If I was destined to go walking today it would have to be an early start, with the weather forecast looking quite promising I made the decision, up before dawn and over Nab Scar.
My day started with a mammoth effort to tie my boot laces, it was dark, eventually resorting to switching the car headlights on, from St Mary's Church in Rydal it's a short walk to the foot of Nab Scar followed by a steep ascent, so as night turned to day I made my way up the steep pitch path crossing the summit to reach Heron Pike, the western slopes of Heron Pike are steep grass with a few crags and no paths, just to make matters worse the mist had rolled in so out came the map and compass, it was quite daunting taking my first steps off a perfectly good path even though I knew it would be hard to go wrong, as I dropped under the cloud base Alcock Tarn was there to greet me reflecting the morning light, on a well trod path I was soon on the descent from Grey Crag, entering Bracken Wood before reaching a tarmac lane left up the hill to be greeted by a fingerpost directing me to White Moss Common Car Park, crossing the car park and the main road I finished my morning wandering along the south shore of Rydal Water.
Over Nab Scar. |
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Early morning views across Rydal Park, looking to Sweden Crag backed by the long ridge leading to Red Screes. |
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Ascending the lower slopes of Nab Scar with stunning views down the Rothay Valley to a distant Windermere Lake. |
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Rydal Water seen over the Sylvan slopes of Nab Scar. |
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Low Pike across Rydal with Red Screes now visible on the skyline. |
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Looking back to a quickly vanishing Windermere, as you can see a bank of clouds is rolling up the lake. |
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The summit Nab Scar. |
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Nearing the summit of Heron Pike with High Pike just visible through the haze. |
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On the summit of Heron Pike looking to Erne Crag, in the distance Hart Crag leading to Rydal Head. |
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Cloud thickens over Rydal, views to the west were soon to disappear. |
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After descending through cloud the welcome sight of little Alcock Tarn. |
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Alcock Tarn a gem hidden in the hills above Grasmere. |
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Talking of Grasmere, descending Grey Crag with mouth-watering views to Grasmere itself. |
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Silver How rising above Grasmere, to the left Huntingstile. |
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Delightful secret corners, the Fish Pond passed at the foot of my descent. |
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On the banks of the River Rothay. |
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Been there, Nab Scar as seen across the fields of White Moss. |
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Under cloud Nab Cottage still manages to cast it's reflection in Rydal Water. |
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Looking to the slopes of Nab Scar seen from the south shore of Rydal Water. |
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Views to the west, cloud still hangs over the lake. |
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With a stunning reflection Nab Scar across Rydal Water. |