It was Monday, and tea had arrived courtesy of Shaun, and Grizzly had got the biscuit tin for us to dive into.
"Just what I need", said Allen. "I was gasping for a cuppa and I'm hungry too."
"You are always hungry", laughed Little Eric, "You really do take after Dad for food and tea. Still pal we love you and do not change."
Grizzly said, "what a contrast in the weather on our walk yesterday from Mardale. The week before there had been sunshine but yesterday we were in the cloud for most of the walk, robbing us of seeing the views."
"Quite pal", agreed Shaun. "Still it was good to get all the Birkett tops in that area completely done, and alphabetically the first in Adam Seat."
Allen by now had finished his mug of tea, saying, "can I have a refill please pal."
"Sure" replied Shaun.
"And one for me too", added Little Eric.
"You'll be getting the same reputation as me", laughed Allen. Then about to take another biscuit, he said, "where's Tetley? He likes his tea as well."
"I think I saw him talking to Dad", replied Shaun. "He'll be here soon for sure."
Not many minutes later he strolled in. "Thanks pal", he said accepting the mug from Shaun. "I've been talking to Dad and can bring news of a walk on Wednesday with Uncle Eric. "It will be in the north lakes. We are going to climb Ling Fell and Sale Fell, that we have climbed before, although you will bag them Little Eric. Importantly for us all though Uncle Eric has agreed to visit the associated Birkett tops that none of us have been to before."
"Super" cheered Allen. "That will be another corner of Lakeland completed."
"And a step forward to eventually completing the Birkett challenge", went on Grizzly.
"Roll on Wednesday", cheered Little Eric. "Here's to our Dad who is so good to take us on these adventures."
We made sure to be up early and all lent a paw making the picnic and stowing it safely in Allen's rucksack. Then as we heard Dad slam the boot shut for the final time, we dashed out, calling, "goodbye Uncle Brian and pals, see you later."
Have a good time", replied Uncle Brian, "and make sure Dad takes care."
We drove to Uncle Eric's, where we decamped to his car for the rest of the journey.
"Good morning Uncle Eric", said Tetley on our behalf. "Good to see you and we are looking forwards to the walk and having your company."
"Nice to see you lads. Here's to a good day."
We took the A591 through the Lakes, and our minds turned to the many adventures we had had climbing the fells and mountains we could see.
Beyond Keswick we continued on the A66 beside Bassenthwaite Lake. "This is the way you come Dad when you and Uncle Brian go to stay at Armathwaite Hall", said Grizzly.
"Yes lad. Our next visit is booked for October. Some of your Hug pals will be going along too, including Fletcher of course who was adopted there."
Near the top of the lake, we took the section of old road to the Pheasant Inn, there turning left through Routenbeck and then Wythop Mill.
At the junction Shaun advised, "we turn right and at Brumston Bridge there is a small car park."
"It is surprisingly busy", commented Tetley as we pulled in.
The day was cloudy with drizzle early on, cold and windy. Not at all like summer and in fact more like winter on the tops!
We got snuggled in Dad's rucksack, while Dad and Uncle Eric got ready.
Shaun instructed, "we cross the bridge and walk uphill to the road junction at Eskin, where then turn right."
Soon we came to a gate on the left, Tetley saying, "that's our path the rising grassy track known as the Corpse Road."
This climbed steadily round the slopes of Ling
Fell. We met a lady from Hampshire, who Dad and Uncle Eric chatted to. She saw us and Dad explained.
"How lovely they are", she said. "And what a wonderful idea to take them on the hills. I love the Lakes, but live such a long way away, so only get to come just a few times a year."
Uncle Eric said, "we are so very fortunate to live on the doorstep."
Strolling on we eventually we took a
path left and then struck uphill off this through the heather, to the trig point at the summit.
We scrambled out to sit on the lee side out of the wind. "The ground's wet lads, so sit on the map cover", said Dad.
Grizzly said, "we walked up through the extensive heather, hence why it is called Ling Fell."
Taken on our last visit in 2005, we include this picture, of our last summit today, Sale Fell with part of Bassenthwaite Lake. "We have quite a circle to walk before we get there", commented Tetley.
