Dave's Wild Camping

On the 15th October I set off to Howgill Fells to hike up to the summit of The Calf and Wild Camp the night myself. Good weather is forcast I am looking forward to a possible view of a sunset and a starry night.

My 4 mile Route to The Calf 

 I planned to do this trip a few weeks ago but just got around to it, in fact this is a hill I wanted to do way back when I done Fell Head lets face it you’re not a keen Howgills hiker unless you have done the daddy The Calf right!
I set off in plenty time this time in fact I got there a bit to early 12 o’clock I started the satmap at 12.16pm the hike over to The Calf was easy till I started the ascent and quickly released my fitness wasnt as good as when I done Grasmoor, Grasmoor was steeper and harder on foot this was all grass-covered like all the Howgill hills not like the rugged lakeland hills.
It took me 3 hours and 30 mins to reach the top this is pathetic lol total moving time of 1 hour 52 as seen on the satmap screenshots means I had nearly 1 and a half hours resting haha but hey I told you I had loads of time.
It was now nearly 5pm still loads of time to pitch and prepare for the sunset, I seen plenty of hikers this time around usually don’t see many in the Howgills.
There is a 360 view on the summit but only a small band of horizon as the hill-top is wide in places not my favorite type of hill I prefer the small top hills imagine a pyramid type summit that way your 360 angle of view is great.
This view was hampered mostly by low cloud and haze yet no cloud at all above me which ment a starry night not my best but ok I stood around looking at the stars for a good few hours and a few brews of yorkshire tea later I decided to retire to my sleeping bag and read the paper I continued to sit with the door open a future few hours admiring the moon a few bright stars I could see from my bed and enjoying a bit of banter on my live blog.
I awoke around 3am winds had increased which probs what awakened me, I immediately opened the vent in the top of my door to check on the sky and was disappointed in the blanket of fog that surrounded my tent I had hoped the clear skies would have carried on till morning which would have guaranteed me the sunrise I so wished to see, I had my alarm set for 7am just incase but it wasnt to be I turned over and went back to sleep till around 8.30 I crawled from my sleeping bag packed a few things away fired up the msr dragonfly stove and rashers of Danish bacon was on the menu washed down with a brew.
It was time just to sit around for a bit to see if the rain would halt and it did eventually I packed up and headed off 10.27am on the 4 miles back to the car as you can see from the satmap screens it only took me 2hrs 5 mins total time and 1 hour 30 mins moving time.

Thanks for reading, your comments are very welcome.

On Route to Summit

The Calf Trig Point 

Akto on The Calf Summit

My Sunset Just before it disappeared into the cloud

Tarn on The Calf Summit

Another shot of the Tarn

I like this one of the Tarn

 Really Cold Out here

Looking Fed up for some reason lol

Now Happy haha

Danish Bacon Breakfast

Route Up left and Route Back on right here you can see the time differences.

The Calf
The trig point at the summit, looking towards the distant Pennines.
Elevation	676 m (2,218 ft)
Prominence	383 m (1,257 ft)
Parent peak	Cross Fell
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall
Location
The Calf Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria, England
OS grid	SD667970
Coordinates	54°22′03″N 2°30′51″W / 54.36742°N 2.51403°W / 54.36742; -2.51403Coordinates: 54°22′03″N 2°30′51″W / 54.36742°N 2.51403°W / 54.36742; -2.51403
Topo map	OS Landranger 98

The Calf, at 676 m, is the highest top in the Howgill Fells, an area of high ground in the north-west of the Yorkshire Dales in the county of Cumbria. It can be ascended from the town of Sedbergh to the south, by way of Cautley Spout from the east, or up the long valley of Langdale from the north. The Sedbergh ascent is the most popular, and has the distinction of being on good paths all the way.

The summit commands an extensive panorama, although foreground detail is obscured by the extreme flatness of the plateau. A twenty-mile skyline of the Lakeland peaks can be seen, as well as the Yorkshire Three Peaks and many of the nearer Howgill Fells.

Calders at 674 m is about 1 km SSE of the summit of The Calf. It is classified as a Hewitt.

v t e Hills of the Northern Yorkshire Dales Marilyns Baugh Fell Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Lovely Seat Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat The Calf Wild Boar Fell Yarlside Hewitts Calders Fell Head High Seat Little Fell Randygill Top Swarth Fell Other hills Winder

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

This Cumbria location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Keep your eyes and ears open for my live blog the location once again is secret and will be revealed on the night, comments welcome, on the comment box only your name and email field needs to be filled in you can ignore the website field and the twitter field as that was an experiment.

I’m all excited going to get blown all over haha mint there is possible gusts up to 100mph forcast

The Live Wildcamp will appear at the top of the list at the top right under “wild camping list” tomorrow afternoon if your subscribed to my blog you will received an email when this happens.

 12th September Great Mell Fell WildCamp Here.

Thanks,  your Wild Camping Master

David Murphy

Pre Great Mell Fell

On my way up Great Mell Fell in the Lake District Cumbria North West England today 12th September 2011( this blog is live as usual) with my mate Paul aka the muss. I picked this location as its west from our home town and Paul has been screaming to test his Vango Hurricane out in storm force conditions and my have I an evening in store for him and he tells me he wants a small hill as his fitness is not too good.

Tell you the truth if one of our tents has to blow away I am half hoping its mine as his been a two-man tent and mine been a tight single man tent I don’t fancy been squished in mine with him, his breath stinking of brandy and his snoring not to mention his smelly backside.

Our Route 

 On The Summit Of Great Mell Fell

Heres what happened, We new what we were letting ourselves in for catching the tail end of hurricane Katia blown in from the States.
The purpose of this Wild Camp was to test Pauls Vango Hurricane and by god we did.
I arrived at Pauls at 12.10pm we finally were on our way after Paul packed some of his gear and arrived at our destination around 3pm. I was keep saying how lovely this hill is the wind blowing the grass and patches of trees scattered it look very idealic.
At first the wind didn’t appear very strong at all then by we were half way up we recorded around 63mph on Pauls Kestrel wind gauge.
It was tuff standing up sometimes having to spread one leg out behind us to keep the wind from sweeping us off our feet, I have never experienced winds so powerful.
We reached the summit of Great Mell Fell not a big Hill by anyone’s standards, we stood there for a while pondering what to do, do we go for it and pitch on the top or head down in a more sheltered spot, we headed back down and after deciding the lower location lost views over at least one direction we headed back to the top.

My Hilleberg Akto In 80mph Winds

I proceed to pitch the Hilleberg Akto with Paul sitting on the flysheet whilst I pegged down the corners, standing watching my poor Akto get battered we recorded 79.1 mph as you will see in my video.

Pauls Kestrel Wind Speed Meter
We then started working on the Vango Hurrricane, when he pulled all these poles out of his bag I thought to myself no way on earth this is going up, frantically holding onto the canvass, a few bent poles later we gave up never even raising it off the floor we decided to head to lower ground to pitch leaving my Akto up on the summit with my Osprey Argon inside we headed down. On discovering a snapped pole Paul discussed sleeping in the car I would have quite happily slept in my tent having the walkie talkies with us we could have at least kept in touch, I thought that wouldn’t be fair so we set off back to the summit took down the Akto and headed home. Both very sick by this time, our first Wildcamp we have had to leave for home.

Anyone reading this may think Paul is a little unlucky, well I think he’s not, for someone to lose a piece of gear a Satmap in this case, standing him at £400 with SD card for him to return the next day 200 miles round trip to find three cars parked in the very spot he lost it with a note on one of them asking him to contact them for a lost piece of hiking equipment. Paul I bet your relieved.

Just came across this forum members having a bit of a giggle at this blog post.

Great Mell Fell
Great Mell Fell from Gowbarrow Fell
Elevation	537 m (1,762 ft)
Prominence	198 m (650 ft)
Parent peak	Helvellyn
Listing	Marilyn (hill), Wainwright
Translation	Large rounded bare hill (Scots Gaelic, English)
Pronunciation	/ˌɡreɪt ˌmɛl ˈfɛl/
Location
Great Mell Fell Cumbria,  England
Range	Lake District, Eastern Fells
OS grid	NY397254
Coordinates	54°37′12″N 2°55′59″W / 54.62°N 2.933°W / 54.62; -2.933Coordinates: 54°37′12″N 2°55′59″W / 54.62°N 2.933°W / 54.62; -2.933
Topo map	OS Explorer OL5, Landranger 90

Great Mell Fell is a hill in the Eastern Fells of the English Lake District. It is a north-eastern outlier of the Helvellyn range, but, like its twin Little Mell Fell, is isolated from its fellows, standing in the middle of a flat plain. Presenting a symmetrical domed profile from almost all aspects, Great Mell Fell conspires to appear almost artificial, akin to jelly turned out of a giant mould.

• Topography and land use
• Summit and view
• Ascents
• References

Topography and land use

The hill lies on a low ridge, barely perceptible in places, which provides the connection between the Northern and Eastern Fells. This watershed runs from Bowscale Fell, across Eycott Hill to Great Mell Fell, and then up the north eastern ridge of Great Dodd. It forms the boundary between the Derwent/Cocker system in the west and the wide catchment of the Eden Valley.

To the north west of the fell is an old rifle range, now disused but still with some fittings in evidence. This was once a reason to declare Great Mell Fell strictly off limits, but this is not the case nowadays and the fell is free land. The National Trust currently owns the fell above the fenceline.

