Manchester Ramble 2

Route as last weekend
Weather: light snow most of Saturday and later on Sunday
Seen: fancy ducks (teal?), one 'kin huge dead fish, cormorant, baby lambs, Cloud Atlas

Manchester Ramble

Distance: 35000 + 37500 steps (mine)
Ascent: 80 + 120 staircases
Weather: cold but sunny
Seen: wren, pied wagtails, Die Hard

We needed some long training walks in preparation for our upcoming week in the mountains and, having various vouchers due to expire and birthday money burning a hole in my pocket, decided to walk in and back out of Manchester over the weekend.

We went in roughly following the route of the Medlock Valley Way - which we have ammended over the years to avoid various muddy spots - and came back along the Rochdale Canal and Oldham Way.

Gavel Pike

Distance:
Ascent:
Weather: blue sky, sunshine, cold, bitter wind
Seen: icicles, snow, spectacular views

From Glenridding, we walked through the village and along to Deepdale. The valley feels remote, surrounded by steep sides and snowy tops. At the end of the valley, we went up to Sleet Cove and then up to Deepdale Hause. It looked as though it would be easier heading up to the left side, but as we got nearer to the head of the valley the way straight up didn't seem as bad as we'd thought. We stopped part way up to put our spikes on our boots, which helped a lot on the steeper bits and snowy patches. It was still a relief to get to the top!

We headed over the top of St Sunday Crag and the down through the icy snow to Gavel Pike. We were followed by a couple who didn't have any spikes or crampons, heading down over the steep icy snow, they'd fallen over a couple of times near the top and it was rather nerve-wracking watching them, but they made it down ok. Crossing the snowier patches was interesting, and it was very cold and windy. We stopped for a brief lunch stop, and stopped for a longer time for tea and biscuits when we were down a bit out of the wind, back in the sunshine.

The path was clear and easy back down to the valley, where we were overtaken by a couple who appear to just jump off a crag and then bounce down the path into the distance. We were in no rush...

Back to the hotel, for beer and crisps.

Heron Pike

Distance: about 7 miles
Acent:
Weather: cool, cloudy with occasional sunshine, dry
Seen: kestrel, bit of blue sky

After a big birthday breakfast and opening of presents , we set off up through Glenridding village and up the Rake to Heron Pike. The path was pretty steep and my big boots pretty heavy, but we made it ok. From there we headed up to Sheffield Pike and at the top had lunch with hot tea under blue sky, in the sunshine. There was a bit of snow on the ground, untrodden, so we went around it as much as possible.

Coming down we had fine views over Ullwater with a rainbow and we followed the lakeside path back to Glenridding. We had to wait a little while at one point as there was tree felling, but when way was cleared we were able to join the path again avoiding the road.

We added a short additional walk up to Lanty's Tarn, and then back from Patterdale to Glenridding.

We were back at the hotel in time for  birthday tea and scones. Yay!