Settled again, Shaun said, "we follow that path south-east that will lead us to a metalled track."
There we followed it right, then left, so
keeping by the fence, to come to a gate.
"Through that", said Shaun, "and follow that small ditch to climb the slopes of Burthwaite
Heights."
The top is wide and flat. "I have the grid reference for the summit", said Allen.
He read this out and using the GPS Dad located a near as possible to the highest point.
"Picture time", called out Little Eric. "It is ever so windy though I fear being blown away."
"We need to sit in the shelter of the rucksack, as we have had to do in the past on some summits in Yorkshire", said Tetley.
This was only possible by using Dad and Uncle Eric's sticks to secure it in place.
Snuggled inside once more, Shaun said, "we should descend to that gate in the wall and then on down the field to another
gate on to the road at Old Scales."
This done, Tetley said, "now it is right, to then go left on the bridleway across the fields into Chapel Wood."
This joined a grassy track that climbed gently right under the trees.
After leaving the wood, we continued on the track that continued to climb towards the forest.
"That's Dodd looming out of the mist", pointed Grizzly. "We climbed that a month ago. Shame the views are not clearer as we would be able to see Skiddaw, Ullock Pike etc."
"There's a lovely view of the Wythop valley towards Lord's Seat", pointed Allen. "Truly an English pastoral scene."
Tetley called out, "looking back we can see the summits we have already visited today. Burthwaite Heights is left and Ling Fell right."
Climbing on a little later, Little Eric called out, "there's a superb view of Bassenthwaite Lake."
Dad paused to take the shot and then we waited for Uncle Eric to catch up.
Just
before the forest, a narrow trod led easily to the ridge, where
going left we were quickly at the rocky outcrop marking the
summit of Lothwaite.
"Great, that's two Birketts done", cheered Allen, as we settled for our picture.
The clear track on the wide grassy ridge led
on to Rivings, but first Uncle Eric said, "let's sit in that little hollow to have our lunch. We will be sheltered out of the wind."
"Good idea", cheered Allen.
"I know", laughed Shaun, "you're hungry."
It was nice to have a rest and we talked about the adventure so far.
Setting off again it was just a gentle stroll to Rivings, where we could look back to Lothwaite.
When Bill Birkett wrote his book, the summit was
unmarked but now there is a large cairn. "I wonder where all the stone came from?", mused Little Eric.
"That's all the Birketts done, just Sale Fell to go", pointed Grizzly.
Leaving us at Rivings while Dad took our picture, Uncle Eric walked on, saying "you will soon catch me up."
We did and soon the easy climb to its flat rocky summit, was achieved.
"Super", cheered Little Eric, "that is two more Wainwrights that Uncle Eric and I have bagged."
"That wide path is the one we want for the descent", said Shaun.
This eventually met the footpath from Kelswick to Wythop Church, close by a
wall.
"We go left under Dodd Crag", advised Shaun.
This led to the road and turning right we soon arrived at the car park.
"That was an interesting walk", said Allen.
"Yes", agreed Grizzly. "We have enjoyed fully exploring the area, and all the top are ticked off."
We now headed back to towards the A66, making two stops on the way.
The first was look at the buildings in the hamlet of Wythop
Mill, that had once been a mill, including this old barn.
The second was to visit Wythop Church with its tidy graveyard.
Grizzly told us, "the church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, and was
consecrated on July 31st 1866 by Bishop Waldegrave of Carlisle.
It is built on land that belonged to the Vane estate, the manor
having passed over the years from the Lucys to the Lowthers,
Fletchers and then the Fletcher-Vanes, who still hold it, Lord
Inglewood (Richard Vane) being well known locally. As can be seen the plan consists of a chancel and nave with bellcote at the west end. The building is unusual having its porch on the north side because of
the fell-side site."
Adjacent is this building that once was the Sunday School. The inset stone over the door celebrates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.
Another reason for visiting the church was that some family relatives of Uncle Eric are buried there and he took some pictures of the gravestone.
So now it was refreshment time. While we had the rest of our picnic sitting in the car and discussing the
adventure, Dad and Uncle Eric had a refreshing pot of tea
and cake at the Tea Rooms in Portinscale.
Another grand day out!
