On Sunday 15 March Mike and I were joined by John and Catherine Taylor for an assault on the Langdale Pikes and their subsidiaries – 10 tops in all, starting with Silver How (1292’) above Grasmere, where a fell race was about to take place, judging from the freshly-planted green flags. The weather was perfect – high cloud ,not much wind, not too warm.
It’s a long trek along the ridge to Blea Rigg (1776’), a shy top which
doesn’t tower over any neighbours and so it can be a bit difficult to be sure when you’ve got there, but AW’s guide helps sort it out. The weather had encouraged plenty of Sunday walkers to take to the fells, which were beginning to get crowded!
After a lunch stop (John & Catherine like to have plenty of re-fuelling stops) we pressed on to the summit of Pavey Ark (2288’), perched on the edge of a 500’ crag above Stickle Tarn – not a place to be if you suffer from acrophobia. After a slow start we were now ticking off
tops at a lively pace – Harrison Stickle, at 2403’ the highest of the Langdale Pikes, but not the highest point of the day, then Loft Crag (2270’) and then the impressive Holland’s Pie pudding shape of Pike o’Stickle (2323’). It was getting towards 3 o’clock and we still had plenty to do.
Off to the rather unimpressive Thunacar Knott (2351’) wondering why AW bothered to include it in his guides, and then finally the highest point of the day (though not necessarily the high point…), High Raise
(2500’).
It’s a long trek down Sourmilk Gill (very scenic though) and beyond to get back to Grasmere – but finally we were back at the car saying our goodbyes. It was a long day at 14 miles+, but an excellent one, and after a good meal I didn’t need any rocking to get to sleep. That’s 31 down and I daren’t think how many still to go. Just keep putting one foot down after the other.
It’s a long trek along the ridge to Blea Rigg (1776’), a shy top which
doesn’t tower over any neighbours and so it can be a bit difficult to be sure when you’ve got there, but AW’s guide helps sort it out. The weather had encouraged plenty of Sunday walkers to take to the fells, which were beginning to get crowded! After a lunch stop (John & Catherine like to have plenty of re-fuelling stops) we pressed on to the summit of Pavey Ark (2288’), perched on the edge of a 500’ crag above Stickle Tarn – not a place to be if you suffer from acrophobia. After a slow start we were now ticking off
tops at a lively pace – Harrison Stickle, at 2403’ the highest of the Langdale Pikes, but not the highest point of the day, then Loft Crag (2270’) and then the impressive Holland’s Pie pudding shape of Pike o’Stickle (2323’). It was getting towards 3 o’clock and we still had plenty to do. Off to the rather unimpressive Thunacar Knott (2351’) wondering why AW bothered to include it in his guides, and then finally the highest point of the day (though not necessarily the high point…), High Raise
(2500’). At last we were heading back towards Grasmere, taking in Sergeant Man (2414’), which left Tarn Crag (1801’) as the final top of the day. AW describes the route from Sergeant Man to Tarn Crag as “an interesting test in route-finding” – a good description. We were in danger of heading too far north and going down the wrong side of Far Easedale, but John kept us in order and we were soon on our last top and then scurrying down the fell side towards Easedale Tarn.
It’s a long trek down Sourmilk Gill (very scenic though) and beyond to get back to Grasmere – but finally we were back at the car saying our goodbyes. It was a long day at 14 miles+, but an excellent one, and after a good meal I didn’t need any rocking to get to sleep. That’s 31 down and I daren’t think how many still to go. Just keep putting one foot down after the other.
183, if it helps
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