Great Mell Fell is extensively planted with Scots pines on the east, and occasional trees dot the fell all around the base. Near the summit are a few stunted larches, blown almost horizontal by the prevailing winds.^[1]

Summit and view

The summit bears a small cairn built on top of a mound. The Ordnance Survey maps identify this as a tumulus and it is believed to have been a Bronze Age burial mound.^[1]

Due to its isolation from higher ground, Great Mell Fell is a Marilyn, and an excellent viewpoint.^[2]

Ascents

The fell can be climbed most easily via a path from Brownrigg Farm to the south east, and additional access can be gained through the old rifle range.^[1] There is also a footpath which circles the base of the fell, passing largely through woods and providing an enjoyable low level walk.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Richards, Mark: Near Eastern Fells: Collins (2003): ISBN 0-00-711366-8
2. ^ Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book 1: ISBN 0-7112-2454-4

• Lake District Walks - Great Mell Fell Walk

v t e Wainwright's Eastern Fells Arnison Crag Birkhouse Moor Birks Catstycam (Catstye Cam) Clough Head Dollywaggon Pike Dove Crag Fairfield Glenridding Dodd Gowbarrow Fell Great Dodd Great Mell Fell Great Rigg Hart Crag Hart Side Hartsop above How Helvellyn Heron Pike High Hartsop Dodd High Pike Little Hart Crag Little Mell Fell Low Pike Middle Dodd Nab Scar Nethermost Pike Raise Red Screes Seat Sandal Sheffield Pike St Sunday Crag Stone Arthur Stybarrow Dodd Watson's Dodd White Side Full list of Wainwrights by area

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

On the 18th September 2011 I parked along side Crummock Water in the Lake District to hike up to Grasmoor for a bit of Wildcamping on the summit.
Walking on Lad Hows Ridge between Cinderdale Beck on the left and Rannerdale Beck to my right, the summit is only 1.6 miles away.

I arrived and parked along side Crummock Water around 4.30pm I purposely left it late been a sunday I didnt want to arrive on the summit too early as I have done in the past, Ingleborough to name one where I was hanging around for hours before I was able to pitch without scores of hikers on the summit, this time was a miss judgement.
I didnt estimate the time it would take to the summit via lad Hows Ridge it was a challenge I didnt expect, very tiring on the legs and some scrambling near the top was needed.
Near dark on reaching the summit entering low cloud my great views a few hundred feet lower had gone wish I put my tent up lower down when I said in my video would have witnessed a great sunset  instead rain and wind and no views this brings back many bad memories with Paul lol
I proceeded to errect the Akto in thick fog by this time, and thought to myself I would get a brew of tea on quick sharp then Daves Wild Camping Kitchen was in full swing on the menu this even was Sheperds Pie and Chicken Korma “Pack’n’ Go” from Be-Well Ltd and how nice of a change for me they were, easy cooked with 350ml of boiling water stir and leave to stand for 6 mins.
After spending all the evening a prisoner in my tent due to rain I read the newspaper and then it was time to retire, I woke several times during the night to look out the opening in the top of my door hoping but not expecting to see stars only to see the same fog, it never shifted all night.

Morning came I had my alarm set for 6.20am to catch what I didnt really expect to see, the sunrise and there was no change at all a thick covering no views whatsoever, I turn back over to sleep till around 9am when I got up to my breakfast, Cereal Start “Pack’ n’ Go” by Be-Well ltd.

 I started to packup my tent then the heavens opened I got soaked on walking back to the car I was hoping I didnt leave the headlights on, all was well.

Thanks for reading and supporting my website with your comments, till next time,

David Murphy
Daves Wildcamping

My Route up Grasmoor

Grasmoor Summit Shelter

Hilleberg Akto Summit of Grasmoor

My Akto On Grasmoor

View of Crummock & Buttermere

View from Lad How on way Up to Grasmoor

View from to Grasmoor Summit

Waterfall on way back down

My Actual Route

Grasmoor
The huge bulk of the Grasmoor mountain seen over the Crummock Water valley
Elevation	852 m (2,795 ft)
Prominence	519 m (1,703 ft)
Parent peak	Scafell Pike
Listing	Marilyn, Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall
Location
Grasmoor Cumbria,  England
Range	Lake District, North Western Fells
OS grid	NY174203
Coordinates	54°34′16″N 3°16′45″W / 54.57115°N 3.27918°W / 54.57115; -3.27918Coordinates: 54°34′16″N 3°16′45″W / 54.57115°N 3.27918°W / 54.57115; -3.27918
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4

Grasmoor is a mountain in the north-western part of the Lake District, northern England. It is the highest peak in a group of hills between the villages of Lorton, Braithwaite and Buttermere, and overlooks Crummock Water.

Grasmoor is distinguished by its steep western flank, dropping dramatically to Crummock Water. This face is however not suitable for rock climbers as there is little clean rock, although Alfred Wainwright describes a challenging route up the face in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.^[1] To the east the fell is linked to others by Crag Hill and Coledale Hause. Grasmoor is also home to the most extensive scree slopes in the North Western Fells.

• Name
• Topography
• Geology
• Summit and view
• Ascents
• References
• External links

Name

Grasmoor takes its name from the Old Norse element grise, meaning wild boar. This element appears in other Lake District place names, including Grisedale Pike and Grizedale Forest.^[1]

Topography

The North Western Fells occupy the area between the rivers Derwent and Cocker, a broadly oval swathe of hilly country, elongated on a north-south axis. Two roads cross from east to west, dividing the fells into three convenient groups. The central sector, rising between Whinlatter Pass and Newlands Pass, includes Grasmoor.

The highest ground in the North Western Fells is an east-west ridge in this central sector, beginning with Grasmoor above Crummock Water and then gradually descending eastwards over Crag Hill, Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike. Grasmoor has the greatest elevation, although Crag Hill stands at the hub of the range.

From the valley floor near Little Town at the eastern end, the ridge requires four miles (6 km) of gradual ascent to attain the summit of Grasmoor. Starting at the shores of Crummock Water in the west, the same is achieved by a single slope of scree in less than a quarter of the distance. Grasmoor is Lakeland's terminal height par excellence.

The summit area is a gently domed promenade of moss and short grass,^[1] running along the ridgeline with a narrow constriction in the middle. This is created primarily by the scooped-out bowl of Dove Crags on the northern face. To the east of this plateau are broad smooth slopes descending to a wide unnamed col at 2,368 ft (722 m). This connects onward to Crag Hill. At the western end the summit area narrows, culminating at the subsidiary top of Grasmoor End (2,445 ft) which crowns the western face. Great fans of scree descend to the lakeside road below. Grasmoor has one minor ridge which descends south westward over Lad Hows (1,397 ft) before a steeper fall to the valley floor.

To the south of Grasmoor is the valley of Rannerdale, which flows to Crummock Water between Lad Hows and the neighbouring Wandope. This drainage is supplemented by Cinderdale Beck, separating Lad Hows from the main body of the fell. The northern flank of the ridge stands above Liza Beck. This stream also makes due west for Crummock Water, but is diverted northward by the low top of Lanthwaite Hill to join the Cocker after its exit from the lake. An area of lowland to the north west is thus annexed to Grasmoor from the natural territory of Whiteside.

Geology

The surface rocks of Grasmoor are composed primarily of the Ordovician Kirkstile Formation. These are laminated mudstone and siltstone, typical of the Skiddaw range.^[2] There is no history of mining beneath the slopes of Grasmoor.^[3]

Summit and view

The top of the fell lies toward the western end of the summit plateau, marked by a huge sprawling cairn. There are many smaller cairns and the top is characterised by sheep-mown grass.^[1] The view is extensive although robbed of some foreground by the extent of the summit. All of the major Lakeland ranges are in sight with the exception of the Far Eastern Fells, with High Stile above Crummock Water perhaps the highpoint.^[1] This is best seen from the western end of the plateau.^[4]

Ascents

The obvious way is direct up the screes from Lanthwaite on the Crummock Water road, picking through the rock scenery above to appear on Grasmoor End from the north west. This involves 2,000 ft (610 m) of ascent in about half a mile. From the same starting point a detour along Liza Beck/ Gasgale Gill can be used to give access to the northern slopes. A way can then be found almost direct to the summit around the rim of Dove Crags. From Rannerdale a choice of routes arises, either climbing the Lad Hows ridge or following Red Gill a little to the west. Finally Coledale Hause can be used to gain the main ridge between Crag Hill and Grasmoor. This can be reached from Lanthwaite or as the first objective of a longer march from Braithwaite in the east. Coledale Hause connects to Hopegill Head and the fells to the north, providing further indirect possibilities.^[1][4] The summit was conquered by a Rolls Royce in 1982.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book 6, The North Western Fells: Westmorland Gazette (1964): ISBN 0-7112-2459-5
2. ^ British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, England & Wales Sheet 29: BGS (1999)
3. ^ Adams, John: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman (1995) ISBN 0-85206-931-6
4. ^ ^{a b} Bill Birkett: Complete Lakeland Fells: Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-00-713629-3

External links

• Computer generated summit panorama Grasmoor index

v t e Wainwright's North Western Fells Ard Crags Barf Barrow Broom Fell Castle Crag Catbells Causey Pike Dale Head Eel Crag (Crag Hill) Grasmoor Graystones Grisedale Pike High Spy Hindscarth Hopegill Head Knott Rigg Ling Fell Lord's Seat Maiden Moor Outerside Rannerdale Knotts Robinson Sail Sale Fell Scar Crags Wandope Whinlatter Whiteless Pike Whiteside Full list of Wainwrights by area

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

14th July 2011 I set off from my house about 12.30pm for a Wild Camp alone on Dale Head Summit In the Lake District, it took about 2 hours 30 mins to get to my destination going the scenic route I got stuck behind slow traffic, I parked about a half mile down the road from the Honister Slate Mine on the Honister Pass just outside of Seatoller.
After the steep walk up the road opposite the slate mine was the start of my path up to Dale Head summit, I reset my satmap at 15:02 and off I went as you can see from my satmap screens it took me 1 hour 18 mins total time and 50 mins time moving which means I only had about 30 mins of stops which is good for me lol.
On reaching the summit I had a walk around to find the best pitch for my Hilleberg Akto I setup my Mrs Dragonfly Stove for a cup of yorkshire tea then decided to have a walk over to Dalehead Crags there was a nice spot there for my tent with a nice view over Buttermere Lake, Crummock Water wasnt visable from here, after another brew of yorkshire tea I decided to head back to the summit of Dale Head as am a sucker for the summits even though the options maybe the more sensible at times.
After taking some video footage out came the Akto it pitched ok with only a slight breeze it was time for another brew of tea and then out came my steak for cooking as I was just awaiting the sunset which turned out a little disapointing blocked by a band of low cloud just above the horizon.
My phone signal was very patchy the best signal was over Dalehead Crags so decided to head back over there leaving the tent my backpack, tripod with my video camera on and head over to try and post on my liveblog and read my fans posts.
The moon came out first looking very orange which a captured on my video camera and later became covered at times in patchy cloud.
I  really enjoyed my night in total solitude alone on a hill without any rain with lovely views.
Morning came I must have had about an hours sleep I had my alarm set for 4.30am for the sunrise but was awake before it went off, the sunrise was hampered by low cloud but when the sun appeared it was a great sight lighting the sky red, in the distance over towards scafell Pike and great Gable there appeared to be a cloud inversion happening and the conditions at first appeared just right, the cloud was hugging the hills as a gentle breeze in my direction slowly brought it my way but after hanging around a few hours for it to surround my hill it didnt materialise how I was wishing.
I packed my tent away and was off back down the hill at 6.50am it only took 39mins total moving time and only a two min break back to the car.

