Alone again, naturally…

After a week of walking with company, Monday was the first solo day, perhaps of many! Despite the good forecast, clouds were low over the hills as I started from Troutbeck at 9.00 and trudged up the Garburn Road, a steep track consisting mainly of boulders. The first two hills, Sour Howes and Sallows, are rarely visited and so the footpaths were indistinct, which doesn’t help when you’re up in the clouds with poor visibility. I strayed off-piste at one point before the first top, encountered a wall which I thought might be a problem, only to find I was a mere 20 yds from a stile. The large summit area of Sour Howes itself (1568’) is like a big minefield, but what appeared to be the highest ‘lump’ was also adorned with a tiny cairn which confirmed that I really was at the highest point.

It was a straightforward trek to Sallows (1691’), at the top of which is a tiny tumulus-like mound, so there was no doubt that I was in the right place there. This was the highest point of the day and it was only 10.30. But progress was to be slowed by the fact that much of the rest of the day was pathless, across rough ground, although by now the clouds were beginning to lift off the fell-tops.


At 1191’, Troutbeck Tongue is the lowest fell in AW’s book of Far Eastern Fells (Book 2) but what it lacks in height it makes up for in steepness of ascent. 500’ of seemingly near-vertical, lung-bursting effort, but at least it’s soon over and the view to Windermere is worth it. Then back down to the unfriendly-looking Troutbeck Park Farm (no visitors thank you) and up to Low Kingate, an old cart track that presumably pre-dates the Kirkstone Pass road, running parallel to it at a distance of only 100 yds or so.

After joining the modern road, the route to Wansfell (1597’) is a long dreary trudge. The top itself isn’t that exciting but it is followed by a very pleasant mile-long switchback of a ridge leading to Wansfell Pike, often mistakenly thought of as the highest point on the fell, and enjoying great views of Windermere and Ambleside. From here it was an easy trek down to Nanny Lane and Troutbeck to end another day.