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OS Grid ref: NY 34328 26879
Lat/Long: 54.632748, -3.018855
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Torrential rain on the M6 m
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Bank Holiday Monday and the warmest day of the year so far. The
M6 motorway was fairly clear on my drive north but when I
reached Scales on the A66 there were many people around even
though it was 07:45am. I left my car in a layby on the south
side of the road where there was shade under bushes. |
White Horse Inn, Scales. |
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Walking past the White Horse Inn there were many walkers already
out on the lane and heading up the fell. I was on the minor lane
towards Mungrisdale and when I reached the first gate I turned
left to head up the track up the fellside. It’s a quiet path and
I had it to myself. |
Lots of walkers. |
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Higher up the on-line map shows the path route where there is no
trace on the ground. The actual path is correctly shown on the
O.S. map. I reached the path junction at the top of Mousethwaite
Comb where there were many walkers heading up the fells and also
coming down. I descended to the footbridge over the River
Glenderamacking and followed the track up to Mungrisdale Common.
All the fells were bathed in sunshine but looking up Sharp Edge
there were many walkers scrambling up and some not properly
equipped. |
Distant view of Clough Head. |
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At the high poi |
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At the saddle I turned left to head up towards Atkinson Pike but
at Blue Screes left the path to head across the base of the
screes roughly along the contour. My objective was to check a
spring I’d used 10years ago on a backpack trip. I reached a good
sheep track and continued to the line of the stream. I found the
spring at the source of the stream and it was clear and running
out of the mountain and not off it. |
Blencathra. |
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I then set off straight up the north side of Blencathra
following the line of the higher dry stream. As the gradient
eased I found a couple of possible camping spots with a phone
signal but I was now getting close to the main paths and could
hear many people up ahead. On the summit and the top ridge of
Halls Fell I was disappointed to see the new (ish) trig point
marker ring had been damaged with a chunk out and a crack. Lots
of people were out enjoying the sunshine and it was good to see
many family groups. It was a bit hazy but still with good
distant views. |
Blencathra & the Trig Point marker ring |
Damaged marker ring. |
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I followed the summit ridge to the SW then down the steep zig
zag descent. Following the minor south path I reached the track
along the contour and turned east then steeply down towards
Blease Farm. along the wall I teached the path down through the
woods to Threlkeld car park and down to the road. |
West view along Blencathra. |
It was a nice warm sunny walk along the old road through the
trees to pick up the path along the A66. I got back to my car
and was glad I’d left it in the shade as it was cool inside. The
volume of traffic was incredible and it took a long time to
cross the road and both traffic streams eemed continuous. I
headed back to the M6 at Penrith and waited ages at the traffic
lights to get on the motorway. Heading south was busy but near
Lancaster the traffic slowed right down for several miles but
fortunately kept moving.
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