Summary

Summits Achieved

The Walk

We set off early driving north to Keswick, then alongside Derwentwater down the beautiful Borrowdale valley and finally down a narrow lane to Seathwaite Farm where the road ends. After settling into Dad's rucksack we set off along the track up the valley reaching the bridge over Stockley Beck.

Together with other walkers we crossed this, but then all apart from Dad continued on the path to Styhead Pass and Tarn. We however turned left and followed the path you can see at the rear left of the picture that ascends Grains Gill. At times we were close to the stream and Dad photographed this lovely little waterfall.

All the time we were surrounded by mountains on all sides that towered above us, none more so than Great End (2984ft).

We nicknamed it "Big End" as it buttresses the end of the Scafell ridge and in fact, we had climbed it in January 2006 with Uncle Bob. That day we went on to reach Scafell Pike (3210ft) the highest mountain in England. However this was not our objective today and when we reached the plateau of Esk Hause we turned left and made the easy ascent to the summit of Allen Crags. Allen is named after Allen Crags, that is alphabetically the first of the Wainwright Fells. Here he is sitting on the summit cairn!

We paused to look at the surrounding hills. It was rather cloudy and misty so sadly the views were not very good. Then we all set off over new ground (to "boldly go" etc!). This was the ridge walk over about 2 miles to mountain called Glaramara. This involved crossing five depressions and taking in three intervening summits that none of us had climbed before. The first was called High House, just below which was this lovely little unnamed tarn. You might expect that it should be called High House Tarn, but that was a larger tarn a little further away. Nice reflections don't you think?

The last time we had climbed Allen Crags, nearly two years ago, a lady and gentleman, who live in Borrowdale, accompanied us on the final climb. The gentleman insisted on taking Allen’s photograph on his namesake fell. As we walked along today Dad stood to one side to let a number of people pass. The last was a gentleman who stopped to chat to Dad. Suddenly he noticed us and said, "You're the teddy bear man. We met nearly two years ago." Now isn't that is an amazing coincidence! He remembered Allen too! After achieving the summits of Lincomb Head and Looking Stead we finally reached Glaramara with its twin tops. The official top is by the shelter and after hopping out of Dad's rucksack we posed on the cairn. Allen looks like he is hanging on for grim death!

Here Dad had a sandwich before setting off on the return route. This involved descending a vertical rocky step of about 20ft that has become eroded and polished. He made it down OK but not very decorously! A lot of bum in contact with the rock! Then left across boggy ground and so to Hind Gill. This was an extremely steep descent first on grass then on a very eroded twisting path with lots of loose rock and stones. Dad was very glad to get down to the valley floor as his right knee gave him a lot of pain. We see many Herdwicks, the sheep that are special to the Lake District and as we walked back one decided to pose for us as we passed. Dad could not resist getting the camera out again.

Now we should tell you that Dad is often thinking of his tummy and if there is time he likes to round off walks with a visit to a cafe for tea and a large piece of cake! So as we entered the farmyard this was a sight to gladden Dad's heart.

After tea and chocolate cake, we settled in the car, and Dad drove us home at the end of another super walk. Finally we should mention that Grizzly and Allen bagged the summit of Glaramara today. For Grizzly is was his 200th Wainwright and he has just 14 to climb now to complete them all.

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