Today may I start with a rant, I climbed Place Fell on newly constructed paths and a very good job has been made of them, a few months back I descended Red Pike (Buttermere) on a path constructed some years ago, this has turned into a real ankle breaker, if you have descended it you'll know the one I'm talking about, it's nice to see that while the Lake District Park Authority has the funds available is throwing all it's efforts into path repair, but in five, ten or even fifteen years time when the money has long gone will the said paths get maintained, erosion through constant footfall, water and ice always wins in the end. How long before an unscrupulous walker backed by an equally unscrupulous firm of solicitors sues because of a twisted ankle, broken leg or grazed shin just because they were too busy admiring the views instead of watching where they were putting their feet, the world is full of unscrupulous individuals, it will happen.
Back to the affairs of the day, I intended to make my ascent of Place Fell from Sandwick on the eastern shore of Ullswater, to return later over Beda Fell, as I found myself caught up in slow moving traffic I decided to park at Deepdale Bridge saving myself the long drive round, after all the object of the exercise is walking and it wasn't much further to walk, it turned out to be a day of sunshine and showers, so with the rain on my back I set out along the bridleway from Deepdale Bridge, after crossing Goldrill Beck I was soon on the ascent to Boredale Hause, followed by the steep climb up the southern slopes of Place Fell to reach the cairn on Round How, a short stroll followed to the rocky top of Place Fell, leaving the summit I passed a small tarn before crossing Hart Crag to descend to and cross Low Moss, onward to Cat Crag where an old miners path dropped steeply to Garth Heads Farm, to be followed by a short ascent onto Howstead brow (with a small b), heading south now across Howstead Brow (with a large B) to eventually cross Beda Fell, a quite spectacular path took me above the cliffs of Beda Fell Knott to ford Freeze Beck before reaching Boredale Hause for the second time, back down the way I came and back to the car.
If you wear spectacles you'll know they steam up in the rain, I was wearing mine on the top of my head, put there as I descended Place Fell, when the rain stopped as I crossed Howstead Brow (with a large B) I decided to clean them and put them back on my face, to find they weren't there, so somewhere in the hills above Boredale lies a pair of prescription reactor-light glasses no good to anyone but me, if I'm lucky and some kind sole finds them please let me know.
Place Fell and the Beda Fell Ridge. |
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Sheltering from the rain, looking to Boredale Hause with Place Fell rising to the left. |
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From the ascent to Boredale Hause views to the Hartsop above How ridge, with Red Screes just visible above Brothers Water. |
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The first of many views of Ullswater. |
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Looking to my return route, Beda Fell Knott seen over the head of Boredale. |
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The stunning view over Brothers Water from the cairn on Round How. |
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At 2,154ft the trig point on the summit of Place Fell commands fine views in all directions, this one to the east over Beda Fell to Wether and Loadpot Hills. |
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When you want to photograph the rain you can't, if you don't you can, sunlight on the slopes of Beda Fell seen across Boredale, in the midst of a heavy shower. |
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The quaint footbridge across Boredale Beck, on my descent from Cat Crag I constantly scanned the valley floor searching for a dry crossing of the beck, I didn't see this bridge until the last minute. |
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Sunshine adds sparkle to the scene over Martindale. |
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On the slopes of Howstead brow looking to Swarth Fell and Bonscale Pike rising above Howtown. |
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Viewing Hallin Fell from the rocky top of Winter Crag. |
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Ullswater across Sandwick. |
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One of Lakeland's hidden gems, Boredale nestles between the slopes of Place Fell and Beda Fell. |
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I am now on the steep ascent of Beda Fell with breath-taking views into Martindale. |
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Stunning views back to Hallin Fell and the Bracken swathed slopes of Winter Crag. |
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As I ascend to Beda Fell Head mouth watering views down Ullswater tilt into view. |
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The cairn on Beda Head looking southwest. |
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On the summit of Beda Fell with views over Ullswater. |
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Much clearer than this morning, dropping back into Patterdale with Red Screes visible rising high above Brothers Water. |
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Views into Deepdale with Fairfield rising at the head of the valley, it's a short walk back to the car but you'll never guess where the main road is. |