DGH and JRH Walks- 2022

 The Great Ridge, Lose Hill and Kinder The forecast was for a dry and sunny day and it certainly didn't disappoint. There was lovely sunshine all day and this only changed as the sun went down, just before 4pm and we were virtually back at the car. We made an early start- stopping for a coffee and a warm-up at the Penny Pot. Warmth at the Penny Pot We walked up, a pleasant walk under Cold Side (the landslipped side of Mam Tor) and up to Hollins Cross on The Great Ridge. Walking past Cold Side. Back Tor and Lose Hill in the sun ahead Arriving at Hollins Cross. Edale, Kinder and Grindslow Knoll in the background We had brilliant views all around, including back to Edale, across to Kinder and Grindslow Knoll, and to Mam Tor. Mam Tor, with the closed road below We then made our way to Lose Hill which is a great landmark. It felt easier going up this side than the other and it was a pleasant walk. We stopped for a snack at Lose Hill and made our way down to the outskirts of Hope an...

  Team Outing: Skiddaw and Outlying Fells Paul and Michael had departed on Monday, so today's team was Julian, Andrew, Greg, Chas and David. We started out from a handy parking spot on an otherwise very narrow lane- it looked as if it had once been a small quarry. We made our way up past Little How and along The Edge with Ullock Pike as our first objective. Ullock Pike silhouetted to the right, Skiddaw in cloud to the right The clouds were drifting in and out but Skiddaw was consistently shrouded in a lenticular cloud. Skiddaw with nebulous covering On reaching the top of Ullock Pike we had a short break and took in the views. Ullock Pike summit- Carl Side is the next top on the ridge Carl Side was the next Wainwright and we had a brief stop there. We'd seen and heard a shepherd working his flock of Herdwick sheep and they arrived at the top shortly after we did. A collie and his herdies The shepherd called the sheep towards us and they didn't give a jot about five humans- ...

 Team Outing: Blencathra and Outlying Wainwrights David met with Julian, Paul, Greg, Chas, Andrew and Michael to add to Chas' list of Wainwrights. The walk was similar to one David and Jacinta had done last year but included a couple that we hadn't done. We started in Mungrisdale and effectively reversed the route Jacinta and I had done, walking up the south side of The Tongue and up to the saddle between Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crag. Bannerdale Crag to the left, Blencathra dusted with snow to the right We duly went to the summit of both Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crag and then down to the coll between Bannerdale Crag and Blencathra. Blencathra (with "Saddleback"), Paul, and my thumb From there, we went on to Mungrisdale Common- the summit only discernible by a pile of stones, typically in a puddle. We probably wouldn't have gone there if Wainwright hadn't included it in one of his guidebooks. The "Summit" of Mungrisdale Common The summit of B...

  Hayfield to Kinder Downfall and Kinder Low The weather forecast didn't seem too bad- a chance of rain later in the day- and we felt like a walk of about 8 miles. We'd not been up to Kinder Downfall for quite some time and, as Hayfield isn't too far, this suited our slightly late start. The mist was fairly low as we approached the Kinder Reservoir dam. Low cloud above the approach to Kinder Reservoir The moisture in the air made the dying bracken a pronounced reddy-brown. Bracken in autumn colours As we made our way up William Clough, the mist seemed to be lifting a little. Mist lifting in William Clough As we went higher up the clough, the mist blew over completely, and the autumn colours appeared completely. Higher up William Clough We stopped at the crossing of the paths between Mill Hill and the final ascent to Kinder for a quick snack and drink; The clouds were blowing in and out but the way ahead appeared to be clear. Tea break before final ascent to Kinder plateau O...

  Wessenden Head and the outer reaches of Marsden After our very wet trip to Wessenden Head last week, and as the skies at PLG were clear and blue, we thought that we'd give Wessenden another try. As we approached Carol's tea waggon on the Isle of Skye (A635) road there was an distinct demarcation line- the road- between ground-level cloud or mist to the north, and absolute clarity to the south. We stopped for a tea at Carol's, admired the view and decided a plan of action. View to the southeast- Black Hill to the right View to the north- our proposed route is on the left Despite the sunny aspects of Black Hill with its paved path glittering in the sun, we kept to our original plan- to follow the Pennine Way northeast and down past the Wessenden Head and Wessenden Reservoirs. Our route- descent into the murk The last spot of clear sunlight allowed a picture of Jacinta with the Pennine Way sign to be taken. A great label for the signpost The track is very familiar to us, but...

  Dove Stone, The Trinicle and Chew Reservoir- David with Paul and Mike David took his semi-regular walk with Paul, joined by Mike Brough this time. Paul suggested a variant of the walk above the Dove Stone Reservoir(s)- always good value. We met at the Binn Green car park and, per the route suggested by Paul, crossed the Yeoman Hey Reservoir dam and crossed back to the track under the Greenfield Reservoir. We took the path up Birchen Clough and up to the edge of the Slate Pit Moss plateau where we got a great view of the Trinicle. We decided that it was too green to climb today. The Trinicle, with Dove Stone Reservoir in the distance Mike and Paul reviewing the condition of The Trinicle Despite the very breezy weather, the views were great- Manchester was clearly visible and, if you squinted, you could convince yourself that you could see the sea as well. The dreaming spires of Manchester We descended the access road, forking off on the Oldham Way and down through the plantations ...