The
weather forecast for the day was a good one after some
early cloud and a light snow shower. Richard
Ratcliffe and I set of
from roadside parking near Scarr Head Torver (OS Grid
Reference SD 2848 9451). It was Richards birthday today
so we were hopefully in for a treat. The main objective
for me today was to "bag" two more Wainwright
Fells that were still on my "to-do" list. These
were Great Carrs and Grey Friar. This was a long walk
of over 14 miles
so I have included more photos than usual to show the
full extent of our days walk. (Please be patient as you
scroll down).
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The
walk statistics and map are at the bottom of the webpage |
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We
cross Torver Beck as we near a disused quarry. |
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We
ascend through the disused quarry. |
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The
Big Pool at the disused quarry. |
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The
waterfall at the end of the Big Pool. The water was a
strange colour. |
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Cove
Bridge on the Walna Scar Road. |
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The
shelter on the Walna Scar Road ... as Wainwright describes
"just big enough for one person or a honeymoon couple". |
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As
we climb higher to Walna Scar we get our first view of
Harter Fell. |
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The
summit of Walna Scar "An Outlying Fell" just a minutes
walk from the hause below. |
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The
view out to sea (during a short snow shower) |
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Brown
Pike Summit Cairn and Shelter. |
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The
ridge leading away from Brown Pike (our first snow to contend
with). |
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After
descending Brown Pike the ground levels out for a short
while. |
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Blind
Tarn from the ridge route to Buck Pike (the tarn was completly
frozen). |
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Richard
walks on ahead for Buck Pike. |
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We
arrive at Buck Pike summit. The last snowy clouds of
the day are passing overhead. Notice the walker with
SHORTS! |
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Goats
Tarn far below as seen from Buck Pike. |
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One
of the many gullies between Buck Pike and Dow Crag. |
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Richard
with Dow Crag beyond. |
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Scrambling
at the summit of Dow Crag. |
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Dow
Crag Summit. |
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Brim
Fell from Dow Crag. It was quite icy on the rocks of Dow
Crag summit. |
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Goat's
Hause from the descent of Dow Crag. Brim Fell right of
centre. |
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Looking
back into the sun and the summit of Dow Crag. Is that a
dog at the top? |
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Goat's
Hause. |
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Richard
descending to Goat's Hause and trying to find the least
icy path. |
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Approaching
a VERY icy Brim Fell. |
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Coniston
Old Man from Brim Fell. |
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That's
me at the summit of Brim Fell. |
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The
very large cairn of Brim Fell. The Scafells are in the
distance. |
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An icy
looking Brim Fell and Coniston Old Man in the distance. |
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Richard
and I found it slow going across the top of Brim Fell.
We decided to push on without crampons for a little while
longer. |
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More
icy scenes on Brim Fell. The sun shows up the more trecherous
areas. |
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Levers
Water from near Brim Fell. |
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Great
How (not a Wainwright but a Birkett) from Levers Hawse. |
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Brim
Fell and Coniston Old Man from Levers Hawse. |
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Richard
striding towards summit of Great How. |
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Levers
Water and Coniston Water beyond. |
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Wetherlam
from Great How. |
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Swirl
How from Great How Summit. It was an excellent day for
being on the fells. |
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Approaching
Swirl How summit cairn with many walkers around. |
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Swirl
How summit cairn. |
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Scafells
from Swirl How summit. |
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Greenburn
valley from Swirl How. |
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A walker
looks on at the remains of an aircraft wreckage near the
summit of Great Carrs. |
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Great
Carrs Summit. This was my first new Wainwright of the day. |
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Another
view of Great Carrs summit cairn. |
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Richard
takes photos from the summit of Great Carrs. |
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Birthday
cake and ONE candle. Not a lot of room for many more!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Richard. It was nice to have a bite to
eat and celebrate the occasion. No singing here today
though!! |
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Richards
admires his cake at Great Carrs. Did someone blow the candle
out ... no ... we forgot to bring two sticks!! |
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My next
new Wainwright summit of the day ... Grey Friar. The Scafels
partly seen behind. |
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Grey
Friar summit landscape. |
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A peek
through the summit rocks of Grey Friar to the Scafells. |
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Grey
Friar summit cairn - the north west one!! |
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Grey
Friar summit cairn - the north west one again - this
time with the Scafells as a backdrop. |
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Richard
consulting the Wainwight guide to make sure which is
the true summit of Grey Friar. |
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Here
is the true summit of Grey Friar (the south eastern one)
with the north west cairn behind in the distance. |
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Grey
Friar summit scene. |
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Walking
back to Brim Fell. |
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A
very moody and icy return along the Brim Fell top. We
had put on our crampons near Great How for the
return journey up and over Brim Fell. We made progress
at a much faster speed. |
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Moody
Brim Fell with Dow Crag behind. |
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An
eerie light casts over Dow Crag. |
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Goat's
Water. |
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A
few sunset photos on our return back to Torver. |
It
was an excellent day for walking and very much enjoyed.
We returned back to the car at dusk. |
