High Pike, Lake District, Spring
There’s more to the Northern Fells of the Lake District than meets the eye.
There's more to the Northern Fells of the Lake District than meets the eye.
Nearing the end of our May break, and after having enjoyed the delights of Dash Falls, Lisabet and I decided that a reasonably high climb was in order.
Thankfully we had assistance! A former work colleague of mine turned good friend, Kate, lives in Northern Cumbria and is fell acquainted with the Northern Fells. After a coffee and a catch up, she guided us to a good parking area and we set off up the fell.
The Northern Fells really put me in mind of the Howgills: rolling, smooth hills with deep scarred valleys. Our goal for the day was to summit High Pike (658 m/2,159 ft), and in places the going was pretty steep. However, the views from the top are exquisite.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images converted in Lightroom, then edited in Affinity Photo.
On our way up the easy-to-follow path and already the views are wide open and expansive. A great day for hiking.
The way up, with Potts Gill to our right. This area of the Northern Fells has been historically mined extensively, evidenced by fenced off shaft entrances and clear tracks.
The view from near the top of Potts Gill and its ripples. Dead centre is a transmitting station and in the far distance are the coastal Galloway mountains across the Solway Firth.
As the continue the climb, slivers of light dance across the fells and sink into the gills. The prominent peak is Brae Fell.
A 55mm composition of Brae Fell with deep gills scarring its flank.
But finally, after lots of huffing and puffing, summit! Looking south from the summit of High Pike, the fells criss-cross each other towards the back of Blencathra.
Even more stunning views to the east. To the left is Carrock Fell, and to the right are the crags of Bowscale Fell.
I ventured down the western slope of High Pike a little bit to get a clear view of the scene here. Great Lingy Hill and its extremely steep valley.
I kept returning to gawp at the view southwards, checking out the sheer southeastern crag faces of Bowscale Fell and Blencathra.
Heading back down the same route, the afternoon sun breaks through and scans across the scene ahead of us.
Back down on Caldbeck Moor there is gorse everywhere, smelling beautifully of coconut.
One last look back at the trail we took to High Pike. What a crackin' hike and a beautiful conclusion to our week.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Mosedale, Lake District, Spring
My Dad’s been vaccinated.
My Dad’s been vaccinated.
This is a relief for me as Dad’s a Type II Diabetic and thus Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.
As he’s in our Support Bubble we went to check in on him this weekend, spending a large part of the day in the valleys of the Northern Fells near where he lives.
The Northern Fells is an area of the Lake District Lisabet and I have barely touched but we’re still starting to get round to it. South of Carrock Fell and Caldbeck Common, on Blencathra’s eastern flank, one can find two valleys ripe for hiking. On this occasion we picked Mosedale, and what a beautiful valley it is.
Mosedale is a west-east valley that begins life underneath Knott (710 m/2,330 ft) and its subsidiary top Coomb Height. Here the two rivers Grainsgill Beck and Blackhazel Beck join together underneath Knott and flow eastward, which has historically gouged out a steep valley with a flat floor.
The main path through the valley is on its southern flank, which gently ascends before reaching Bowscale Tarn. We chose the northern track through the valley this time, just to check out the scope of Mosedale. I think Lisabet and I will definitely return to hike the southern path.
The sun was out, white fluffy clouds were in the sky, a very light wind caressed our faces… it was a glorious day for a Lake District spring hike.
Photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and a Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
I agree that this photo isn’t all that interesting, but I largely shot it to record probably Britain’s smallest footpath sign. Barely knee height!
Dad, with his own Fujifilm camera setup, enjoying the glorious sights and wonderful light conditions.
Our first real sight of the full extent of the Mosedale valley. Absolutely beautiful.
A composition shot across the valley towards Mosedale’s southern flank. Hidden by the “lip” near top-centre is Bowscale Tarn.
At Roundhouse, roughly halfway along Mosedale. Here the valley starts to pinch as we near the head towards Coomb Height, the fell in the distance on the right.
There’s quite a bit of scree around the head of Mosedale, including some sizeable boulders. This one caught my eye for the unusual patch of heather growing out of it.
I went for wee scramble off the track to nab a composition of some of the scree and vegetation.
As the valley pinches tighter the track runs right alongside the river, allowing for compositions straight down the cascades towards Coomb Height.
We found a particularly powerful section of the river as it gets forced between several large boulders. I went scrambling into the river to line up some compositions featuring Coomb Height, the river, and the textures of these gorgeous boulders.
A bit more precariously close to the fast rapids but arguably a better shot as a result.
One of those moments where it feels great to be out in nature.
Here we’d reached the head of the Mosedale, where Grainsgill Beck and Blackhazel Beck meet. This is Grainsgill Beck, which cuts out a gill on the northern side of Coomb Height. The fell to the right is Milton Hill. Grainsgill Beck saw a lot of mining activity in the 19th and 20th century.
Lisabet went seeking for the perfection composition of a particularly powerful cascade on Grainsgill Beck.
Back at the foot of the valley is Mosedale village, which is rather idyllic and a true Cumbrian rural paradise.
Mosedale village is almost impossibly quaint, complete with a red phone booth and a GR-era post box.
The long back to the car, crossing Mosedale Common and entering Caldbeck Common. Lisabet pulling way ahead, leaving me and Dad flagging behind. She’s got a proper good stride on her.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Caldbeck Common, Cumbria, Winter
Today it was time for something a little different.
Today it was time for something a little different.
It’s been about a month since I last saw my Dad, and during that time a 3rd National Lockdown came into effect. My Dad’s in his 60s, lives alone, and has Type II Diabetes, so he’s in our “bubble”. So we thought it we were overdue for a visit, and zipped up to North Cumbria to check in on him, and get some exercise in whilst there.
Dad took us to Caldbeck Common, an area northeast of the northern Lake District fells. We hiked up alongside Carrock Beck and followed the old miner’s track towards High Pike (658 m/2,159 ft), snapping plenty of photos along the way.
Temperatures were around -3°C and there was a strong wind about, so it were pretty raw on the face. Refreshing and invigorating, though. More importantly, we got to hang out with my Dad, which is always a pleasure.
Most photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Samyang 35mm f/1.2 lens. The horse photos were taken on my Google Pixel 3XL. All developed using one of RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
My lovely Lisabet, shooting some water action. This is Carrock Beck, which begins life from the eastern slopes of High Pike. The beck actually flows over the road here, so vehicles habitually have to ford the river.
Dad and Lisabet, nattering away, getting whipped by the cold winds.
We saw lots of delightful icicle formations by the side of the miner’s track. Miniature worlds of their own.
Looking back the way we came. In the far distance is the snow-capped escarpment known as the North Pennines. It peaks at Cross Fell (893 m/2,930 ft), which is the highest summit in England outside of the Lake District.
Managed to snap this candid shot of Dad, with Carrock Fell (661 m/2,169 ft) behind. I think Dad’s face is testament to the sub-zero temperatures blowing right into our faces.
Carrock Fell from the miner’s track. The fell is fairly unique in England as it’s largely made from Gabbro, a rough igneous rock that’s normally found on the Isle of Skye. Rock climbers like as it’s quite “grippy”.
The head of the Carrock Beck valley, which summits at High Pike. Still a bit of snow around.
Looking back at the Carrock Beck valley from further down. Plenty of gorse (Ulex europaeus) around here, but not yet in flower.
As we started driving out of Caldbeck Common we stopped the car to let a herd of fell horses through. I wound down the window to snap some phone photos when one gorgeous member of the herd stopped and poked through the window for a sniff.
Didn’t have any tasty carrots or apples on me, I’m afraid.
Beautiful creatures.