Return to
Whittle Wanderer|
Haweswater, Blea Water, High Street, Mardale Ill
Bell, Small Water, Cumbria.. |
|
|
Lat/Long: 54.489198, -02.820523 OS Grid ref: NY 46945 10739 The weather forecast said today was likely to be the best of the week. I had a clear drive north on the M6 then through the lanes from Shap to the car park at the south end of Haweswater. It was just coming light as I arrived and there was a low loader with a tracked excavator on the back. For the last few miles of my drive there was ice on the road. |
 Haweswater inlet |
 Blea Water outlet valve chamber |
 Blea Water |
| It was sub zero when I set off walking towards my first objective of Blea Water. There was a considerable contrast to last week when I walked the path in heavy rain and very strong winds. This morning it is mostly clear and hardly any wind. It was a delight to walk up past Mardale Beck and Blea Water Beck following the path up to the Dam at Blea Water. When I was here last week I lost my binoculars somewhere around as they must have dropped out of my rucksack. The last time I put my rucksack down was by the Dam but I inspected the whole area and there was no sign. | |
| I stopped briefly then continued along the path diagonally up the south side of Riggindale Crag. Earlier the weather had been clear but the cloud began to roll in as I reached the top of Riggindale. It became colder at around -3 degreesC with a southerly wind making it feel quite chilly. Part way up the ridge climb I stopped to find shelter behind some rocks to eat my sandwiches then continued on up. There has been a considerable amount of work done on the footpath as stones have been helicopter in and set into the mountainside. |
 Riggindale to Haweswater |
 High Street trig post |
 Cloudy view |
 |
|
| I followed the intermittent steps until I reached the summit plateau at High Street. The cloud was now fairly low and the whole area covered in frost. I reached the Trig Post and the wall adjacent was white with frost. Following south along Racecourse Hill I turned off left through the mist to descend gently to the saddle just before Mardale Ill Bell. |
 Haweswater in the background |
 Nan Bield Pass shelter |
 Small Water shelter. one of three |
| The cloud was intermittent and I was given a few interesting views. Descending down a good path I reached the stone shelter at Nan Bield pass. I could see Small Water below and descended the zigzag path down to its shore. It is a long time since I've been here and it was interesting to have a look at the three stone shelters which must be a considerable age. It would be possible to spend a reasonable night in the first one as it is big enough to lay out full length. I hopped across the river at the outlet and descended down the path and back to the car park at Haweswater. |
 I wouldn't want to take a bike |