News Christmas - New Year Walks

Wed 26th December  Blencathra Pete Armstrong A

Fri 28th December Helm Crag Cathy Colam B

Sat 29th  December Great Cockup, Great Scafell and Knott Pete Armstrong B

Sun 30th December Catbells Alison & Halle B

Mon 31st  December Eagle Crag and Sergeants Crag Pete Armstrong A

Wed 2nd January Barrow and Outerside Alison & Halle B

If you are interested just book in the normal way.

Armboth Fell...The Direct Route



MCWW building at Thirlmere Dam

Beside Thirlmere Dam at the north end of the lake stands this rather fine Victorian structure associated with the dam, probably a pump house. The arms above the door are those of the proud owners; the City of Manchester....they just don't build them like this now.



Thirlmere from the Dam at the north end.

Wainwright suggests that Armboth Fell, up above Thirlmere, is one of the few fells not really worth climbing. I leave you to judge for yourself from our photos or go and try it yourself. The fell is notorious for being surrounded by some of the worst bogs in the district so the best time to climb it is when these are frozen over and last Friday dawned bright, clear and freezing cold offering the opportunity.




Thirlmere from the back road.

It was about 4km, a good hour's walk from the bus stop, over the dam and along the back road to the bottom of Launchy Gill where we took the path which climbs steadily up through the pine woods on the right bank of the Gill.

Thirlmere from the fellside above Launchy Gill

We followed the path up Launchy Gill, across the bridges and up the fellside but soon found ourselves too far to the left of the Gill heading away from Armboth Fell. This was no good, so Pete decided that we'd better take the "direct route"...straight up the fellside.




Thirlmere forms a backdrop to the "Direct Route" to Armboth Fell.

It was steep difficult ground culminating in a desperate trouser filling scramble ( though I don't think anyone did) on wet overgrown rock before we topped out in the woods above Launchy Gill with Armboth Fell beyond to the North.



Launchy Gill from the woods above Thackmell Crag.

Crossing Launchy Gill

Launchy Gill was not frozen though the boggy ground all around was iced over enough to ensure that we didn't get our feet wet.




Looking E. towards Helvellyn from the slopes of Armboth Fell.

The icy ground was solid under our feet and we made good progress, though there were a few pools of water to avoid as we made our way N. towards the summit.





The rocky outcrop at the summit of Armboth Fell

The rocky top of Armboth Fell rises to 1570 ft or 479m in the midst of a barren sea of bog and sodden tussocky grass. Beyond is the top of High Tove, on the ridge between Thirlmere and Watendlath. The best way to High Tove is to go north and join the path that comes up from Fisher Gill. We took a more direct line but it led into an area of wet tussocky grass which was a struggle before we met the path along the crest of the broad ridge.




Looking back to Armboth Fell from the icy path to High Tove





Looking N from the cairn on High Tove

The summit of High Tove ( 515m or 1665 ft ) is a dry oasis to be enjoyed before the wet descent towards Watendlath, it was 3 o' clock and the light was declining when we reached the village. We continued on up beside Bowdergate Gill and over Puddingstope Bank down into Rosthwaite which we reached in good time for the 4 o'clock bus back to Keswick. 

Keswick Mountain Festival 15 - 19th May 2013

We now have our list of walks for the above.  I will be simply posting this list today and then I will highlight the details of each walk over the next few days starting with the Wednesday.

Wednesday 15th  Pete Armstrong, Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag
Wednesday 15th Alison Stott & Halle, Skiddaw Six Wainwrights
Thursday 16th Pete Armstrong, Hellvelyn traverse; Dollywagon Pike to Raise
Thursday 16th Cathy Colam, Haystacks
Friday 17th Alison Stott & Halle, 2 Lakes, 3 Tarns & 2 Cafés
Friday 17th Lyn Armstrong, Carrock Fell and High Pike
Friday 17th Cathy Colam, Great Gable
Saturday 18th Alison Stott & Halle, Classic Catbells & Lakeshore
Saturday 18th Cathy Colam, Rannerdale Knotts and a carpet of Bluebells
Saturday 18th Pete Armstrong Pavey Ark and The Langdale Pikes
Sunday 19th Lyn Armstrong Maiden Moor and High Spy by Launch and Open-Top Bus

 Days of Adventure

15 - 19th May If you want any more details email or phone.

Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag  - Pete Armstrong   

 

One of the finest high-level ridge walks that Lakeland has to offer, three airy summits and exhilarating expansive views all day.
Event details
From the lakeshore of Buttermere we ascend steeply to Bleaberry Tarn, then climb the even more steeply inclined path to the lofty summit of Red Pike 755m. The undulating rocky ridge leading over High Stile 806m, the highest point on the ridge, to High Crag beyond, provides a dramatic high-level outing with airy situations and exhilirating views, one of the finest ridge walks in the Lakes in fact. Beyond High Crag we drop sharply down to join the Pass of Scarth Gap which leads easily to the lakeshore and back to our starting point.
Additional Information
We meet in the centre of the tiny village of Buttermere at 10am. Cars can be parked in the Pay and Display car park in the village, or without charge on the roadside heading towards Newlands Hause, outside the village. Contact Pete if you want a lift or would like to arrange a car share.

Tel: 017687 71302

Grade A

Wednesday 15th May

10:00am

Adult - £20

Venue: Buttermere Village Centre

Fish Hotel
Buttermere
Cumbria
CA13 9XA

Grid Reference: 175170
Post code for Sat Nav: CA13 9XA

Lat/Long: 54.54087, -3.27733

So that's it for now, watch this space for more info as I don't think these details are up on the KMF site yet..............