Harter Fell (Mardale)

Well its been some time since we were last out! Peter and I did Scafel Pike back in June and we have not been out since. So we were all raring to go for this walk. We were joined on this one by Paul who has not been out for a while with us. The last couple of walks we have discussed doing High Street but have opted for another walk so we planned on doing High Street this time.  Paul drove to my house and Peter picked us both up just after 5.45 am on the morning the clocks went back so we had gained an hour.

When we set off we realised that Paul had already done High Street so we had to choose another walk. We decided to still head to Mardale Head on Haweswater and tackle Harter Fell and maybe Branstree.  We arrived at Mardale Head just before 8.00 am in time to boot up and tuck into the Angus pie to get us started.  There was low cloud over the tops but you could tell this was a great start point with fells on all sides of Haweswater.

We started walking at 8.00 am and set off through the gate following the path towards Nan Bield Pass. We could see the return path at this point as well via Gatescarth Pass.  It was quite a steady climb following the beck up towards Small Water crossing the stream just before reaching Small Water.  This would be a perfect location for a summers bait stop but it was a little damp and windy today so we carried on around Small Water, climbing steadily up to Nan Bield Pass. The path became a little steeper as we left Small Water and as we got higher and looked back we got a great view of Small Water with Haweswater in the background, just a shame it was not good weather for the camera! It was also starting to rain so time for the waterproofs. We arrived at the small stone shelter at Nan Bield Pass just after 9.00 am. We met another walker here who had taken the route up Gatescarth Pass and was heading towards High Street on our right. We stopped for a cuppa and a sandwich and then turned left from our ascent towards the summit of Harter Fell. Around 40 minutes later we were at the top, not a lot to see from the quite flat top and visibility was not great today either due to the weather. We stopped for a quick photo, the only one of the day and then started to follow the fence down towards Gatescarth Pass.

Very quickly we were on a wide path winding down towards the pass, Peter and Paul in particular got quite a pace going down the hill. We arrived at the pass about 30 minutes later and took another bait stop. Ahead, in the sometimes clearing mist we could see the ascent to Branstree. We had maintained quite a pace so far, added to the fact that we had not been out for a while I could tell that the climb and subsequent descent of Branstree would not be great for the knees so I decided not to go. I tried to persuade Peter and Paul to go alone and catch me up on the way down. However in true Musketeer spirit they said it was all or nothing so we were on our way back to the car and it wasn't even noon!

As we had only done the one top, the descent was relatively easy although I just knew it would have been very different had I done Branstree. It was not until the day after when I came to write up this post that I realised I had already done Branstree on the same day we did Tarn Crag.  The day we found a car half way up the track towards Tarn Crag and the same day we had our Battle Royale with the paste eggs.  We were back at the car about 12.30 and stopped for a couple of pints and a game of pool. We were home again for 3.00 pm. A nice steady walk to get us back into it and my 38th top. Hopefully we can squeeze one or two more in before Christmas.

Tarn Crag and Branstree

Peter picked me up just after 6 am and we drove to Steves, on the road by 6.15.  As the weather forecast was not clear we were not sure whether to go to Great End or to Longsleddale.  As we thought it would be wet to start with at Great End we went with the Longsleddale option so we turned off the A66 and headed for Kendal.  We arrived about 8am and got tucked into the traditional Angus the butchers Steak pie.  A great start to the day again!  We parked at the end of the road into Longsleddale and started walking up the gravelly path.  It was a steady start and very gradually started to climb.  After about a half hour we came across an unexpected sight on the pathway.

We are not sure how this car got as far up the track without 4

 wheel drive or indeed what it was doing there.  Anyway you can just make out the path we had just walked in the distance behind the car.

After about another 15 minutes we came to a gate where we had to turn right and start our climb proper.  We decided it was time for a cuppa so stopped just after the gate, behind the wall for shelter as the wind was starting to build up.  Peter had brought some paste eggs.  The 3 eggs were fully kitted out in red and white, one was Djibril Cisse, one was Kenwyne Jones and one was Andy Reid.  So first of all Cisse and Jones fought it out for top dog and Cisse drew first blood by cracking KJ's head.  A second blow to the gut finished him off.  Andy Reid took on the winner and Cisse must have been weakened in the battle with Jones as a crack appeared in his head straight away.  Reidy then followed up with a pile driver so the little

 Irish fella ended up the Champ.  After scoffing the Sunderland strike force we set off up the

 mountain sticking close to the fence all the way until the fence crossed our path.  We climbed over the fence and arrived at the summit around 10.30.  

You can make out to my right why this mountain is called Tarn Crag.  You can probably also make out that it was pretty chilly on the top.  So we didn't stay too long, just enough to get this photo and then set off on the same path and then started to drop quite a bit into a very boggy area before we started to climb again towards Branstree.  We arrived at the summit just before noon.  The top was about 10 yards behind a fence but very exposed so we took the opportunity 

to have another cuppa in the shelter of the wall.

Again you can see that the wind hadn't dropped and it was also raining quite heavily now.  Just over the fence on Steves left was the summit of Branstree.

We quickly jumped over the fence to reach the summit and then started back down to the car.

It was a steady descent again today so easy on the knees.  After 20 minutes or so we joined the path and wound our way down until we reached the gate where a few hours earlier the egg battle had taken place.  The car was still futher down the path as well and it would take some work to reverse back down the valley!  Arrived back at the car around 2pm and then went for a pint in Kirkby Lonsdale where Steve gave Peter and myself a lesson in pool!

So thats 6 tops down and its only 4th April, well on target.  The next planned walk is for the weekend of 10th May.