Pandemic Peregrinations: Whitbarrow, Cumbria, Spring
I’ve often gazed longingly at Whitbarrow Scar from afar.
I’ve often gazed longingly at Whitbarrow Scar from afar.
Finally we decided to clamber around it.
Whitbarrow (215m/705ft) is a limestone hill, much like its neighbour Scout Scar, with whom I’m much more familiar with. Whitbarrow is further west of Scout Scar across the Lyth Valley, but covers a much larger area. When viewed from the A590 south of the fell, Whitbarrow presents some sheer and imposing cliff faces that I instantly fell in love the first time I saw them. I resolved to one day wander around the contours of Whitbarrow. Today was that day.
Whitbarrow is definitely not as easy to access as Scout Scar. Whereas Scout Scar can be reached with ease from the tiny car park near its northern edge (or walked to directly from Kendal), Whitbarrow has no official car park nearby and is surrounded only by tiny villages and hamlets. We elected to park in one of the laybys off the A5074, then walk into the village of The Row to find the footpaths up onto Whitbarrow.
We spent a good 2-3 hours around Whitbarrow and quickly got the distinct impression that this was a fell that we could return to time and time again, and still not see all of that. The fell is quite vast and varied. Its western flank drops down steeply to the valley floor at Whitbarrow Scar, but does so more smoothly compared to Scout Scar’s vertical cliffs. The eastern part of Whitbarrow is a protected Nature Reserve, featuring limestone shelves, limestone pavements full of clints and grikes, and lots of woodland.
We managed to summit the fell at Lord’s Seat and made a small loop back towards The Row. There is still a lot to more explore of Whitbarrow, and I look forward to returning again.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and a converted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
Spring has sprung.
Spring has sprung.
After a relatively dry and bright week, we were very much hoping for similar if not better for the weekend. Saturday came around and we were grateful. A proper spring day.
We took the opportunity to get some shopping in by hiking from the front door to Plumgarths Farm Shop via Helsfell Nab. Then, after acquiring the necessary meat, bread, and tasty beverage, we hiked up Cunswick Scar and back towards Kendal Fell into the town.
All in all, another solid 16,000+ steps or so.
There were so many birds singing, dappled light scanned across the land, the grass is getting green, people were out and about with smiles on their faces… a change is coming.
All photos shot 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.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Serpentine Woods, Spring, Cumbria
Step 1 of the government’s Spring COVID-19 Response Plan is in action.
Step 1 of the government’s Spring COVID-19 Response Plan is in action.
Students have gone back to school and in theory by the 29th of March people will be allowed to meet outdoors in bigger groups.
The UK has also recently passed the vaccine milestone of 25 million people.
There is a… careful optimism in the air. The weather appears to be brightening and drying up, and the days are getting longer.
I know, personally, that I’m feeling a growing urge to be in the outdoors and for longer.
Thankfully, and fortunately, Lisabet and I have been able to plan some holidaying and exploring within the UK for 2021 (finger’s crossed). We’re looking at the Northumberland coast in the summer, and two areas of Scotland in the autumn.
Let’s hope all goes well with the vaccination programme and easing of restrictions.
In the meantime, here’s some photos of a recent post-work wander Lisabet and I enjoyed, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Serpentine Woods, above Kendal. Can’t wait until this place is filled with wild garlic blossom.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Samyang 35mm f/1.2 lens. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Helsington, Cumbria, Spring
We’ve definitely had better light conditions recently.
We’ve definitely had better light conditions recently.
Nevertheless, Lisabet and I embarked on a solid 15 km hike today. From the front door, down the A6, through Helsington Laithes up to Scout Scar, south towards Helsington Church, through Berry Holme Farm, across the A591 to Hawes Bridge, and back north through the fields to Kendal.
It’s a good day when you get 20,000+ steps in and lots of photos.
All photos shot on a Fujifilm X-T2 using my three lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
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.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Lower Borrowdale, Lake District, Spring
The Four Step Plan to “normality” has been announced.
The Four Step Plan to “normality” has been announced by the government.
From the 8th March 2021 students will return to schools, colleges, and universities, and there will be a small loosening of social contact restrictions. Then from 29th March 2021 there is a further easing of social contact restrictions, primarily around meeting people outside. Outdoor sporting recreation will be allowed again, and you can start to travel within the country.
Step 2 from the 12th April 2021 sees non-essential business opening once again.
By 17th May 2021, Step 3 reduces even more restrictions on social contact, with most legal restrictions on outdoor meetings being lifted (except for gatherings of over 30 people).
And finally, by 21st June, all social contact restrictions will be lifted and all remaining businesses will be free to trade again.
At least, that’s the plan. Apparently guided by “data not dates”. Let’s see what happens.
In the meantime, Lisabet and I drove 9-miles north for a wander down the lovely Lower Borrowdale valley. We had intended to ford the river and take the public bridleway up and over Borrowdale Edge into Bretherdale, a valley we’ve never explored before. In any case, that didn’t happen; the stepping stones to ford the river had a sizeable gap right in the middle, and there was no way we were jumping across.
Instead, we simply enjoyed a valley bottom walk, all the way from the head of Lower Borrowdale to where it joins the Lune Gorge and the M6 motorway that runs through it.
All in all, about a 16 km hike, 24,000+ steps.
And lots of photos.
Photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Samyang 35mm f/1.2, Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and my new Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0 lens (a vintage lens from the 70s that my Dad recently got me). All developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.