Harter Fell

This past weekend we took a trip to the top of Harter Fell. Sadly this is only the 3rd Wainwright that we have managed to do this year despite attempting a number more over our holiday in June however the British weather has been against us this season. Harter Fell is a lovely walk and although there as some cloud at the top we managed to enjoy the views that the top offers. The weather conditions were mixed there was a bit of cloud and it was also a little bit windy which meant that the cloud kept coming and going throughout the afternoon. The walk to the top is quite steep and passes through some lovely looking crags on the way up. the view behind takes in Seathewaite Tarn and some large waterfalls on the other side of the valley. The view from the top too in the old roman fort at Hardknott, views of the surrounding landscape including the southern peninsula and had it been a little less cloudy Scafell Pike (to the north) also. We descended the fell down the western slope and walked back through the forest on very wet trails. About half a KM from the car park at the end there is one of the Wild Swim sites from Daniel Start's book and therefore we both took a plunge into the river under the old packhorse bridge right on the roadside. The river is quite deep set there so it is not overlooked from the road by passing drivers. It was quite fast flowing and a tad refreshing to be jumping in in just a pair of shorts. However it was definitely a great experience that we both agreed that we should do again as its so refreshing to have a swim after a long walk.

We ate an evening meal at the Farmers Arms and I had a pint of Cumbrian Ale. The food was delicious and worth the stop. I started with some Pate this is one of the few occasions where the quantity of toast and also pate was perfect for each other. I had two large pieces of pate along with about 2 slices of granary bread (quartered) I followed this with a piece of rump stake that was delicious this was served with a choice of potatoes (I choose chips, others included boiled and mashed) and seasonal veg (this was carrots, beans, red cabbage and cauliflower). I felt that the chips were out of a packet rather than being there made from fresh potatoes that I think would have been a much nicer and more rustic feel to the meal. The quantity especially after a starter was too much for me and I had to leave a lot of the chips however I did finish everything else. I'm afraid to say that I wasn't overly impressed with the ale as I was getting close to the bottom I noticed an unusual taste to it that suggested there was something wrong however I cannot place what it was or where it had come from. The restaurant/pub seemed quite nice although when asking if there was a table for two there was a intake of breathe to say Ill have to check as we are fully booked despite the fact that there were only about 4 of the 20+ tables occupied when we arrived (and most remained empty for our meal).

Lake District Camping Trip August 2012

The camping weekend started on Friday the 17th of August. we arrived at a damp campsite (after all it was the middle of the British Summer. After pitching our tent we drove to the end f the valley to Wasdale Head  and sheltered from the weather in the Ritson Bar with some lovely food and a few local cumbrian ales. Although not the cheapest food that we have ever had it was definitely filling and warming. I had the stake pie which lacked a bit of gravy but appart from that no real complaints about the meal.

It was still quite wet and the cloud was quite low on the Saturday morning and therefore a high level walk wasnt really the best of options. We had planned to walk to the top of Lingmell (just across from Scafell Pike) however it was well and truely hidden in the cloud. Therefore we decided that we would take a low level walk long Wast Water along the south side of the water from the campsite to Nether Wasdale. This took us accros the Scree fields below Illgill Head and Winn Rigg. Although quite a wet walk and a little slippy underfoot it was a reaonably pleasent walk. It would of course have been much nicer if it had been dry as footing would have been much easier. Its not a route that we planned for the day and its not one that we will rush to do again as it was slightly slow going and parts of te "path" were not that obvious so you had to pick your way steadily over the large pieces of scree. The route however did finish at the Screes Inn in Netherwasdale where I had a lovely Ale and a beautiful stake sandwich. The staff in the pub were very friendly and I would recomend this pub to anyone in the area for somewhere to go either for food or for a drink.

It dried out that afternoon as did our tent and our wet clothing. We one again visited Ritson Bar for more food and drink having eaten inside we ventured outside to enjoy teh evening sunshine. Ritsons bar like the Screes Inn is very nice I dont think that the staff members where quite so warming as the one in the the Screes however the Ritsons is much buisier than the Screes so I cant hold that against them. The food this evening was lovely and I cant complain about the quality or quantity.

Our second night in the campsite was a bit drier and the tents were packed away fairly dry but still needed hanging on the line when we got home. The campsite wasnt very busy I believe that although they have plenty of room for tents they never fill it so much that you are all squashed together. The facilities are nice with a large toilet, shower and washing area. The campsite by far is not the cheapest I think that we were about £25 per tent per night (4 man tent with 2 adults) plus you still had to pay for the hot water in teh showers. I appreciate that the payment for the showers is because they are trying to be environmentally friendly however I think that having a token system and getting so many free tokens per person per night would be much more sensible.