Summary

Summits Achieved

Preface

"Do you think we are going out tomorrow", asked Grizzly.

"Don't know", replied Tetley. "Guess we better go and ask Dad"

"I'll go", piped up Allen.

So off he went to find out.

"Yes, we are walking" said Dad. "We will be doing a couple more of the Birkett Fells we have not done, and also getting on with the catch up on the Outlying Fells, for Grizzly, Eric and you, by climbing Walna Scar".

"Great", cried Allen, as he rushed off to tell the others.

After Allen had reported back, Tetley said "one tends to think that the fells in Wainwrights Outlying book, are of much lesser height, and whilst that can be said about quite a lot, some like Walna Scar are actually over 2,000ft, so we were in for quite a climb.

The Walk

Our starting point was Torver. The last part of our journey there was alongside Coniston Water, so we enjoyed the views of the lake and surrounding hills.

It was rather cloudy as we set off. Walked up the narrow road and on to the bridleway that climbs up to eventually reach the Walna Scar Road (it is not a road as such but a wide track that links Coniston with the Duddon Valley). We met a lady with her dog and Dad stopped to chat (well he would!). She noticed us and was interested to hear about us, as she too is a collector of Teddy Bears.

Dad walked on, passing a building called Tranearth, before reaching the old Banishead Quarry. It's deep excavation is now a small tarn with a waterfall at one end.

The Walna Scar Road crosses Torver Beck at Cove Bridge, which makes a pleasant scene for a photograph.

See the cloud and mist at the top of this picture, well this was covering Walna Scar. It persisted all day too, so it was a good job that Dad was able to navigate safely through this to the first three summits. We continued up the road, climbing all the way to its summit. Now striking off left it was just a short climb to the summit of Walna Scar, marked by a cairn. We should have had a good view but in the mist visibility was severely restricted. Added to that too it was windy.

White Pike was next, a clear track leading all the way to its huge summit cairn. We now had to get to White Maiden. A path led off from White Pike, but soon Dad realised this was not going in the right direction, in fact he thought it was a path to Walna Scar top. It just goes to show how disorienting it can be in mist. So, he cut off to the right and soon we were at the cairn on White Maiden. It had been windy all the time, but here it was horrendously strong and just blew continuously. We hurried on to the cairn for our photo, then quickly dived back into the rucksack. We were all very glad to get down off the top!!

Now we followed the wall down for a while, then drifted away left on what seemed a good descent. Dropping Crag was the danger here, but Dad had fortunately picked a good route. There was one bit along a ledge and then down into a stream, but once that was over it was easy to the valley. We love the Herdwick sheep that roam the Lakeland Fells. This one posed for Dad.

The final hill was High Pike Haw, and despite a slight detour because Dad had misread the grid reference (Specsavers comes to mind!), soon we had reached its rocky top. A different day here - out of the mist and much less wind. We posed for our picture, and then we all had our picnic.

There was also a fine view to Coniston Old Man.

Now we followed a clear path headed NE, and even when it got less distinct, Dad was able to come to the footpath we wanted with ease. Turning right here, we continued the easy descent. The only difficulty was needing to cross a rather wide stream, but once Dad found the stepping stones we were soon across. We looked back to Walna Scar, still shrouded in the cloud and mist.

Then we followed the track down. This was a bit difficult for a time as it was in a stream and the rocks were slippery, so Dad had to take extra care. Soon we reached the house of Low Torver Park where Dad stopped to chat to the occupants, who were interested in where we had been. It was then left on a track to reach Scar Head, from where it was just a short way to the car. We then headed home, but of course he was in good time for a tea stop, so went to the Hat Trick Cafe run by Jane & Sam. We got to go in too. Dad had decided to make this his evening meal so had a lovely BLT sandwich, followed by gorgeous apple apricot and chocolate crumble. Jane again very very kindly made Dad custard to have with this (normally it is served with cream).

Thanks again Dad for another good day, despite the lack of views.

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