Pre Dale Head Comments

My Route

Me On Dales Head Summit

Buttermere

Dale Head
Dale Head seen from the neighbouring hill of High Spy
Elevation	753 m (2,470 ft)
Prominence	397 m (1,302 ft)
Parent peak	Great Gable
Listing	Hewitt, Marilyn, Nuttall, Wainwright
Location
Dale Head Cumbria,  England
Range	Lake District, North Western Fells
OS grid	NY223153
Coordinates	54°31′37″N 3°12′07″W / 54.527°N 3.20208°W / 54.527; -3.20208Coordinates: 54°31′37″N 3°12′07″W / 54.527°N 3.20208°W / 54.527; -3.20208
Topo map	OS Landrangers 89, 90, Explorer OL4

Dale Head is a fell in the northwestern sector of the Lake District, in northern England. It is 753 metres or 2,470 feet above sea level and stands immediately north of Honister Pass, the road between Borrowdale and Buttermere.

• Topography
• Geology and Mining
• Summit and view
• Ascents
• References

Topography

The North Western Fells occupy the area between the rivers Derwent and Cocker, a broadly oval swathe of hilly country, elongated on a north-south axis. Two roads cross from east to west, dividing the fells into three convenient groups. Dale Head is the highest fell in the southern sector.

Dale Head is the apex of two hill ridges. The principal ridge descends from Dale Head to the north-east and forms several other fells, each given a chapter by Alfred Wainwright in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. These are High Spy, Maiden Moor and Catbells (alternative spelling, Cat Bells). This ridge forms the western side of Borrowdale and overlooks Derwent Water. The other ridge descends to the north-west and includes the fells of Hindscarth and Robinson; it overlooks Gatescarthdale and Buttermere.

Dale Head is named for its position at the head of the Newlands Valley. This stretches away due north for three and a half miles before debouching into the floodplain of the Derwent between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake. The eastern wall of the valley is formed by the High Spy to Catbells ridge, separating it from Borrowdale. Entering on the western side are a series of side valleys which drain the main mass of the North Western Fells. The source of Newlands Beck does not however flow from the apex of Dale Head as might be supposed from the name. Instead it has its birth at the col between the main summit and the eastern top, High Scawdel (1,815 ft). The northern face of the fell forming the dalehead is ringed with crags. The main faces are Dalehead Crags and Great Gable, not to be confused with the fell of that name.

The southern flank of the fell running down to the summit of the Honister Pass road (1,180 ft) has much gentler slopes, although there is outcropping rock on either side. Buckstone Hows and Yew Crag overshadow the road.From the top of the pass Gatesgarthdale Beck runs north west to Buttermere while Hause Gill flows east to Seatoller and Borrowdale. Across the road is Grey Knotts in the Western Fells.

The ridge to Hindscarth departs north west from the summit of Dale Head, soon narrowing into the fine and airy Hindscarth Edge. Both slopes are rocky, that to the south being known as Molds. Far Tongue Gill descends from the north of the ridge, a tributary of Newlands Beck.

Although High Scawdel stands east of the main summit, the high ground takes a great loop to the south around the head of Newlands Beck. It then drives north to the depression at Wilson's Bield (1,655 ft) before climbing to the summit of High Spy. The rest of the North Western Fells bear no tarns worthy of the name, but Dale Head has two. On the northern slope near the source of Newlands Beck is Dalehead Tarn, while the smaller Launchy Tarn lies near the top of High Scawdel. Dalehead Tarn is a shallow pool providing a popular stopping place for walkers. Its varied flora include water horsetail, sedge and bogbean. Launchy Tarn is smaller and may have been formed by overgrazing and erosion of the underlying peat.^[1]

Geology and Mining

Dale Head stands at the junction of the two main Lakeland geological systems, the Skiddaw slates to the north and the Borrowdale Volcanics to the south. On the northern flanks are outcrops of the Buttermere Formation, olistostrome of disrupted sheared mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. Southward march the Borrowdale series beginning with the plagioclase-phyric andesite lavas of the Birker Fell Formation, visible near the summit.^[2]

The fell has seen extensive mining history. Dale Head Mine was driven below the northern crags for copper, several levels still being visible. Long Work was another copper mine a little further down the valley, worked for malachite and pyrite from Elizabethan times. On the southern flank of the fell, centred around the head of the pass, are the Honister Quarries. These are an extensive system of underground quarries, worked for Green Slate. The earliest extant records date from 1728 and since then huge caverns have been carved out on either side of the pass. The Yew Crag workings on the Dale Head side were operated until 1966, operations on the slopes of Grey Knotts continuing. In 1887 work began to drive a tunnel right under Dale Head into Newlands Valley, connecting with a proposed tramway to join the railway at Keswick. The scheme was abandoned after opposition from landowners. The main workers accommodation at the mine is now the Honister Hause Youth Hostel.^[3]

Summit and view

The view of the Newlands Valley and Skiddaw from Dale Head summit cairn .

The summit is marked by a cairn standing on the brink of the northern face. There is a fine end-on view of the Newlands Valley to the north, backed by Skiddaw. All around are rank upon rank of fells, of the major Lakeland ranges only the High Street group not being fully visible.^[4][5]

Ascents

One of the most popular ascent routes of Dale Head begins from the summit of Honister Pass, where there is a car park and a youth hostel. The route ascends directly alongside a fence for approximately 2 kilometres and would take the average walker some 45 or 50 minutes. Longer routes begin at Little Town in the Newlands Valley, climbing either via Dalehead Tarn or the old access track to Dale Head Mine. From Borrowdale a start can be made at either Seatoller or Longthwaite, ascending first to Launchy Tarn and High Scawdel.^[4]

References

1. ^ Blair, Don: Exploring Lakeland Tarns: Lakeland Manor Press (2003): ISBN 0-9543904-1-5
2. ^ British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, England & Wales Sheet 29: BGS (1999)
3. ^ Adams, John: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman (1995) ISBN 0-85206-931-6
4. ^ ^{a b} Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book 6, The North Western Fells: Westmorland Gazette (1964): ISBN 0-7112-2459-5
5. ^ Birkett, Bill: Complete Lakeland Fells: Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-00-218406-0

v t e Wainwright's North Western Fells Ard Crags Barf Barrow Broom Fell Castle Crag Catbells Causey Pike Dale Head Eel Crag (Crag Hill) Grasmoor Graystones Grisedale Pike High Spy Hindscarth Hopegill Head Knott Rigg Ling Fell Lord's Seat Maiden Moor Outerside Rannerdale Knotts Robinson Sail Sale Fell Scar Crags Wandope Whinlatter Whiteless Pike Whiteside Full list of Wainwrights by area

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

Its only a possibility at this stage but my weather widget looks good for Thursday.

The Location Is Secret at This Time:)

Leave any comments below

On the 4th June 2011 me and Paul left to do a Wildcamp on Wild Boar Fell in the Yorkshire Dales, I left my car at Pauls at 3pm to jump into his and we arrived approximately 5.30pm. We both agreed the weather wasnt about to change in the time we were here low cloud and fog covered the summit we hoped on a break in the fog which didnt come apart from brief glimpses of the ground below us.

After pitching our tents near the end of Wild Boar fell named The Nab we talked till about 12.30am in a wind chill of around -2 degrees whilst gulping down our booze which Paul always Insists on me bringing, this time it was white rum and coke. Morning came we were up early as Paul needed to be back home I lay awake all night as usual whilst he slept like a baby and boy did he rub it in. No sign of any sunrise as per usual we packed up our damp tents and off we went, a good time was had, plenty of laughs even though the weather was crap.

Me and Paul on Wild Bore Fell camped near the nab.

Tuna Steak and Sweetcorn yum.

Just reached the Summit of Wild Boar Fell

Me and Paul at trig point

Another Wild Boar Trig Point Shot

Knocking Back The Booze

Above the Start Point on the left and right our Wildcamp Location

Wild Boar Fell
The summit trig point
Elevation	708 m (2,323 ft)
Prominence	344 m (1,129 ft)
Parent peak	Cross Fell
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall
Location
Location	North Yorkshire/Cumbria, England
Range	Pennines
OS grid	SD757988
Topo map	OS Landranger 98

Wild Boar Fell is a mountain (or more accurately a fell) in Mallerstang on the eastern edge of Cumbria, England. At 708 metres (2,323 ft), it is either the 4th highest fell in the Yorkshire Dales or the 5th, whether counting nearby High Seat (709 m) or not. (In fact neither of these are, at present, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, although there are plans to extend its boundaries in the near future to include Mallerstang). The nearest high point is Swarth Fell which is a mile-long (1.5 km) ridge to the south, at grid reference SD754965. To the east, on the opposite side of the narrow dale, are High Seat and Hugh Seat.

• History
• Geography
• References
• External links

History

The fell gets its name from the wild boar which inhabited the area over 500 years ago.^[1] But it is unusual, for this area of Viking settlement, that its old Norse name seems to have disappeared, whereas the names of many of its features, such as The Nab, Dolphinsty, etc., retain their Norse origin.

