Wansfell in the Wind

So the plan for this day was to start from Ambleside, parking in our favourite car park, and then head up the waterfalls, popping out the other end to climb up to Wansfell.  We bought some provisions from the Apple Pie in Ambleside.

Difficulty: 2

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (7), Grace (5 1/2)

0.0km 0m, Start (72)

3.8km 396m, End (81)

Yes, there were waterfalls!

Evie did some walking.

All were very keen that the provisions were shared out fairly.  Well, actually I think they were more interested that they got what they wanted, but sharing sounds better...

Leaving the waterfalls at the top end, just about managing to get them to stop going around the revolving gate.

We were quite amazed at how high Evie walked - not all the way to the top, but still quite a fair way up for 2 1/2.

The top was very windy, like really really windy.  Time spent posing for the photo was minimal... 

Still, reasonable view across to Lake Windermere.  We weren't that organised with looking for Wainwrights, so didn't carry on along the ridge to get to the Baystones, saving that walk for another day.

And back home, to yet more chocolate - we love easter week!

Tarn Howes

After the excitement of Cat Bells the previous day, we decided on a much more straight forward walk, a lot closer to where we were staying on Coniston Water.  Evie did do a fair amount of walking, but also spent time in the pushchair.

Difficulty: 1

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (7), Grace (5)

0.0km 0m, Start (212)

2.6km 32m, End (201)

I say time 'in' the pushchair, well, she was only trying to be helpful.

Isabelle and Grace, contemplating ducks, water, who know...

It wasn't much after this that one of these three delightful children 'accidentally' pushed one of their siblings off this hillock.  

Catbells and Castlerigg

We were staying for the week at Bank Ground, on the shores of Coniston.  It's famous for being Holly Howe in Swallows and Amazons, the summer home of the Swallows, although we didn't get to stay in the actual farmhouse...

We started the week with Catbells, a great kids favourite for being not too long or too high but yet really impressive views and some great scrambling to get to the top.

Difficulty: 2

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (7), Grace (5)

0.0km 0m, Start (121)

1.5km 317m, Catbells (451)

5.4km 421m, End (164)

No gps route, so the distance & height will be a bit off.  We took between 2 and 3 hours for the round trip.

Evie started off walking, but fairly quickly wanted to be carried to the top.

Isabelle and Grace were loving it, 

The view back down the ridge we had climbed. 

When you're this size, this counts as rock climbing! 

Stopping for a well deserved lunch break at the top.

Caroline posing with a less than impressed Evie in the carrier. 

We then drove across to Castlerigg, to have a look (and to get up close and personal) with the stones.  

Grace being very happy, back when she would be happy having her picture taken.

Crinkle Crags

Another route that I've reconstructed from the photos.  I originally thought we'd done Esk Pike on this walk, but given the timing in the photos I'm pretty sure we went down from Ore Gap,

Walking out along the valley floor with most of the walk in sight.

Looking back after an hour or so.

Looking along the crags towards Bowfell.

Quite a dapper fellow.

Looking back from just before the first crinkle, with Pike O' Blisco on the left and Cold Pike near right.

Climbing up the first Crinkle.

We avoided the bad step to the second crinkle, pausing for lunch at the back before making our way up the top.

After making my way down the boulder field, this was the enticing view towards Bowfell. 

However, I needed to wait for Caroline first.  Here she is, coming down the same boulder field. 

Most of the way up Bowfell, looking back the ridge we had come up.

Top of Bowfell.

The way back down to Angle Tarn.

 And finally down via Rossett Gill. 

Coniston Old Man, still no view

Another route reconstructed from a record of the peaks we climbed and careful looking at the photos, we returned to the Old Man, three years after coming here on honeymoon, but with little more success at getting a view.

We took a different route up, following the road to the left first, rather than heading straight up to the workings.

Not looking too promising,

At Low Water, around the same cloud level as last time. 

Caroline going up to the top, I'd offered to help carrying her rucksack since I hadn't taken one for this walk. 

Me at the top.  I think the combination of green waterproof and pink rucksack look pretty dashing.

Some view!  We could even see down to Levers Water and the Lake!

The view going up to Swirl How.

Caroline, with Seathwaite Tarn in the background.

At the top of Swirl How, a little more view. 

Looking along the ridge towards Wetherlam.

Obviously enjoying the rocks on the way.

At Wetherlam.  Not looking impressed with the lack of view from here, as the cloud hadn't continued to lift.

We could see the Old Man on the left though, and Swirl How on the right.

But not much down towards Coniston and the lake. 

Levers Water on the way down.

Caroline, looking unimpressed with the view and her boots.