High Raise (Martindale) and Rest Dodd

Last walk out we did High Raise in the central fells but there are two fells called High Raise, the second and higher of the two is in Martindale.  So High Raise version 2 was on our list today.  Looking at the maps another one of the eleven tops left to do (Rest Dodd), was not too far away, so we were hoping to potentially get two in today.

It was my turn to drive, with thunder and lightning forecast for the afternoon, I got to Peters early, 6.00 am so we could maximise the good weather.  We arrived at the car park at Hartsop about 7.45 and we were booted and ready to walk at exactly 8.00 am.  It was already very warm, shorts and tee-shirt day.  There was a very good path at the start of the walk towards Hayeswater, passing a sheep shearing hut early on.

Sheep shearing hut at the start of the walk

The first point of interest on the walk was the Hayeswater Treatment hut which we reached within the first half hour.

Hayeswater Treatment Hut

A great wall, someone worked hard on this one.

After the treatment hut there was a short, steep climb to a really good path which took us to Hayeswater.

Looking back down the valley

 We passed a couple of waterfalls coming from Hayeswater on the way up to the man made lake.

Waterfall from Hayeswater

Hayeswater

Once we got to Hayeswater we crossed the stream and began to climb a little steeper and a long slog towards The Knott.  The path was fairly clear for most of the walk and as we began to climb it was getting very warm and sunny.  We stopped for a drink part way up this climb.  As it began to level out a little we could see the potential second top of the day, Rest Dodd to our left.  From this point in the walk it looked easily achievable although we would have to drop quite a bit to climb again after High Raise! 

Passing Rest Dodd, we will be back later!

We continued to walk along The Knott and towards Rampsgill Head still steadily climbing all the way.  Eventually we were looking down on Rest Dodd.  As we got onto Rampsgill Head we could see our first summit of the day ahead.  We just had a short dip and another climb ahead of us to reach the top.

Not far now to first summit of the day

We reached the first top of the day at 10.50, our highest point today. Great views of the surrounding fells but also we could see some clouds gathering in the distance.  We retraced our path back to Rampsgill Head and began to drop down to where the path turned for Rest Dodd.

High Raise summit

Looking back to High Raise

At this point we were 1km from the summit of Rest Dodd and for the first time it began to rain lightly.  We put on our waterproof jackets for the descent.  When we got to the bottom, the rain had stopped and it was going to be too warm climbing with the jackets on so we took them off.  At the bottom we could have called it a day and headed back to the car.  The next top was so close though and we had to go for it.

We had to go down to go back up!

The climb was tough, with one top weighing heavy in our legs and a steep climb by the wall, it was hard work, especially in warm sunshine.  But at 12 noon we reached the second summit of the day.  Very satisfying that we could get two done and we had managed to avoid the forecasted thunder storms.

View from the summit

Rest Dodd summit

We now just had to descend to Hayeswater and then it was a fairly steady drop back to the car.  Surprisingly my knee was holding out quite well today, not too much trouble on the descent at all.  We got back to the car at 1.50 pm, got changed and just as we set off it started to rain!  We stopped at the Brackenrigg Inn for a pint and some jockeys whips and as we were sat there we could see the storm coming along the valley towards us.  Within minutes we had torrential rain, thunder and lightning!

Route plan and stats for the walk.

A great walk, great weather and great company as always, most important only 9 left to do!

See you on the next walk.

High Street Walk

It's been a while since the Christmas Walk so when Peter called me a couple of weeks ago asking me if I fancied a walk, it was perfect timing.  It was only me and him today and his turn to drive so he picked me up at 6.00 am.  The forecast was good for the east but a little cloudy, clearing later for the west which was where we were heading.  We had decided to do High Street after missing out on that walk a couple of times previously so headed over the A66 in clear blue skies.  As we turned off the road towards Haweswater there was a road closed sign but another one saying the hotel was open so we ploughed on.  It turned out they were doing some pipe laying on the road although not on a Sunday so the trucks were all parked up and we drove straight through.  We arrived at the car park at the end of the reservoir before 8.00 am, got the boots on and started walking at exactly 8.00 am.  No Angus pies today but a decent substitute with Peters Bakery steak pie!  We ate as we walked, surrounded by very welcome blue skies.

Looking back to the summit of Rough Crag.
We had approached from the right of this photo.

When we walked Harter Fell recently we had noticed a path which looked more direct than walking round Haweswater and climbing up Rough Crag so we took the direct route.  It was a steady walk at first, gaining height slowly.  As we climbed we started to come out of the shade and already it was getting quite warm, I was beginning to regret having 3 layers on!  We followed the path, climbing all the time until we came to the first bait stop of the day at 9.00 am.  Time for a quick cuppa and then we continued on towards the shoulder where we would join Long Stile. We reckon we saved quite a bit of time taking this route and joined Long Stile about 10.00 am.

On Long Stile, Blea Water in the background, nearly at the top!

We were now in full sunshine and with the climb it was was getting very warm so time to shed a layer or two.  Looking back down to Rough Crag we had a quick look to see if we could see the Golden Eagle which is supposed to live here but nothing today.  We continued up Long Stile, now becoming more of a scramble over the crags.  As it was such a great day we stopped to take another photo of the great scenery around us.  The shot on the left shows Blea Water in the background and the summit of High Street is to my left out of shot.


Once we reached the top of the more difficult climb we were on a very flat summit heading towards the summit marked by a small trig point.  We reached the summit at 10.40 and took a few more photos for the record.

The summit

The views were fantastic today, we could see Thornthwaite Crag I did last summer with the lads from work, we could see Helvellyn and Striding Edge clearly.  Looking towards the west seemed a little more cloudy and as we wanted to stay in the sun we headed towards Kidsty Pike, knowing that we would not be able to get another top in on that route but at least we would stay in the sunshine and get the views.

Looking back to High Street

We descended the Straits of Riggindale towards Kidsty Pike and decided to take in The Knott on the way, including Kidsty Pike that would mean we would do 3 Wainwrights today although only one official top in High Street.  The photo on the right shows the view back up Riggindale towards the summit of High Street, you can make out the Roman Road on the right.

We continued on the path to The Knott and at this point we saw only the second person of the day although after this point it did get much busier.

The Knott

We arrived at The Knott about 11.20 and then paused for a few minutes to take a few more photos and  consider our next move.  We decided to back track slightly on the path we had taken and head for Kidsty Pike and then back down to the Reservoir.

Once we dropped down from The Knott back to the path we turned right and then a left climbing towards Kidsty Pike.

On Kidsty Pike looking for the Golden Eagle on Rough Crag

We arrived at Kidsty Pike just after noon and for the first time today it was a little breezy on the top so we dropped off the summit slightly to some rocks for  another bait stop, take some more photos and just chill in the sun.

This was also a good vantage point to see the Golden Eagle if it was around but again we saw nothing today.  We sat for 20 minutes or so and then started the descent back to the car park.

At first it was quite a rocky descent becoming quite steep as well so taking its toll on the knees.  We dropped down to the shores of Haweswater and then had about another 20 minutes to walk through the woods back to the car park which was now full despite the road closed sign!  We arrived at the car about 2 pm just as some cloud started to appear - perfect timing!

A really good walk today, fantastic scenery, some decent challenges and great company as always.

Click here to see more photos from the day and turn your speakers up and see if you can guess the music!

See you on the next one.