In earlier times, probably up to the mid nineteenth century, the Millstone Grit, or gritstone, which forms the flat top of the fell, was used for making millstones. Some partly formed millstones can be seen on the eastern flank of the fell - and also on the corresponding western flank of Mallerstang Edge on the opposite side of the dale. Sand (composed of Millstone Grit) from the beach of Sand Tarn was used by local people to sharpen knives and scythes; they made "strickles" by sticking the sand to wooden blocks with tar.

A tusk, claimed to be of "the last wild boar caught on the fell", is kept in Kirkby Stephen parish church.

During World War II Wild Boar Fell was sometimes used for training tank crews from the army base at Warcop in the handling of tanks in difficult terrain.

Geography

Wild Boar Fell is a dramatic sight and a landmark for many miles around. Approached from the north it gives the misleading impression that it is a peak (see photo, above left). But from the south of the dale at Aisgill its true profile is seen, not dissimilar to Ingleborough, with steep sides and a flat top (consisting of a cap of millstone grit).

The classic route for walking up Wild Boar is via the bridle way from Hazelgill Farm, ascending west to High Dophinsty before following Scriddles ridge top to Blackbed Scar. Once there you are on Wild Boar Fell's table top plateau, a rather boggy expanse. The summit is marked by a trig point and Sand Tarn is about 300 m (1,000 ft) to the west, just below the summit.

The views from the top make a spectacular panorama. The Howgills, Pennines, the Lake district fells, the Yorkshire Three Peaks can all be seen and, on a clear day, there is even a glimpse of the sea at Morecambe Bay.

A common feature of many Pennine dales and Lake District fells are the groups of cairns on the high ground. There is a fine cluster of "stone men" on The Nab of Wild Boar Fell - and a smaller group on subsidiary peak, Little Fell (559 m, 1834 ft) at grid reference NY766008, 2 km to the north. There seems little agreement on when, why, or by which people such cairns were built. (One common suggestion, that they were built by shepherds as markers for paths, may explain some of the cruder "piles of stones"; but groups like those on The Nab surely need a more convincing explanation).

Wild Boar Fell, seen from Mallerstang in June, with wild flowers in the hay meadows   The table top profile of Wild Boar Fell, from Aisgill   The Nab, Wild Boar Fell   Cairns on The Nab, Wild Boar Fell

A panoramic shot along the eastern escarpment; Ann Bowker

References

1. ^ A. Wainwright, Wainwright in the Limestone Dales, Guild Publishing, 1991 (page 12-16)

External links

Media related to Wild Boar Fell at Wikimedia Commons

• A walk through Mallerstang

Coordinates: 54°23′03″N 2°22′27″W / 54.38411°N 2.37412°W / 54.38411; -2.37412

v t e Hills of the Northern Yorkshire Dales Marilyns Baugh Fell Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Lovely Seat Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat The Calf Wild Boar Fell Yarlside Hewitts Calders Fell Head High Seat Little Fell Randygill Top Swarth Fell Other hills Winder

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

Its the 29th June 2011 Myself, Paul my usual Wildcamping partner and Chris this will be my second Wildcamp with Chris on a Hill right next to our first one Great Gable.

I Planned two Routes both of which are from Seathwaite one would take us past Styhead Tarn and Springling Tarn which was 4.4 miles but we all decided to take the shorter Route along Grains Gill below.  

Steak

Our Tents In The Mist

Cloud Over Great Gable

Out of the Breeze in Shelter

Myself Paul and Chris

Great End Looking Up Grains Gill

Scafell Pike from Great End

Looking Down to Springling Tarn from Great End

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29th June 2011

But the Mountain is Top Secret Haha,

Live Blog as usual applies

Leave Comments tell me what you think

Wild Camp 26th June 2011 Alone on Hedgehope Hill in the Cheviots.

I set off on my one hour twenty minutes drive to a place called Langleeford and Harthope Burn a love valley in The Cheviots my sat nav took me on this track off the A697 to North Middleton which wasnt really suitable for my car, after coming to a grinding halt moving forward or backward was making a scraping noise underneath on investigation there was a boulder jamed between my exhaust and petrol tank not good.
Taking another turn brought me in this nice place after parking up I was on my way upto Hedgehope Hill where I would spend the night on the summit, a wrong path and half eaten by swarms of flies and covered in mud off boggy ground it was hard going under feet I reach the base of the hill.
The hill proved very steep but seemed to go on forever longer than I expected, on climbing The Cheviot years before from the steapest side this didnt appear any less tiring.
After another few sprays of my Insect repellent, this by now had wash off my sunscreen, I arrived at the summit to strong winds which were only really present where I wanted to pitch my tent.

“Just got to summit about 4.20pm, winds are so strong I’m hiding in the wind shelter dare not take my tent out of the backpack its that bad, this is not like me. I would say for certain this has to be the strongest I have witnessed this shelter is a godsend”. That was the comment on my live blog

I waited about and hour or two huddled amonst the rocky shelter where it was warm and wind free I made a brew of tea and had a tuna steak and sweetcorn and pondered. I decided to go for it pegging out my Akto I proceeded to slide through the pole and couldnt manage to clip it into the cup, seemed to be about 3 inches extra pole, I stuggled for a while on two occasions and gave up If I proceeded I think I would have ended up damaging the pole, back to another brew in the shelter to watch my poleless tent get lashed about, I gave this plenty of thought I really liked where I was pitched but had to bite the bullet and grab tight a hold of the guy wires unpeg the tent and take it about 30ft away on the east side of the shelter where the wind barely exsisted.
Tent up it was now about 9.30pm out came the Steak and stir-fry and another brew.
Soaking in the views I new the view of a nice sunset wouldnt happen for me, one there was low cloud over the horizon and two there was a huge hill called The Cheviot in front of me.
I retired to my sleeping bag around 11.30 I think, I tossed and turned a few hours which what I believe was zero sleep, I notice a few flashes of lightening on the coast south east of me this was 2.30am I sat there with the door open and watched it become lighter, I was out the tent by 3.30am taking some snaps, packed my tent away about 5am and was off to meet the flies whom were waiting for me in the hundreds buzzing around my head the whole way down to the car,  the route back was about a mile less and much easier going that the one a took up, you will be able to see this from the screenshots from my satmap.

Thanks for all of you that took part in posting comments on my live blog it was really good banter and I really enjoyed reading them it passed the night away well

Video will appears  soon. 

Hedgehop Hill Trig Point

Hedgehope Hill Route 3.05 miles

Struggling getting Pole In wish I’d left it till later.

Steak

It’s Up Haha

Yum Stir Fry

As Live as it gets taken 22.10

3am Cannot sleep am amazed at how light it is outside.

3.20am My view Outside The Tent

3.20am My view Outside The Tent

4.53am Worth Waiting For

5am my last am off

5.55am Cloud Inversion

Route Up Hedgehope Hill

Route Back from Hedgehope Hill

 Hedgehope Hill Video

Part One

Part Two

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2007)

For the hill and locale in New Zealand, see Hedgehope, New Zealand.

Coordinates: 55°28′19″N 2°05′25″W / 55.47195°N 2.09039°W / 55.47195; -2.09039

Hedgehope Hill
Hedgehope Hill  Hedgehope Hill shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference	NT9438619796
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

Hedgehope Hill is a mountain in the Cheviot Hills of North Northumberland in North East England and categorised as a Hewitt.

At a height of 714 metres (2,343 ft) and a distance of about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Scottish border, it is best climbed from Langleeford in the Harthorpe Valley, over which it looms. A slightly gentler climb, though a longer distance is from Linhope, approaching from the south east. An alternative route to the summit could involve a long days climb of both the Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill starting and finishing at Langleeford. It is a steep climb from any approach, best reserved for fitter walkers though the steepest inclines are not long in distance.

Hedgehope has steeper sides than the taller but flatter topped Cheviot and affords excellent views on all sides. On a clear day, views stretch to Blyth down the coastline up to 40 miles (60 km) away.

This Northumberland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Me and Paul Wildcamping on Cross Fell 18th June 2011

On the 18th June 2011 me and Paul (read his account of the trip here) set off for a Wild Camp on Cross Fell north Pennines. After I planned the parking location in a village called Kirkland and some arguments on which way to get there shortest distance and fastest time Paul insisted on his way as he was driving I agreed.
We arrived at Kirkland about one hour 30 mins driving.
The weather was occasional drizzle we set off hiking which turned out as 4 miles to the summit 2936ft to be exact by my satmap, we were greeted by the usual fog and low cloud, we proceeded straight to the trig point took a few photos and looked for a suitabe pitch, after walking about 100 ft away from the trig point we lost sight of it the fog was that thick.
We found a pitch basically anywhere flat as per usual as the views were well in the back of our mind a mear dream.
I started cooking my meal which was two tuna steaks with sweetcorn and some onion some mixed nuts and pasta, I didn’t enjoy it much as I realised I didn’t care for heated tuna yuk.
Booze time wasnt that good as usual as we didn’t have our usual stand and talk with the drizzle increasly becoming heavier we were prisoners in our tents very soon after we errected them, I had my usual poor sleep, morning came I herd Paul making some noise I said are you awake it was 5 am he said the fog is still thick outside I never even checked we had a bit more sleep then I awoke to screams of cloud inversion I got my boots on and straight out and we went to investgate different side of the hill and we seen something that’s eluded us up till now.

Keep an eye out for them and my vid over the next few days.
Thanks for all your comments which am very grateful for it makes this website worth the effort

Link to Cloud Inversion Photos

Me and Paul Just setting off.

At Cross Fell Summit Trig

My Hilleberg Akto & Pauls Terra Nova Voyager Super Lite

Our Route up Cross Fell

Me Relaxing

Me and Paul and the Cloud Inversion

Me admiring the view

 Link to Cloud Inversion Photos

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2011)

Cross Fell
Cross Fell seen from the Eden Valley
Elevation	893 m (2,930 ft)
Prominence	651 m (2,136 ft)
Parent peak	Helvellyn
Listing	Hewitt, Marilyn, Nuttall
Location
Cross Fell Location of Cross Fell in Cumbria
Location	North Pennines, England
OS grid	NY687343
Coordinates	54°42′10″N 2°29′14″W / 54.70278°N 2.48722°W / 54.70278; -2.48722Coordinates: 54°42′10″N 2°29′14″W / 54.70278°N 2.48722°W / 54.70278; -2.48722
Topo map	OS Landranger 91

Cross Fell is the highest point in the Pennine Hills of northern England and the highest point in England outside of the Lake District.

