Loughrigg Fell

We met up with Skipper a fellow Border Terrier and his Mum and Dad and went for a hike from Ambleside to Grasmere over Loughrigg. Before we met them though we had to get there.

Bella was keen to get a bird's eye view of the action from the front of the bus.  Prior to getting the bus she had spotted a cat across the road so perhaps this perch was chosen by her in case another one came along.

At the front of the 555

But she was out of luck, no cats were espied again until we returned to Keswick.

We did enjoy a good hike over Loughrigg though and found a child's glove on the way which had obviously been lovingly knitted by a Mum out there, so picked it up and low and behold we came across her and returned it. Having done our good turn for the day we found a cosy spot and the dogs sniffed out the home made chicken liver treats.  Bella is still keeping her eye on the rucksack with the treats in it here.

A simple stop for tea and liver treats for Skipper and Bella

We hiked over the fell and then made our way down the slippery steps, taking our time as we were in no rush and the day was still fine with no sign of the impending rain.



Put me down Dad I can walk from here.

Easy does it down the very slippery stones.

Skippers 2nd ever fell walk, he is only 9 months old.

Skipper was hiking like a real professional and it was clear he was going to be really good at this.  Mind you his Mum knew a thing or two and was very experienced.

We headed down Red Bank avoiding all the cars which were going up and down (half term motorists) and strode into the Lamb bar at the Red Lion Hotel, in Grasmere.  Once we had ordered our beer and cheese and onion crisps we could see that the weather outside had changed from the mundane to depressing.....So we took our time because we knew what was coming when we left.

Wales hiking

We went to Wales recently to have a look at some 3000' mountains we fancied doing, but also found that we both enjoyed looking at the narrow gauge railways over there.

Once we had played with the trains for a few days we eventually went up a hill Y Garn...

The summit cairn

On the way up the cloud came down and it was difficult to take a photo, but here are Pete and Bella on the top.

We navigated in mist across from here both using our compasses because we wanted to avoid a knife edge ridge and came to the top of the Devil's Kitchen. This we descended very carefully because it was slippery and wet.



Starting the descent of Devil's Kitchen

The view down the steep descent

Just as we finished the hike the cloud lifted on Y Garn

We were almost back at the café at the bottom by the Youth Hostel when we noticed we could at last see the top of the mountain, so we took this shot, moments later the cloud descended on the summit and obscured it again.

And so as not to disappoint those of you who like a 'bit of steam'; may I present Linda...

A new addition to the Ffestiniog fleet!

The Dodds

Yesterday we hiked over all the Dodds.  We set off up to the top of Sticks Pass and then turned north onto the track leading up towards Stybarrow Dodd, oddly this summit does not have a clearly defined path to the top, so it's a good job there is a prominent cairn.

Next we hiked over to Watson's Dodd which was into the teeth of the wind.  I know it is only August still but by the time we reached it we had all donned waterproof jackets against the showers and gloves because the wind was biting. It was at this point that I chose the earflaps down on my cap option because it nearly blew off, someone did have to chase theirs across the fell side and Pete's sit mat took off too.

Watson's Dodd

Then we posed for some photographs and Sam who was a professional photographer, he's above on the left, took many more shots of the scenery before we headed up the hill again towards Great Dodd.
This is an impressive mountain and its just over 2800ft  (858m) so it was hard work against the wind. Once on the top we had a choice of lunch or take photos and go, no surprises which we chose. 

Great Dodd and blowing a gale

I am showing off the map on my Satmap navigation system to Brian and the others are enjoying the views which were very good despite it not being bright and sunny.  You really do have a panoramic view on top of Great Dodd; try it.

We dropped off the top and descended down towards Calfhow Pike which looked inviting in the sunshine, and we were not disappointed because it was indeed sunny and warmer down there.  This is where we settled down and had some lunch and where Bella decided to chase off after some sheep.  But she was thwarted because she was still firmly anchored to Pete's rucksack and it caught on a wire fence a few yards down the fellside, so dog and rucksack came to an abrupt halt much to the amusement of the onlookers. Good try Bella, but you are not going to be allowed to chase off and to make a point she was picked up and made to pose for the photograph below. You can see she is still looking for the sheep though!

Lyn, Pete and Bella on Calfhow Pike
 

No more drama ensued after that and we made our way over Clough Head safely before heading down over White Pike and down the fellside towards The Old Coach Road.  We only needed to find a way through the rough grass to the farmer's fields below and we were in Threlkeld before we knew it. Perfect timing for the 3.43 bus back to Keswick.