This was a day’s trip to the Lake District on a cold, bright and sunny morning. There had been a frost overnight so the ground was quite icy. I arrived at the Kirkstone Inn at 8.00am and I was surprised there was only one other car in the car park. I guess it was quite early really. After preparing for a cold day I set off from the car park and headed to the start of the ascent of Red Screes. My ascent on this occasion was via the new path which goes around Kilnshaw Chimney. There are great views looking south to Windermere and beyond. The ascent is steep but relatively easy.

I reached the summit of Red Screes incredibly quickly and was really surprised what a lovely summit it was. There was so much to see and explore with its summit cairn, triangulation pillar and tarn. I spent some time taking photographs from the summit (776m) as well as the triangulation pillar (S5639) and the tarn. While I was at the summit there were lovely blue skies. However as I descended from Red Screes the clouds formed and it went quite dark for a while. My next target was Middle Dodd which was almost a there and back walk. The top of Middle Dodd (654m) is accessed via Smallthwaite Band. The views were good towards the Kirkstone Pass and Hartsop and would have been brilliant if the sun was shining.

I returned back along Smallthwaite Band and then descended down to the Scandale Pass via Broad Crag. It was quite tricky descending near Broad Crag as the path was made up of a lot of rocky slabs which were very icy. I crossed the Scandale Pass and headed towards Little Hart Crag (my third Wainwright of the day). Little Hart Crag stands at 637m and has two tops and the rocky summit. After a little light refreshment and waiting to see if the weather was going to improve (which it did not) I undertook my second there and back walks of the day this time to High Hartsop Dodd (519m). The ridge route to the summit was a little boggy in places. The views from the summit were similar to those at Middle Dodd and would have been better with some sunshine. However the experience was still enjoyable. Although there was a short sleet/snow shower it did not rain all day.

On leaving High Hartsop Dodd I returned to Little Hart Crag and then carried onwards via Black Brow and Bakestones Moss to near Dove Crag. I decided not to ascend Dove Crag but to edge my way around to Priests Hole Cave. After viewing the cave from the mountainside I retraced my steps a short distance before descending down to the Dovedale path. The Dovedale path is well paved which makes the ascent to Houndshope Cove a whole lot easier. By this time the sun had started to reappear which made the walk a lot more enjoyable. The views were fantastic.

I eventually ascended the ridge to Hartsop above How (580m). The ridge was extremely long and although the path was predominately downhill there were some ups and downs along the way. Also there were many boggy areas to negotiate. Views into Dovedale and Deepdale and beyond were great. The path eventually made its way down to the main road just north of Low Wood. In fact my continuing journey would take me through the edge of Low Wood to Cow Bridge. There was a choice of paths at this point either to path a very muddy path west of Brothers Water or to follow the main road. I decided on the later and in fact followed it all the way back to the car at the Kirkstone Pass Inn. This was a long walk but well worth it and very enjoyable.