The summit, at 893 metres (2,930 ft), is a stony plateau, part of a 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long ridge running North West to South East, which also incorporates Little Dun Fell at 842 metres (2,762 ft) and Great Dun Fell at 849 metres (2,785 ft). The three adjoining fells form an escarpment that rises steeply above the Eden Valley on its south western side and drops off more gently on its north eastern side towards the South Tyne and Tees Valleys.

Cross Fell summit is crowned by a cross-shaped dry-stone shelter. On a clear day there are excellent views from the summit across the Eden Valley to the mountains of the Lake District. On the northern side of Cross Fell there are also fine views across the Solway Firth to the Southern Uplands of Scotland.

The fell is prone to dense hill fog and fierce winds. A shrieking noise induced by the Helm Wind is a characteristic of the locality.^{[note 1]} It can be an inhospitable place for much of the year. In ancient times it was known as "Fiends Fell" and believed to be the haunt of evil spirits. It has been speculated that this last feature may be why the fell became known as Cross Fell ("cross" meaning "angry").^{[2][dead link]}

• Local geography
• References
• External links

Local geography

Cross Fell and the adjoining fells are mainly a bed of hard, carboniferous limestone. Where this bed surfaces, there are steep rock faces. There are also strata of shale and gritstone that surface on the fell. On the south and west facing slopes of Cross Fell the rock faces have been broken up by frost action to give a scree slope made up of large boulders. The local terrain shows obvious evidence of recent glaciation and is covered by thin soil and acidic peat.

The summit of Cross Fell with Great Dun Fell in the background. The object in the centre is a triangulation point

Cross Fell, Great Dun Fell and Little Dun Fell form a block of high terrain which is all over 800 metres (2,625 ft) in altitude. This is the largest block of high ground in England and tends to retain snow-cover longer than neighbouring areas. Snow can be found in gullies on the north side of Cross Fell as late as May in most years. In some years, lying snow has been known to persist until July and fresh snowfall in June (mid-summer in the Northern Hemisphere) is common.

Precipitation on Cross Fell averages around 280 centimetres (110 in) per year. Local flora includes a number of rare alpine plants such as the Starry Saxifrage and a mountain Forget-me-not.^[3] Cross Fell is covered by what is known as "siliceous alpine and boreal grassland". It is the southernmost outlier of this vegetation type, which is common to highlands in Scotland and Scandinavia. It is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Local farmers are required to keep free-roaming sheep off the tops of the fells in order to avoid damaging the natural flora.^[4]

Cross Fell is a conspicuous feature in the landscape. It dominates the skyline on almost the entire 20 miles (32 km) length of the A66 trunk road between Penrith and Stainmore. It can also be seen from Helvellyn summit in the Lake District and from high ground throughout Dumfriesshire and Northumberland.

References

1. ^ "The Helm Wind Dufton Village Cumbria". www.dufton.org.uk. http://www.dufton.org.uk/the_helm_bar.htm.
2. ^ North Pennines AONB Partnership article on Cross Fell
3. ^ Cumbrian Wildlife: plants^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "SAC selection - 6150 Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands". www.jncc.gov.uk. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Moor House – Upper Teesdale. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/habitat.asp?FeatureIntCode=H6150.

Notes

1. ^ The Helm Wind can be very strong where it is channelled down gullies in the side of the escarpment. It is experienced particularly in the villages of Milburn and Kirkland.^[1]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cross Fell

Panoramas

• Jonathan de Ferranti. "Cross Fell, North Pennines". www.viewfinderpanoramas.org. http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ENG/Cross.gif.

v t e Hills of the North Pennines Marilyns Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell Hewitts Bink Moss Black Fell Burtree Fell Chapelfell Top Dead Stones Flinty Fell Great Dun Fell Great Stony Hill Grey Nag Killhope Law Knock Fell Little Dun Fell Little Fell Meldon Hill Melmerby Fell Murton Fell Round Hill The Dodd Three Pikes Viewing Hill Westernhope Moor Other hills Knock Pike

v t e Most prominent hills of Britain Northern Highlands Foinaven Ben Hee Ben Hope Ben Loyal Ben Klibreck Ben More Assynt Canisp Cùl Mòr Ben More Coigach Beinn Dearg Ben Wyvis An Teallach Slioch Sgùrr Mòr (Fannichs) Fionn Bheinn Beinn Alligin Beinn Eighe Liathach Beinn Bhàn Sgorr Ruadh Western Highlands Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais Sgùrr na Lapaich Càrn Eige Beinn Fhada Sgùrr Fhuaran A' Chràlaig Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich Gleouraich Sgùrr nan Eugallt Ladhar Bheinn Sgùrr na Cìche Càrn Mòr Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh Sgùrr Thuilm Gaor Bheinn Rois-bheinn Sgùrr Ghiubhsachain Sgùrr Dhòmhnuill Garbh Bheinn Creach Bheinn Central and Eastern Highlands Creag Meagaidh Ben Nevis Stob Coire Easain Binnein Mòr Chno Dearg Ben Alder Sgor nam Fiannaidh Beinn a' Bheithir Beinn Sgulaird Bidean nam Bian Ben Macdui Beinn a' Ghlò Lochnagar Southern Highlands Meall a' Bhuiridh Ben Cruachan Schiehallion Beinn a' Chreachain Ben Lawers Ben Lui Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) Beinn Ìme Beinn an Lochain Beinn Mhòr (Cowal) Doune Hill Ben More (Crianlarich) Ben Lomond Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn) Ben Chonzie Islands An Cliseam Beinn Mhòr (South Uist) The Storr Sgùrr Alasdair Blà Bheinn Beinn na Caillich Sgùrr na Coinnich Askival Ben More (Mull) Dùn da Ghaoithe Beinn an Òir Goat Fell Snaefell Scottish Lowlands, England and Wales Merrick Broad Law Scafell Pike Helvellyn Skiddaw Cross Fell Snowdon Glyder Fawr Carnedd Llewelyn Aran Fawddwy Cadair Idris Pen y Fan Waun Fach

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

Back to Pre Great Gable

Wildcamp on Great Gable 19th May 2011, I thought Its about time I posted this blog because of mounting pressure by fans lol, me and Chris met up at Seathwaite farm at 12.30pm I was five mins early Chris was about 20 mins late haha. We set off hiking the Sour Milk Gill Route which is approx 2.5 miles to the summit which passes the beautiful sight of a waterfall.

About 2 hours hiking and 3 hours of standing and talking we finally walked over Green Gable down Windy Gap and up the final push to Great Gable Summit, Chris was keeping intouch with the other Chris whom we were planning to meet later on the summit. We had arrived at the top and now it was time to find somewhere to pitch three tents this proved a bit of a challenge, walking over the summit with Scafell Pike in view we seen a grassy area where we proceeded to move rocks to make three areas, pegging out the tents came the next challenge some bent pegs later we had our two tents down and was just awaiting the second Chris. Not Sure on the time our third member arrived 6.30 maybe 7pm I started cooking my Steak (below)

During this time we had clear skies very little cloud great visability and there was mention of a dark cloud in the distance then in a very short time we were covered in fog and the winds had increased and that was the end of any plans of a sunset.

I regret not having any 360 degrees footage from the top just above us not having a photo of the three of us or even a photo of myself at the trig point, I am still amazed at how swift we lost visability my plan was to get my suppa over and take some more snaps.

We talked some and retired to our tents I cannot remember sleeping any as the winds battered the tents I was supprised I didnt get a soaking as Im accustomed to receiving. Morning came 4.30am I looked out the door and the fog hadnt lifted which was disapointing we packed up shortly later (I lost my Akto tent bag the wind just swept it from my hands) and headed off down Aaron Slack Route and we drove into Keswick for some breakfast. I feel I have made two new great friends and look forward to more Wildcamps with them in the future

Above left showing the route from Seathwaite campsite, above right the Wildcamp Spot.

Back to Pre Great Gable

Great Gable
Great Gable from Wasdale. The cliff at centre is the Napes of Great Gable.
Elevation	899 m (2,949 ft)
Prominence	425 m (1,394 ft)
Parent peak	Scafell Pike
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt, Wainwright, Nuttall
Location
Great Gable Cumbria,  England
Range	Lake District, Western Fells
OS grid	NY211104
Coordinates	54°28′55.2″N 3°13′8.4″W / 54.482°N 3.219°W / 54.482; -3.219Coordinates: 54°28′55.2″N 3°13′8.4″W / 54.482°N 3.219°W / 54.482; -3.219
Topo map	OS Landrangers 89, 90, Explorer OL4

Great Gable is a mountain lying at the very heart of the English Lake District, appearing as a pyramid from Wasdale (hence its name), but as a dome from most other directions. It is one of the most popular of the Lakeland fells, and there are many different routes to the summit. Great Gable is linked by the high pass of Windy Gap to its smaller sister hill, Green Gable, and by the lower pass of Beck Head to its western neighbour, Kirk Fell.

• Topography
• Geology
• Summit and view
• Ascents
• Other walking routes
• Rock climbing
• References
• External links

Topography

The Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley.^[1]

Great Gable and its lesser companion Green Gable stand at the head of Ennerdale, with the walkers' pass of Sty Head to their backs. This connects Borrowdale to Wasdale, giving Gable a footing in both valleys. The Borrowdale connection is quite tenuous, but Great Gable is "the undisputed overlord"^[1] of Wasdale in that it is paramount in almost any view up the lake. Once seen, the naming of the fell Great Gable requires no explanation.

The upper section of Great Gable has a roughly square plan, about half a mile on each side, with the faces running in line with the four points of the compass. The fells connecting and subsidiary ridges occupy the corners of the square.

