Despite the lack of blog entries I have still been out in MDB, all told, so far, I have achieved nine Lakeland summits this year..... six of which I completed during a week long Lake District stay during the February half term. As promised, following my February High Rigg post, I am going to publish a series of photo blogs to encapsulate each walk. Here's my second outing.... A trip to Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell....
Map: Bing and Ordnance Survey
I started the day by parking in Great Wood car park.... booting and brewing up, best to start off warmed on a frosty morning. I took the path through the woods. In February the bare branches on the trees offered good glimpses across Derwent Water and over to the Newlands Valley
As I walked I watched some impressive aerial acrobatics being performed over Derwent Water.
The walk leads out of the woodland and towards Rakefoot. The path follows a drystone wall and I caught sight of my first summit of the day.... Walla Crag....
The climb up to Walla Crag, back in February, was a frozen, slippery, snowy one but I soon reached the first summit of the day found along the well trodden path. I spent a little time taking in the spectacular scene.
For the moderate effort put in to achieve this first summit (376m), the view across Derwent Water towards Kendal, Portinscale and a distant Bassenthwaite Lake was knock out!
The second top of the day, Bleaberry Fell, was to be found along an obvious, and depending upon your opinion a well or overly constructed path. Crossing over a section of open upland, set back from Walla Crag, I walked away from Derwent Water occasionally looking back at the view behind.
The ascent of Bleaberry Fell was clear to see, but the conditions made it challenging, on the final push up to the summit I was nearly on all fours as the path was frozen hard and like glass.
I reached my second summit of the day.... And took shelter, well.... in the shelter. As AW notes the summit of Bleaberry Fell is "ideally situated for long and lazy contemplation of a beautiful panorama" so thought it would be a good place to stop for a while.
Despite its appearance, summit shelter is a well built structure - a cross between a tiny sheepfold and a cairn. The view over Derwent Water is lost at this height (590m) and Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw takes centre stage.
As I descended I took in that beautiful and impressive panorama again.... Viewing distant fells to the South.... Left to Right... Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell, Esk Pike, Glaramara, the mighty Scafell Pike and Lingmell.
The light quickly fades in February.... I walked keenly, as I lost height I started taking in views across Derwent Water to Catbells
I headed towards Cat Gill where I took the path beside Great Wood and back to Derwent Water.
The light was gone almost gone when I reached Derwent water..... I sat on the beach at Calfclose Bay, enjoyed a cup of tea and wondered at the incredible sight of the fells in silhouette and in reflection.
A spectacular end to the day.....
The following day I headed for another well known crag, Raven Crag..... Come back soon for pictures from that outing.
Till next time.... Tight laces.... MDB x
Thanks P
