Whilst in the Lakes I really wanted to do a wintry walk. Something with snow, cold conditions and maybe a need for some microspikes. Nothing that difficult that requires an ice axe and crampons but enough to give me a flavour and some experience in these conditions. Dartmoor can be bleak however lots of snow is rare, however in the Lakes there is usually plenty. The fells behind Skiddaw remind me of Dartmoor and that made my mind up when deciding where to walk, I knew the hills wouldn’t be icy and not too steep, the grass underneath allows for easy walking without the need to don spikes (although I did take them just in case). The worst part was the wind, upwards of 40mph and the resultant snow spindrift, which was tough to walk into. Still it was a brilliant day and it gave me exactly what I wanted.
Start – Longlands
Route – Longlands Fell – Brae Fell – Great Sca Fell – Knott – Great Sca Fell – Meal Fell – Trusmadoor – Great Cockup – Longlands
Distance – 8 miles Start time – 9.50am Time taken – 4 3/4hrs Highest Point – Knott 710m
Longlands Fell from the startIt’s a stiff climb up the front of Longlands Fell, thankfully the views back to Binsey and Overwater are good, allowing you to stop and admireBlimey it wasn’t half howling with wind here at Longlands Fell summit, kneeling I take this photo of Lowthwaite Fell with Little Sca Fell behindSkiddaw is the high point around these parts, bet its windy up there!!Zooming in on SkiddawBrae Fell is the least snowy fell on the left, I’m heading there nextLooking back as I head up the path to Brae FellBrae Fell summit is windy also!! Longlands Fell is below with Binsey in the distanceThe path to Great Sca FellA bit of blue sky lights up SkiddawIn trying to get out of the wind, by contouring around Little Sca Fell, I hit the deeper snow. Looking back to Brae Fell hereThe terrain takes on a peaked meringue look!!A bit of sunshine on Great Sca Fell summit as I look to High PikeSkiddaw from Great Sca FellNext up is KnottKnott summit looking to Carrock Fell right and High Pike left. It was absolutely freezing up here in the wind.Bowscale Fell with the back of Blencathra to the right, its summit has a cloud topFrom Knott you get a great view along the fault line that runs down the centre of the Lakes along the A591 route, passing Thirlmere. Here Lonscale Fell is the the right with the lower slopes of Blease Fell to the leftMeal Fell right with Great Cockup behind, the slopes of Frozen Fell (very apt!!) and Burn Tod on the leftThe summit shelter on Meal Fell ahead and Skiddaw behindFrozen FellHeading up to Great Cockup and looking down on TrusmadoorSkiddaw and a great view of Dead Crags from Great CockupGreat Cockup summitCloud is building and rain is forecast so I make a swift descent off the side of Great Cockup, heading for the path that is just over the stream down thereOn the path now and heading to Longlands, as I look back to Trusmadoor, with Meal Fell left and Great Cockup right. I’m not far from the car here at the end of a brilliant wintry walk.
treksandtors 