Great Gable at the head of Wastwater. Yewbarrow (left foreground) and Lingmell (right)

The northern face is formed by Gable Crag, prominent in views from Haystacks and the surrounding fells. This is the longest continuous wall of crag on the fell and reaches up almost to the summit. Scree slopes fall away below to the headwaters of the River Liza, beginning their long journey down Ennerdale. There are few crags on the eastern slopes, although these fall steeply to Styhead Tarn, a feeder of the Borrowdale system. About 30 ft deep this tarn occupies a scooped hollow, dammed by boulders falling from the slopes above. It is reputed to contain trout and is a popular location for wild camping.^[2] The southern flank of Great Gable falls 2,300 ft direct to Lingmell Beck, one of the main feeders of Wastwater. Right below the summit are the Westmorland Crags, and then a second tier breaks out lower down. These are Kern Knotts, Raven Crag and Great Napes, all footed by great tongues of scree. Finally on the west rough slopes fall below the rocks of White Napes to the narrow valley of Gable Beck, a tributary of Lingmell Beck.

From the north western corner of the pyramid the connecting ridge to Kirk Fell runs out across the col of Beck Head (2,050 ft). There is a small tarn in the depression, and sometimes a second after heavy rain. Both are blind, having no apparent inlet or ouflow.^[2] Gable Beck runs south from Beck Head, while an unnamed tributary of the Liza flows northward. The main spine of the Western Fells continues along the north east ridge to Green Gable, dropping to Windy Gap (2,460 ft) as it rounds the end of Gable Crag. This ridge is rough and rocky, further worn by the boots of countless walkers. Stone Cove lies on the Ennerdale side while the rough gully of Aaron Slack runs down toward Styhead Tarn. The south eastern ridge provides the connection to the Southern Fells, across the pass of Sty Head. This is a major crossroads for walkers and climbers, the summit being at around 1,560 ft. On the opposite slope is Great End in the Scafells. Kern Knotts lies on this south east ridge, as does the small pool of Dry Tarn. The south western ridge gives to high level connection, dropping down Gavel Neese in the angle between Lingmell Beck and Gable Beck.

Geology

Lying on the edge of the Scafell Syncline, the various strata dip to the east. The summit area is formed from a dacite lava flow (Scafell Dacite), directly underlain by the Lingmell Formation. This tuff, lapilli tuff and breccia outcrops a little to the west of the summit. Around Beck Head is evidence of the Crinkle Member, welded rhyolitic tuff and lapilli-tuff with some breccia. A dyke of andesite and hybridised andesite porphyry is responsible for Kern Knotts.^[3]

Wast Water seen from the summit of Great Gable, 4.5 km to the NE.

Summit and view

The summit of Great Gable is strewn with boulders and the highest point marked by a rock outcrop set with a cairn. There is a plaque set on the summit rock commemorating those members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club who died in the First World War; an annual memorial service is held here on Remembrance Sunday.^[1] The club bought a large area of land including Great Gable and donated it to the National Trust in memory of these members, and the plaque was dedicated in 1924 by Geoffrey Winthrop Young in front of 500 people.^[4]

Due to its central position within the Lake District and great prominence the summit has some of the best panoramic views of any peak in the area. All of the main fell groups are laid out, serried ranks of hills filling the skyline, although surprisingly Wast Water and Windermere are the only lakes visible. A hundred yards to the south west of the summit, overlooking the Napes, is the Westmorland Cairn. This cairn was erected in 1876 by two brothers named Westmorland to mark what they considered to be the finest view in the Lake District. From here ground falls away into the profound abyss of upper Wasdale. Further cairns mark the top of Gable Crag. It is testament to the high regard that many walkers have for Great Gable that the summit has become a popular site for the scattering of ashes following cremation.^[5]

Ascents

Great Gable's massive bulk from the slopes of Kirk Fell to the west

Routes to climb to the summit start from all of the main dales that radiate out from central Lakeland. From Wasdale the south west ridge up Gavel Neese provides the obvious, and consequently steep and rough, line to take. This can be finished either via Little Hell Gate, a well named and atrocious scree gully, or more sedately via Beck Head. The walk up Ennerdale is long, unless staying at Black Sail Youth Hostel and again Beck Head gives access to the summit area. Ascents from Borrowdale or Wasdale can also make use of Sty Head pass, before slogging up the south east ridge, or the scree filled Aaron Slack. Finally Gatesgarth (near Buttermere), or the summit of the Honister Pass road can be used as starting points, crossing the high hinterland of Grey Knotts and Brandreth to arrive at Windy Gap or Beck Head. Among indirect ascents, a popular alternative is to climb Sour Milk Gill from Seathwaite in Borrowdale, first ascending Green Gable before traversing Windy Gap.^[1][6]

Other walking routes

Alfred Wainwright described the 'Gable Girdle', a circuit around the fell at mid height.^[1] This links a number of existing paths, namely the north and south traverses, Sty Head Pass, Aaron Slack and Moses Trod. The south traverse climbs westward from Sty Head and provides access to the Napes and Kern Knotts for rock climbers. The route is rough but allows the ordinary hillwalker to view Napes Needle, Sphinx Rock and many of the famous climbing locations. The north traverse similarly runs beneath Gable Crag with more excellent rock scenery, arriving ultimately at Windy Gap. In the west the two traverses are joined by a section of Moses Trod, running up the southern side of Beck Head. "Moses" was a possibly apocryphal trader-cum-smuggler, based at Honister Quarry. His route contoured the

Napes Needle

fellside from there to provide access to Wasdale markets for his illicit whisky. Aaron Slack by contrast does anything but contour the fellside, but provides a fast way down from Windy Gap to Sty Head.^[1]

Rock climbing

Great Gable has cliffs to the north (Gable Crag) and south (Westmorland Crags, the Napes, and Kern Knotts). The Napes are important in the history of English rock climbing: W. P. Haskett Smith's ascent of the remarkable detached pinnacle of Napes Needle in June 1886 (now graded Hard Severe) is thought by many to mark the origins in England of rock climbing as a sport in its own right, as opposed to a necessary evil undergone by mountaineers on their way to the summit.

Those wishing to climb Napes Needle should be warned that a safe descent is far more difficult than the ascent as there are no permanent anchors or bolts to abseil from. Down-climbing is the only way to get from the summit to the shoulder and gear on this second pitch sparse to say the least. A relatively simple abseil can be set up to get down from the shoulder.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Volume 7 The Western Fells: Westmorland Gazette (1966): ISBN 0-7112-2460-9
2. ^ ^{a b} Blair, Don: Exploring Lakeland Tarns: Lakeland Manor Press (2003): ISBN 0-9543904-1-5
3. ^ British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, England & Wales Sheets 29 and 38: BGS (1999) and (1998)
4. ^ Connor, J (23 October 2007). "Poppycock". North West Evening Mail. http://beta.nwemail.co.uk/news/1.156053. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
5. ^ Hewitt, Dave (ed.): A Bit of Grit on Haystacks: A Celebration of Wainwright: Millrace (2004): ISBN 1-902173-17-1
6. ^ Bill Birkett:Complete Lakeland Fells: Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-00-713629-3

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Great Gable

• W. P. Haskett Smith's account of the first ascent of Napes Needle from the FRCC Journal, No. 8, 1914.
• Remembrance Sunday held annually at Great Gable (photo)
• Computer generated summit panoramas North South index
• Unveiling The War Memorial Tablet, June 8th, 1924 (photo)

v t e Wainwright's Western Fells Base Brown Blake Fell Brandreth Buckbarrow Burnbank Fell Caw Fell Crag Fell Fellbarrow Fleetwith Pike Gavel Fell Great Borne Great Gable Green Gable Grey Knotts Grike Haycock Haystacks Hen Comb High Crag High Stile Kirk Fell Lank Rigg Low Fell Mellbreak Middle Fell Pillar Red Pike (Buttermere) Red Pike (Wasdale) Scoat Fell Seatallan Starling Dodd Steeple Yewbarrow Full list of Wainwrights by area

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

Next Thursday 19th May I maybe doing a wildcamp on Great Gable Summit in the Lake District with a friend possibly three of us, (this hill looks like the hill on Close Encounters Of The Third Kind) this will be a tuff feat on the Akto as there is very little grass if any mostly rock and the akto relies on been pegged out in the four corners and four guy wires just to keep the tent standing.
Am currently trying something that will help in this situation.

We did this wildcamp see this post

Weather for Thursday looking good haha

20th April 2011 Me and Paul camping on summit of Randygill Top I didnt expect to be back in the area so soon from my Yarlside wildcamp, but Paul needed it after nearly crying after seeing the images appear on my live blog on Sunday, checkout Pauls vid here.

Drinking the booze

Looking over to Yarlside and Kensgriff from summit of Randygill Top

A fine cut of Sirloin

Hi Terry, this was for terrybnd live

Sitting in tent finishing off booze and watching loads of stars

Goodnight

On the way back we took the different path and came right past this building which is abandoned

Actual Route Take

17th April 2011 I set off on a 1hr 20 min drive to Howgill Fell this was around 2.5 miles east than my last wildcamp here at Fell Head I arrive at the Key Cross Inn at 11.20am I started hiking along a route I had pre-planned and started on the wrong path again.

After a hard slog alone the gorge of Backside Beck I started to climb up to Kensgriff you can see me on the summit (below) then a hard trek to Yarlside where I setup my wildcamp.

Having a cuppa on Kensgriff below
 

Yarlside Summit

Hilleberg Akto on Yarlside Summit

Suppa

To finish off a nice days hiking

(From left to right) Satmap images showing Kensgriff Summit then my rather messed up route over to Yarlside next the Trip Log showing the drop into the saddle from Kensgriff to Yarlside and Last the rather direct route back to my car the next day.

3rd Jan 2011 myself and Paul parked up somewhere in Ennerdale valley to hike Pillar and camp on the summit, I planned the location to park the car as less of a hike to the summit, but little did we realise the road was private so we had to leave the car a few miles future away than planned which meant when we set off on foot it ended up much later than we had anticipated.

Off we started hiking and we ended up pitching our tents well short of the summit as darkness was creeping in and agreed we wouldn’t reach the summit with the time we had left, so we pitched on a windy hole called Windy Gap little did we realise at the time.

