~Jack's Rake and away to Grasmere~
24th April 2010
A fine day in prospect and empty roads allow for a speedy jaunt up to Lakeland. A simple pleasure and a return to where it all began, 38 years ago. , ....
Pavey Ark
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk
Langdales Ahoy!
It's often worth a short stop to photograph this view. The village of Elterwater in the foreground. It takes me about 90 minutes from home to the NDG car park, if the roads are clear; 67 miles, just one of which is motorway.
Stickle Ghyll
The Ghyll is so dry that today I chose to walk from here straight up the beck, rather than debating between left or right. You can see serious erosion on the left bank, I walked under the bridge. I left the car park at 7:10am.
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Waterfall 1 in Stickle Ghyll |
Waterfall 2 in Stickle Ghyll |
Chaffinch
Interesting, it's not camera shake that blurs the image of the bird; it's just taking off and at the moment of take off, it has lifted its feet off the branch before spreading its wings.
The Turn
Lady Photographer
This young lady had climbed up to the tarn at 3am. And I thought I was early. She appears to be taking a photo of a small waterfall.
Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark
Campers at The Tarn
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Guardian Boulder |
Little Island |
The boulder in the left photo stands guard at the head of Stickle Tarn, watching over this wonderful scene. It wins my occasional award for "Boulder of the Day" despite plenty of competition.
Reflections in Stickle Tarn
Jack's Rake - The Start
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Early Stages, Jack's Rake |
Easy Gully |
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The Rowan Tree |
Jack's Rake - in detail |
Four Views from Jack's Rake
I've been up Easy Gully just the once, aged 8. I recall thinking it wasn't easy, I must give it another go sometime.
Jack's Daffodils
Humiliation
Never before on my ascents of Jack's Rake have I had to concede ground. This young lady was in a hurry and I had to make way.
Me on top of Pavey Ark
The acscent of Jack's Rake took 35 minutes and this summit was reached 1hr 50 minutes after leaving the car park; it's 09:00 and I've met two folk more than I wanted to.
Stickle Tarn
Usually after reaching this point, I go off towards the rest of the Langdale Pikes. Today, I decided to loop around to Sergeant Man, drop onto Tarn Crag and visit Grasmere via Easedale.
Thunacar Knott
Oh dear. Here's a fell for which AW says "it is inconceivable that anyone should set forth with the sole object of scaling this particular fell and no others en route.." "completely unphotogenic" "the one unattractive summit in distinguished Langdale company". It gets worse the "summit" is not the highest point. Can anyone say without referring to AW Book 3, what "is probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to Thunacar Knott"? Personally, I like this barren wilderness, not least for the view of Bowfell.
Bowfell
Sergeant Man Summit
It was here that I met the first other fellwalkers, a group of three men heading for the Langdale Pikes.
Oh! Deer
One of those quirky things. The navigation from Sergeant Man to Tarn Crag is difficult, with the latter's summit being hard to make out, not least because it is in a lower position in relation to neighbouring ground. However I had my Wainwright out and I was looking at the map and wondering where I was in relation to "Deer Bields"; I looked up and what did I see?
Tarn Crag Summit
Tarn Crag provides little of interest and no feeling of having acheived anything when reached from Sergeant Man,; it must feel quite different if climbed from Easedale Tarn.
Easedale Tarn
The "Big Boulder" and Easedale Tarn
Good Lord!
I must confess that I left the path at this point and went for a look at the stream. I don't mind greeting fellwalkers, but I draw the line at nodding my head at this coachload of tourists.
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Bridge over Easedale Beck |
Grasmere |
Tea and Scones at Faeryland Tea Garden
Am I getting old, I remind myself of my parents?
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Heron |
Leaving Grasmere |
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Wray Gill |
Robin Gill |
I left Grasmere at Kelbarrow and headed for Wray Gill and then over Brigstore Moss to descend close to Robin Gill. I improvised a little and made my way onto the road for the lane through the fields back to the New Dungeon Ghyll.
Langdale and New Dungeon Ghyll
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Early |
Later |
There you go, another great day on Lakeland Fells. No new fell tops, but so what? The way back to Langdale from Grasmere was a new route for me and very pleasant it was too.
Who you looking at, mister?
Walkers: Just Me
Time taken: 8hrs 40 minutes, over a distance of about 11 miles. Quite a bit of easy-time in and around Grasmere.
Route: Stickle Ghyll, Jack's Rake, Pavey Ark, Thunacar Knott, Sergeant Man, Tarn Crag, Easedale Tarn, Grasmere, Kelbarrow, Wray Gill, Brigstore Moss, Robin Gill and back to the car at New Dungeon Ghyll.
Weather and conditions: Hazy sunshine, pleasantly warm.
Greetings Count: Quiet at first, understandably grim in the middle section, quiet again over to Langdale.
Richard's Refreshment Review: I visited the Faeryland Tea Garden and it was just fine on a day like this. The owner does not appreciate photographers visiting his patch without also being customers; he also insists of a minimum spend of £1 before the toilet key is issued. Excellent! And the tea was very good, too.
Anyone considering an ascent of Jack's Rake might like to have a look at this: The Walking Englishman
Take me back to the start ....
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2010 ©