Stickle Pike, Tarn Hill, Dunnerdale Fells and Great Stickle

3 January 2009

With a rendezvous planned for 11.30, today's walk had to be relatively short, or start early. I choose what is becoming an old favourite, a visit to Stickle Pike from Kiln Bank Cross, extended to include the other three Wainwright summits to the south. I've now visited these on three out of the last four New Year holidays, in a variety of different weather conditions. Today was still cold with the ground hard, but overcast and gloomy and I wasn't expecting the view I found.


The summit of Stickle Pike comes into view


Stickle Tarn


Stickle Pike from its south summit. Behind it is Harter Fell, and behind that on the left are the Scafells, and on the right Esk Pike, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and Grey Friar


From the same point in the other direction, south to the Duddon estuary over Tarn Hill, Dunnerdale Fell and Great Stickle.


And here's the promised unexpected view - North Wales. It doesn't come out as well in the photo as it was in real life, where it was very clear, but Caernedd Llewellyn is highest, 86 miles away; Snowdon is two summits to its right, 94 miles away. Although it doesn't show up on the photo, the Lleyn peninulsar could be seen with Yr Eifl 106 miles away. Odd how on a gloomy day, the visibility was still good enough to see over 100 miles.


A very large flock of birds flies past Caw. I'd seen them assembling the flock almost two hours earlier on my drive to Broughton Mills, and now they were underway - though where they were going, I've no idea.


From the top of Dunnerdale Fells, a view of the Duddon Valley and the hills from Black Combe to Hesk Fell


En route from the top of Dunnerdale Fells to Great Stickle, we pass one of the tarns for which Tarn Hill is named; the eponymous summit is just left of centre


Great Stickle just right of centre, with an unusual sight - a tree


Stickle Pike from Great Stickle. Time to follow a different route back to the car in time for a superb steak at the Blacksmith's Arms.


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Another visit to some old favourites, with a surprise view. Total distance 5.2 km and 292 metres of ascent in 2 hours 4 mins

 

 

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Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright (c) Stephen and Lucy Dawson