There was no snow when we put down our tents but I was outside at around 3am replacing a peg in my guy wire and there was a canny covering horizontal snow hitting my face like needles, after awaking to snow inside my tent from leaving the top of the door open and my end vents open more than likely what else could go wrong well forgetting to fill up my fuel bottle before i left home and the horrible taste of washing up liquid in my drinking water it was a typical wildcamp for me.

Oh and when I got home my camera was broken it got soaked

Pillar
Pillar from the east. Pillar Rock is clearly visible on the skyline on the right.
Elevation	892 m (2,927 ft)
Prominence	348 m (1,142 ft)
Parent peak	Great Gable
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt, Wainwright, Nuttall
Location
Pillar Cumbria,  England
Range	Lake District, Western Fells
OS grid	NY171121
Coordinates	54°29′49″N 3°16′55″W / 54.497°N 3.282°W / 54.497; -3.282Coordinates: 54°29′49″N 3°16′55″W / 54.497°N 3.282°W / 54.497; -3.282
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, Explorer OL4

Listed summits of Pillar (Lake District)
Name	Grid ref	Height	Status
Pillar Rock	NY171123	780 m (2,558 ft)	Nuttall
Looking Stead	NY186117	627 m (2,057 ft)	Nuttall

Pillar is a mountain in the western part of the English Lake District. Situated between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south, it is the highest point of the Pillar group (some dozen fells clustered round it). At 892 metres (2,927 feet) it is the eighth highest mountain in the Lake District. The fell takes its name from Pillar Rock, a prominent feature on the Ennerdale side, regarded as the birthplace of rock climbing in the district.^[1]

• Topography
• Geology
• Summit and view
• Ascent routes
• Pillar Rock
• Notes

Topography

The Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley.^[2] Pillar is on the southern arm.

The main watershed runs broadly westwards from Great Gable, dividing the headwaters of Ennerdale and Wasdale. The principal fells in this section are Kirk Fell, Pillar, Scoat Fell, Haycock and Caw Fell, followed by the lower Lank Rigg group.

Pillar stands on the southern wall of Ennerdale, three miles from the head of the valley. Two tiers of impressive crags run the full length of the fell from Wind Gap in the west to Black Sail Pass in the east. The top tier fronts the summit ridge, a series of coves being interspersed between the buttresses. Below is a narrow terrace bearing the 'High Level Route' path and then a further wall including Pillar Rock, Raven and Ash Crags and Proud Knott. The lower slopes are planted with a broad belt of conifers, extending across the River Liza to the flanks of High Crag.

The southern flank of Pillar looks down on Mosedale, the more westerly of Wasdale's two main feeder valleys. From Wasdale Head village Pillar appears to stand at the head of Mosedale, but the valley curves out of sight, actually having its source on the slopes of Scoat Fell. The Mosedale slopes cannot compete with those above Ennerdale, although there is outcropping rock, particularly at Wistow Crags, Elliptical Crag and Murl Rigg.

The summit of Pillar is at the western end, immediately above the descent to Wind Gap (2,475 ft). This continues the watershed to Scoat Fell and beyond. A subsidiary spur branches off north west of the summit, passing over White Pike before petering out in the Ennerdale Forest. The eastern ridge of Pillar stretches for about a mile, gradually descending before the final upthrust of Looking Stead. This subsidiary top is listed as a Nuttall in its own right. Beyond is Black Sail Pass, a pedestrian route between Wasdale and the head of Ennerdale. Kirk Fell stands on the other side of the pass.

Pillar (left) from the top of Steeple

Geology

The primary rock types in the summit area are the plagioclase-phyric andesite lavas of the Birker Fell Formation. Bands of volcaniclastic sandstone and andesite sills are also present. Rhyolite and lapilli-tuff appear amongst the northern crags, with outcrops of the Craghouse Member on the north west ridge.^[3]

Summit and view

The summit is surprisingly wide and grassy, patches of stones interspersed with short turf. An Ordnance Survey triangulation column stands beside a cairn and windshelter. At the northern edge of the plateau a further wind shelter marks the descent to the mountain rescue stretcher-box and the High Level Route.^[2]

The view is excellent with all of the major fells except the Coniston range in sight. Loweswater and Ennerdale Water can be seen, together with Burnmoor Tarn. From the north windshelter is a striking view of the summit of Pillar Rock.^[2]

Ascent routes

Pillar is usually climbed from Wasdale Head, by far the nearest road access. The simplest route involves taking the Black Sail Pass, the main foot pass between Wasdale and Ennerdale, to its highest point (around 545 metres), then ascending the mountain's relatively gentle east ridge. Greater interest may be obtained by branching off the ridge (at c. 640 m) onto the "High Level Route", a narrow path which traverses around Pillar's northern crags before approaching the summit from the north, affording good views of Pillar Rock. Many walkers based in Wasdale climb Pillar as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe, a circuit of the skyline one of Wasdale's side valleys, which also includes Scoat Fell, Red Pike and Yewbarrow; Kirk Fell may also optionally be included.

Pillar may also be climbed from Ennerdale. From the YHA youth hostel at Black Sail at the head of the valley, it is a fairly short walk (around 1.5 km and 300 m of ascent) to the summit of Black Sail Pass, from where the same routes can be followed as described above. As Black Sail hostel is five or six miles from the nearest public road, this approach is somewhat impractical to day-trippers (especially since the Ennerdale valley is itself remote from the main tourist centres of the Lake District), though attractive to those staying at the hostel. Alternatively, there are various paths up the mountain from lower down the valley which offer the possibility of closer acquaintance with the crags of the north face.

It is not unfeasible for strong walkers to approach Pillar from the Buttermere valley, which has the advantage of being more accessible than Wasdale from major tourist centres such as Keswick. It is first necessary to ascend and descend the Scarth Gap Pass between Gatesgarth and Black Sail, which then allows an ascent via Black Sail Pass as detailed above. The walk from Gatesgarth to the summit of Pillar and back involves over 1,200 metres (4,000 feet) of ascent, more if the High Level Route is taken.^[2][4]

Pillar Rock

Pillar Rock from Robinson's Cairn

Pillar Rock is a large rocky outcrop surrounded by cliffs on the northern side of Pillar. When seen from Ennerdale it appears as a tall and thin column, hence its name. In the early 19th century it became widely known as one of the wonders of the Lake District, chiefly due to it featuring in William Wordsworth's poem The Brothers.^[1]

You see yon precipice—it almost looks
Like some vast building made of many crags,
And in the midst is one particular rock
That rises like a column from the vale,
Whence by our Shepherds it is call'd, the Pillar.

— Wordsworth, The Brothers

The first recorded ascent of Pillar Rock was made in 1826 by John Atkinson of Croftfoot, Ennerdale. His route, known as the Old West Route, is still classed as a rock climb, albeit one graded Moderate, the second lowest grade on the British system.^[5] It is the earliest recorded rock climb in the Lake District (not counting Coleridge's inadvertent descent of Scafell in 1802); subsequent Lakeland climbers also concentrated on Pillar, and by 1872 four different climbing routes had been pioneered on the rock.^[1] The easiest route to the top of Pillar Rock is now considered to be the Slab and Notch route, classed as a grade 3 scramble, whilst the classic route is the New West, classed as a Difficult rock climb. By 2007 over 90 climbs had been recorded, including 17 graded E1 or above.^[6]

Pillar Rock has a topographic prominence of more than 15 metres, and thus qualifies for the list of "Nuttalls" compiled by John and Anne Nuttall in their book The Mountains of England and Wales (see also Hill lists in the British Isles).^[7] It is the only summit on the list that cannot be reached without recourse to rock climbing.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} H.M Kelly & J.H.Doughty. "A Short History of Lakeland Climbing, Part 1", Fell & Rock Climbing Club Journal, 1936-37. Accessed 17 November 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Volume 7 The Western Fells: Westmorland Gazette (1966): ISBN 0-7112-2460-9
3. ^ British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, England & Wales Sheet 29: BGS(1999)
4. ^ Bill Birkett:Complete Lakeland Fells: Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-00-713629-3
5. ^ Stephen Reid. "Rock Climbing in Wild Ennerdale". Accessed 17 November 2006.
6. ^ UKClimbing.com Databases – "Pillar Rock". Accessed 29 September 2007.
7. ^ John & Anne Nuttall (1990). The Mountains of England & Wales - Volume 2: England (2nd edition ed.). Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone. ISBN 1-85284-037-4.

v t e Wainwright's Western Fells Base Brown Blake Fell Brandreth Buckbarrow Burnbank Fell Caw Fell Crag Fell Fellbarrow Fleetwith Pike Gavel Fell Great Borne Great Gable Green Gable Grey Knotts Grike Haycock Haystacks Hen Comb High Crag High Stile Kirk Fell Lank Rigg Low Fell Mellbreak Middle Fell Pillar Red Pike (Buttermere) Red Pike (Wasdale) Scoat Fell Seatallan Starling Dodd Steeple Yewbarrow Full list of Wainwrights by area

v t e Marilyns of Northern England 1. Northumberland The Cheviot Housedon Hill Long Crag Peel Fell Ros Hill Shillhope Law Sighty Crag Tosson Hill 2. Northern Lakeland Binsey Blencathra Knott Skiddaw 3. Western Lakeland Blake Fell Dale Head Dent Grasmoor Great Gable Grisedale Pike High Stile Kirk Fell Lord's Seat Low Fell Mellbreak Pillar Robinson Seatallan Swinside Watch Hill 4. Central and Southern Lakeland Black Combe Claife Heights Coniston Old Man Hard Knott Harter Fell High Raise High Rigg Holme Fell Illgill Head Kirkby Moor Lingmoor Fell Loughrigg Fell Muncaster Fell Pike of Blisco Scafell Pike Top o' Selside Whitfell 5. Eastern Lakeland Arnside Knott Fairfield Grayrigg Forest Great Mell Fell Gummer's How Hallin Fell Helvellyn High Street Hutton Roof Crags Lambrigg Fell Little Mell Fell Place Fell Red Screes St Sunday Crag Seat Sandal Stony Cove Pike Tarn Crag Wansfell Whitbarrow 6. North Pennines and Durham Burnhope Seat Cold Fell Cross Fell Dufton Pike Mickle Fell 7. Northern Yorkshire Dales Baugh Fell The Calf Great Shunner Fell Hoove Kisdon Nine Standards Rigg Rogan's Seat Wild Boar Fell Yarlside 8. Southern Yorkshire Dales Aye Gill Pike Birks Fell Buckden Pike Calf Top Cracoe Fell Dodd Fell Hill Fountains Fell Great Coum Great Knoutberry Hill Great Whernside Ingleborough Pen-y-ghent Rombald's Moor Sharp Haw Whernside 9. North York Moors to the Humber Bishop Wilton Wold Cringle Moor Gisborough Moor Urra Moor 10. Forest of Bowland Easington Fell Fair Snape Fell Longridge Fell Ward's Stone White Hill

On the 15th Feb 2011 me and my mate Paul (read his account of our trip) set off from Buttermere in the Lake District heading up to Warnscale Head Bothy, this nice little bothy is barely visible until you are right on top of it.

