LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Lake District Walk  No. 37              Total 112.5 miles

Time Taken:  7.50 hrs   Distance:   Enjoyment:    Weather:  Cloudy
  10:00 am - 5:30 pm       12 miles           85%             Misty on tops

Temp:     Cloud:     Rain:    Visibility:    Ground Conditions:     Wild Life:
  17oC        98%        0%     Very Poor      Boggy in places   Swallows, Sheep

Total AA:    Total MH:   Total LD:    Total AW:     Other:    Total Distance:
 711 mls      730.5 mls   1691.5 mls      112.5        893.5 mls       4139 miles

Companions:  (Derek)  Colin & BT Walking Group.          Walk led by Paul

Points of Interest:
Ambleside         Bridge House       Windermere      Rydal Water
Patterdale         Cofa Pike      St. Sunday Crag    Seat Scandal
Grisedale        Grisedale Tarn       Steel Fell       Helm Crag
Grasmere         Langdale Fells     Coniston Water     Rydal Hall
     Low Pike (3)       1657 feet (508 mtrs)
     High Pike (3)      2155 feet (656 mtrs)
     Dove Crag (3)     2603 feet (792 mtrs)
     Hart Crag (2)      2698 feet (822 mtrs)
     Fairfield (4)         2863 feet (873 mtrs)
     Great Rigg (4)     2513 feet (766 mtrs)
     Heron Pike (3)    2003 feet (612 mtre)
     Nab Scar (4)      1450 feet 

General:
Lakeland Walk with BT Walking Group. Two nights in bunk house with Colin
& BT mates in small bunk room sleeping seven. Colin drove and parked at
Ambleside nothern car park where we met the remainder of the group. Walked
anticlockwise starting with Low Pike and finishing at Nab Scar. Good views
from Low Pile and High Pike but from Dove Crag we walked into the clouds.
We were expecting the clouds to lift as the walk progressed but unfortunately,
if anything, the clouds dropped slightly during the afternoon. No significant
views until we reached Nab Scar. The RAF gave us a visit as we climbed High
Pike. Always good to see fighter aircraft flying in the valley below. From
Fairfield summit we initially took the wrong route taking us down steeply
towards Grisedale Tarn. Paul & I were busy talking and both realised the
mistake together as the view of Seat Sandal unfolded. Some of the group were
well down the track. We returned to the summit and took the ridge route to
Great Rigg. As we approached Rydal Fell we were buzzed by lots of Swallows
feeding on the insects. It was a unexpected but welcome sight of graceful
flying. Very poor views of Langdale Fells & Scarfells. Steep descent from
Nab Scar to a welcome cup of tea at Rydal Tea Room by Rydal Hall. Very
pleasant walk along the Rydal Estate Road back to Ambleside car park.
www.streetmap.co.uk Start/Finish 337560/504735, via 335810/511805
 
Hazards:
Typical Lakeland walk over rocky terrain. Wear good stout footwear.
Paul's compass very useful on the misty tops.
Snoring always a problem in bunk houses. Finger not pointed at me this
time to my surprise. Or, were the BT Group all gentlemen and kept quiet?