Today was our Dad's 60th
birthday and also our pal Little Eric's 3rd birthday, so what
better way to spend it, than on a walk. Dad had suggested to
Uncle Eric doing some of the Wainwright Outlying Fells that he
had not done, the nearest being those above Crookdale on Shap.
Dad suggested following the route from the Birkett Almanac, which
Uncle Eric was happy to do.
As we drove to Uncle
Eric's , Allen said, "how time flies, it really does not
seem 3 years since you climbed your first hill, pal.
"No",
replied Little Eric. "I remember it well. We climbed
Whernside on what was an extremely windy day, but I managed to
stand by the trig point on my own for my picture. In the three
years, my summit total stands at 428, and I have walked 1209
miles."
Turning our attention
to Dad, Tetley said, " we all wish you a very Happy Birthday,
and here's to many more walks to come."
"Thanks Lads",
Dad replied.
We started just south
of buildings, of Hause Foot parking on the verge of the narrow
road, that was once the road over Shap, before the current A6 was
built. The day was dry throughout but cloudy, only clearing to
blue skies later in the afternoon. A cool breeze persisted all
day. Walking a short distance north along the road, we then
climbed steeply left up Hazel Bank, coming to a substantial wall,
which was climbed. Beyond, the easier gradient across the rough
ground led to our first summit High House Bank, seemingly named
as the hill above the building of High House in Borrowdale below.
There is a cairn, but not at the highest point, this being on the
next unmarked rise in the direction of our route. After the picture stop, the grassy path
descended to the col and on to pass through a gate in a fence.
Beyond we crossed the boggy ground to a gate in the wall, after
which the path swung left and climbed steeply to the cairn
marking the summit of Robin Hood. And yes, according to Dad's
book on place names, it is named after the famous outlaw. Just
below is a larger cairn overlooking the upper reaches of
Borrowdale. Here we sat enjoying that lovely view to have our
lunch. Before leaving Uncle
Eric kindly took Dad's picture with us, to mark his 60th birthday
and Little Eric's 3rd. The ridge was then followed on a somewhat
clearer path to Lord's Seat. The top is flat but the OS map marks
the spot height as just to the left of the path. We took this to
be a mound with a few stones in the grass. This completed today,
the fells that Uncle Eric and Little Eric had not done.
Now, about as far from
the start as we could be, the opposite ridge for our return
beckoned. To gain this, a hard trek over the trackless rough
terrain was necessary to cross the head of the valley. The walk
instructions stated that we should make for Crookdale Fold, a
long abandoned and ruined sheepfold seen below. So, our direction
was north-west crossing first Bleaberry Gill that with other
unnamed streams forms Crookdale Beck that flows through that
lonely deserted valley. Then on to round the ruined walls of
Crookdale Fold, and start the climb up the quite steep facing
slope of Lawyer's Brow, beside the ravine. The ridge was still
far away, and there was much more rough ground to cross, although
a thin path developed, which made the going a bit easier. This
finally brought us near the fell wall, but we went right near the
top to cut the corner and so reach the summit of Great Yarlside.
With Uncle Eric we had walked this ridge in low cloud and rain in
December 2009, in the opposite direction. Today being dry and
clear it was to be better all round. Although we had all been here before, we
still insisted on a picture, so leapt out of the rucksack and
gathered by the small cairn. Superb views of Crookdale the
sinuous beck winding through the totally deserted and lonely
valley, and across to the fells where we had been earlier.
Following the fell wall, we descended the steep slope, then
climbed the hurdle to cross the wall, and make the short climb to
Little Yarlside. The unmarked summit is a little way to the left
of the wall, and the GPS came in handy to locate it. Returning to
the wall, this was our guide as we continued east towards our
final summit today, Whatshaw Common. The wall ended shortly before and became a
fence, beside which was deep bog. It seemed the only option was
to stand on the wire and shuffle along to the corner. Dad was
doing well but then his boot caught and he slipped off making for
a very wet right foot and sock! With still a long section to
cross, Dad then climbed the fence to drier ground and reach the
corner. The fence going on right was climbed to attain the
unmarked summit. Uncle Eric was
a little behind, and as he came into view, Dad called out to warn
him about the bog and that he should cross the fence. By doing so
he kept his feet dry. Then we all walked on with the fence to our
right to soon come into sight of the A6 at Shap summit, dropping
down to a gate on the right. This bridleway had once been a
continuation of the old road from Hause Foot. After a straight section, it looped down
right then left to a gate and over a field to Hause Foot. Now
crossing Crookdale Bridge over Crookdale Beck, whose source we
had been to today, we strolled the road to the car.
We saw no other person
at all and indeed this had been the case when Dad had done the
walk in 2005. This is very very lonely and unfrequented country,
so it is perhaps good to have a pal with you on this walk.
Allen
