Tongue which isn’t showing as having a route up on the
map but Wainwrights book shows a route up towards Bowscale Fell.
A few shafts of chilly sunshine appeared in the Bullfell Beck
valley and I was treated to a nice rainbow. |
Looking down from The Tongue. |
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Up the main track I came to the ruined stone wall that
Wainwright refers to as ‘a ruined bield in the bracken’. I
turned off right here along a faint path through the dying
bracken. It climbed steadily and didn’t present any problems.
However the recent rain caused it to be very slippery higher up.
The great views back down to Mungrisdale were very picturesque.
Before the rock outcrops started I came to a flat spot which
seemed just big enough for a tent. There was a reasonable phone
signal but no water nearby. |
Mungrisdale from The Tongue. |
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If I was to use it I’d have to carry my water up from Bullfell
Beck. Some of the higher surrounding fells were still in clout
but the views improved a bit as I scrambled higher. Above the
rocks the fells flattened to a grassy section fro a while and a
nice small cairn. The continuing route became horribly wet and I
diverted to the left to pick up a narrow path slightly below the
ridge line. It eventually joined the main path up from
Bannerdale. On the saddle I lost the views and had to negotiate
some very boggy ground with frequent detours. |
Small cairn on The Tongue. |
Solo walker on a snowy Sharp Edge. |
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Eventually I reached the saddle above the source of the River
Glenderamackin. The Next part of my route was up the ridge
towards Atkinson Pike. There was cloud above and wet snow on the
hillside. To my left I could see a lone walker climbing the
precarious Sharp Edge. Higher up the snow became a bit deeper
and easier to negotiate. I said hello to a couple of groups of
walkers coming down. When I reached Atkinson Pike all I could
see was an expanse of white through the mist. It was just below
freezing but the wind wasn't too bad. I reached the Ordnance
Survey trig point marker ring and took a photo before starting
my descent to the east below Hallsfell Top. |
Across Blencathra summit. |
The replaced trig point ring. |
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It was a very well engineered zig zag path and even with wet
snow it wasn't a problem with care. Along Scales Fell I had
impressive, though hazy views, as I descended below the cloud.
Quite a few people were walking up even though it was around
midday. Above Mousethwaite Comb I took the very indistinct path
down the south side of Knotts. |
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It was very narrow but improved later to become a nive wide
green path which wound its way easily down the hillside. I
reached the road and continued through the gates to Southerfell
cottages where I turned right down a wet track which is also the
footpath. I followed it to the River Glenderamackin where I
crossed over a nice and picturesque stone bridge. The path
continued up to the road where I turned left to head back to my
car. The overcast weather now turned rainy and for the last mile
I walked in the rain and was glad I'd put full waterproof on. |
Southerfell Cottages. |
Picturesque bridge over the River Glenderamackin. |
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