~Sheffield Pike~
2nd July 2011
After the adventures on Helvellyn yesterday, I had planned to climb Place Fell on the other side of Ullswater, but when I got up, I decided a more direct start and climb would be preferable. So it was off up Sheffield Pike in glorious sunshine.
Infrequently Observed
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Sheffield Pike
It's 06:30hrs and I'm on my way. I had ambitious plans for a lie-in, a leisurely breakfast and a later start, but it wasn't to be.
Gillside Campsite
The blooming heather seems a little ahead of schedule.
Glenridding
Sheffield Pike
The climb up to the col between Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd was mostly in shade, thankfully.
Birkhouse Moor
Catstycam
I've waited patiently since September 2007 to return to this spot and capture this scene. I've walked past here in the interim, but not in the right conditions.
Sheffield Pike Summit
Well, it was his first book and he vowed not to make revisions. "Even on a sunny summers day the top of the fell seems a dismal and cheerless place..." wrote Wainwright. Here I am on sunny summers day and this is a great place to be! Hart side dominates the view, Great Mell Fell is over there to the right.
Boundary Stone
I don't think it was in this position last time I was up this way.
Nick Head
My route is now going down into Glencoyne for a return to Glenridding.
Ullswater
The north face of Sheffield Pike, under Black Crag, is a boulder field and worth more thorough investigation when time allows.
Glencoyne
"Seldom Seen"
When I'm old and a hermit, I would love to live here - in No.9 - that's the one nearest the camera. Tesco* would bring my shopping, I won't need a car, I won't need t'internet and I'll grow a long beard. (*Other supermarkets offer home delivery services). No.2 at the shady end is for sale at £325,000; you could have bought a bigger house in Burnley last week for £10,000.
Sheffield Pike
This side of Sheffield Pike looks a lot more interesting than the Glenridding side, I think I'll take a scramble up there one day. I walked along the front of the houses of Seldom Seen - at the other end was a sign saying "Private". Nobody seemed to notice my blatant trespass.
Ullswater
Place Fell
A little bit of shoreline and a little bit of tarmac gets you back to Glenridding.
Ullswater
Birkhouse Moor
The track back from Ullswater to the top of Glenridding, I've not walked this lane before. I was back at the tent at 10:05, maybe a little before most folk have started their walks. Time to make some breakfast and then pack the tent, seems a little early to be heading home, maybe I'll find something else to do.
Walkers: Just me.
Time taken: 3hrs 35 mins over a distance of about 5 miles.
Route: Gillside Campsite, Sheffield Pike, Nick Head, Glencoyne, Seldom Seen, Stybarrow Crag, the lane whose name I've forgotten, Gillside Campsite.
Weather and conditions: Sunny and Warm.
Greetings Count: Nobody on the main part of the walk, it's their loss.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Bacon and egg at the tent!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 ©
Take me back to the start ....