On trying to find the Bothy Paul whom had been here before took me up the wrong face and left me on the side of the mountain whilst exploring further ahead, I looked another direction thinking this place is bloody hard to find, like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I was about to give this up as a bad job weather crap soaking wet and we didn’t have much daylight left to find the place, we decided to look up the other face and there it was what a relief. On approaching the bothy I was praying we were the only ones there with this idea.

Opening the door we were welcomed to a small room with three wide bunks down the walls, a fireplace and a visitors book to fill in.

We proceeded to light the fire with the mountain of sticks and firelogs we had carried up, to make it catch a little better I threw on a little petrol out of my dragonfly stove bottle, it became apparent almost immediately that this is going to be a smokey night we were almost overcome by smoke on many occasion and that was about to get worse when Paul fired his barbecue up inside as it was still raining outside and it didn’t help when I knocked it over and had to run out for air leaving Paul to pick up the hot embers.

We were getting rather settled by this time jackets and trousers off drying over the fire and boots melting in the fireplace literally, our steaks cooking on the barby, I could go on ages talking about this night as its rare getting a good soaking and being able to dry your duds over a fire a luxury you don’t normally have in a tent.

On leaving the bothy in the morning we hiked up to Fleetwith Pike Summit to some great rare weather and nice views, a good day had by both of us.

Fleetwith Pike Summit

On the 25th September 2010 I set off to a job interview/camping trip to Gloucestershire, after the interview on the following Monday I was on my way through South Wale.

Campsite in Coleford Gloucestershire

I camped at another three campsites on my way through Wales from Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia National Park

 I had the time of my life as much as you can have alone as I travelled through the amazing countryside of this fantastic country the scenery is breathtaking around every corner, lakes and mountain its like the Lake District stretched out I remembered thinking to myself.
My aim was to reach Snowdonia National Park and hike Snowdon via Crib Goch and maybe even do a Wildcamp somewhere on route.
I reached the planned car park and took out my bulging backpack and made my mind up to go light over the Crib and just do Snowdon and do a Wildcamp afterwords after phoning my friend Paul from Denbigh in Denbighshire and arranging to meet him later in the day.

Crib Goch
Crib Goch from the west
Elevation	923 m (3,028 ft)
Prominence	65 m (213 ft)
Parent peak	Garnedd Ugain
Listing	Hewitt, Welsh 3000s, Nuttall
Translation	red ridge (Welsh)
Pronunciation	Welsh: [ˈkɾɪb ˈɡox]
Location
Location	Gwynedd, Wales
Range	Snowdonia
OS grid	SH624551
Coordinates	53°04′32″N 4°03′13″W / 53.0755422°N 4.053513°W / 53.0755422; -4.053513Coordinates: 53°04′32″N 4°03′13″W / 53.0755422°N 4.053513°W / 53.0755422; -4.053513
Topo map	OS Landranger 115
Climbing
Easiest route	Grade 1 scramble [1]

Part of the Crib Goch ridge. An easy section of the path runs over the grassy saddle

Crib Goch is described as a "knife-edged" arête in the Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, Wales. The name means red comb in the Welsh language, presumably referring to the serrated ridge and the colour of some of the rocks.

The highest point on the arête is 923 metres (3,028 ft) above sea level. All routes which tackle Crib Goch are considered mountaineering routes in winter or scrambles in summer—meaning that they must cross "graded territory" as defined in Steve Ashton's "Scrambles in Snowdonia".^[2] The easiest of these lines (the "bad step" part of the route) is given a scrambling grade of Grade 1 (the most difficult being Grade 3—routes more difficult than Grade 3 are considered rock climbs).

• Route
• See also
• References
• External links

Route

Sketch map of the Snowdon massif
Legend
·grey: ridges
·red lines: paths
·orange lines: roads
·dotted grey line: Snowdon Mountain Railway

The "knife-edge" arête of Crib Goch (foreground) and the pyramidal peak of Snowdon (background) are both the result of glaciation.

The classic traverse of Crib Goch from East to West leads up from the Pyg track to a "bad step" where hands and feet are both needed briefly. It is followed by ascent to the arête, before tackling three rock-pinnacles to a grassy col at Bwlch Coch. This first part of the ridge is exposed with precipices below, having resulted in several fatalities, even of experienced mountaineers;^[3][4] the Snowdonia National Park Authority describe it as "not a mountain for the inexperienced".^[5] Moreover, on fine days the ridge may be very busy and queues can form. To avoid the long queues on the ascent from the east, it is possible to ascend Crib Goch's North Ridge, which adjoins the main ridge. It is recommended that walkers who use this route do have climbing skills and climbing equipment.

It is possible to ascend Crib Goch from Bwlch y Moch SH663552 or from Nant Peris, an ascent via Cwm Beudu Mawr.

From the col the ridge rises again, joining the main Snowdon ridge via the sister peak Garnedd Ugain in the west. Here the path meets the Pyg Track (which descends to Pen-y-Pass) at Bwlch Glas (marked by a large standing stone), before the final climb to Snowdon summit. To the south of the arête lie the lakes of Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw. To the north is the Llanberis Pass. Crib Goch is classed as a Welsh 3000er and is also often climbed as the first part of the Snowdon Horseshoe, which goes on over Garnedd Ugain, Snowdon and Y Lliwedd, before returning to Pen-y-Pass.

Crib Goch is one of the wettest spots in the United Kingdom, with an average of 4,473 millimetres (176.1 in) rainfall a year over the past 30 years.^[6]

See also

• W A Poucher for a description of the routes

References

1. ^ Jon Doran (2002-04-17). "Snowdon Horseshoe — Best Scramble?". OUTDOORSmagic. http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/1370/V/4/SP/332409698529328364490.
2. ^ Steve Ashton, Scrambles in Snowdonia, (Cicerone Press, 1992)
3. ^ Neal Keeling (2007-03-09). "Climber, 60, plunges 400ft to his death". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1001/1001503_climber_60_plunges_400ft_to_his_death.html.
4. ^ "Teacher found on Snowdon". BBC News. 2003-05-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3019795.stm.
5. ^ PYG track
6. ^ Clark, Ross (2006-10-28). "The wetter, the better". The Independent. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3354276/The-wetter-the-better.html. Retrieved 2009-09-02.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Crib Goch

• Climbing Crib Goch video
• Newspaper Feature: Hypnotherapy put to the test on Crib Goch. Can hypnosis really cure a fear of heights?
• On Crib Goch on YouTube
• "Police name Snowdon tragedy boy". BBC News. 2007-10-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7066690.stm.
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Crib Goch

v t e Welsh 3000s Snowdon Massif Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Garnedd Ugain Crib Goch Glyderau Elidir Fawr Y Garn Glyder Fawr Glyder Fach Tryfan Carneddau Pen yr Ole Wen Carnedd Dafydd Carnedd Llewelyn Yr Elen Foel Grach Garnedd Uchaf Foel-fras

The next time I was to ring Paul was from my rescue point on Crib Goch how embarrassing, I will not go into the details here as the vid below tells the story, what I will talk about is the Wildcamp I had afterwards with my new friend Paul whom had driven a couple of hours south-west to meet me at the car park where I had parked to do my Crib Goch attempt.
We drove a few miles down the road to a lake by the side of the road which I had seen passing and thought to myself at the time that would be a nice wildcamp spot.
Unpacking our rucksack’s from the cars we headed over a wall to some trees by the side of a river where we setup camp, Paul had brought a few cans of beer to down and they were very welcome too , we laughed and joked all night with very little sleep.
I had met a very nice and one of the funniest guys I had ever met and will never forget the wonderful time I had spent travelling through Wales , cheers Paul.

Some Photos I took on my journey back home

As you will know I like to take my wildcamping seriously well they don’t come anymore serious than this.

I am trying to simulate why this tent let me down so much in regards to the water it let in on that faithful night of 4th April 2011 when i camped out between Kidsty Pike and High Raise in the Lake District after hiking to high Street.

You will see from the video the vents at the ends of the tent open which I believe led to the river flower in my bedroom compartment which soaked my change of dry clothes and down sleeping bag which led to the most uncomfortable night I have ever spent

 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiW-P5ku9f8

On the 10th of Dec 2010 me and my friend Paul aka themus28 went to The Peak District near Shefield to do a wildcamp and meet a chap whom i have wanted to meet for quite some time terrybnd on meeting Terry we had a stroll over to the pub where we downed a few before getting down to business.

After a bit of natter and another pint we decided to head off for a hike around the peak district we decided on pitching our tents in a wood on a slight hill, there was a about 4 inches of snow under our feet.

 After pitching our tents out came the booze I had an aluminium 1 litre bottle full of whisky Paul had his usual Brandy and black Russian I think, we talked well into the darkness and we had a scary moment when Paul went missing in the woods me and Terry were shouting his name for quite a while and I was getting worried.

Some time later he emerged from the woods and wondered what the fuss was about he was mortal and I found out days later after he had made his video for youtube he was filming a blair witch scene haha.

We retired to our tents where Paul was demonstrating how good his little meth stove was and then fell asleep in a texting position with his mobile.

When morning came we packed up our tents, the snow had all melted barely any sign of it anywhere, Terry took us on a walkabout of the peak district which was a pleasant experience will definite return some day.