Distance: 7 miles
Ascent: 600m
Weather: very windy, with occasional sunshine and more than occasional wet
Hats lost: one
Bruised shins: two, matching (Rob's)
Wainwrights: 1 (4 left to do)
There is a very small car park right at the top of the Hardknott Pass, and we parked there to start our walk today. We came from Coniston, over the Wrynose Pass, and had some lovely views, it's much easier travelling over the hills by car, but not so easy to stop to take photos.
We headed up over Border End, where it soon became obvious quite how windy it was, on some of the tops we visited it was quite difficult to walk or even to stand, a couple of times we found ourselves sheltering behind rocks or sitting down unexpectedly (that was mostly me) and there was a terrible hat tragedy when Rob's merino beany disappeared into orbit.
The ground was very wet and there were a lot of bubbling streams and bogs to enjoy, lined with a lot of little yellow flowers (similar to Hawkseye), purple thistles and a couple of harebells.
From the summit of Hard Knott, we followed the grassy ridge north, to meet Lingcove Beck and come down a wet, rocky and occasionally very slippy path into the valley towards the pretty Lingcove Bridge and impressively watery Vicar Swa waterfall.
From here the path became better (although still wet) leading to the farm under Bell Stand, where we met the road again and headed up the pass to visit the Hardknott Castle Roman fort. We had a chat with a couple of women walkers who were camping in Eskdale valley, hopefully the site is sheltered - we reckon it must be gusting 60 to 70 mph winds today. The Roman fort is really big, with lots of walls left to walk around. I can't imagine what the Roman Centurians would have made of the north of England if today's weather was anything to go by.
From the fort we walked back up to the car, mostly off road. A few supplies bought at one of the stores in Coniston village and we are happily ensconced in our cottage. We had yummy pies and ale for dinner at the Ship Inn, which was nice but not especially comfortable.
Ascent: 600m
Weather: very windy, with occasional sunshine and more than occasional wet
Hats lost: one
Bruised shins: two, matching (Rob's)
Wainwrights: 1 (4 left to do)
There is a very small car park right at the top of the Hardknott Pass, and we parked there to start our walk today. We came from Coniston, over the Wrynose Pass, and had some lovely views, it's much easier travelling over the hills by car, but not so easy to stop to take photos.
We headed up over Border End, where it soon became obvious quite how windy it was, on some of the tops we visited it was quite difficult to walk or even to stand, a couple of times we found ourselves sheltering behind rocks or sitting down unexpectedly (that was mostly me) and there was a terrible hat tragedy when Rob's merino beany disappeared into orbit.
The ground was very wet and there were a lot of bubbling streams and bogs to enjoy, lined with a lot of little yellow flowers (similar to Hawkseye), purple thistles and a couple of harebells.
From the summit of Hard Knott, we followed the grassy ridge north, to meet Lingcove Beck and come down a wet, rocky and occasionally very slippy path into the valley towards the pretty Lingcove Bridge and impressively watery Vicar Swa waterfall.
From here the path became better (although still wet) leading to the farm under Bell Stand, where we met the road again and headed up the pass to visit the Hardknott Castle Roman fort. We had a chat with a couple of women walkers who were camping in Eskdale valley, hopefully the site is sheltered - we reckon it must be gusting 60 to 70 mph winds today. The Roman fort is really big, with lots of walls left to walk around. I can't imagine what the Roman Centurians would have made of the north of England if today's weather was anything to go by.
From the fort we walked back up to the car, mostly off road. A few supplies bought at one of the stores in Coniston village and we are happily ensconced in our cottage. We had yummy pies and ale for dinner at the Ship Inn, which was nice but not especially comfortable.
River Esk
Route map and download gpx
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