Lake District: Beda Fell, Latrigg and Raven Crag (almost)
2-4 March 2012
A meeting in Penrith on a Thursday gave me the
opportunity for a few days in the Lake District, unfortunately marred by
arriving with a virus which left me very tired. Nevertheless, on the
Friday afternoon the weather was good so I decided after 15 hours in bed
to go for a walk, deliberately planned with several "escape routes"
depending on how I got on. As it turned out, though my progress was a
little slower than normal, I didn't have any great problems, but did
finish rather more tired than would be expected for a relatively modest
walk.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-120123.jpg)
Parking at the old church in Martindale, Winter Crag farm nestles
beneath its eponymous crag, my first target on my way to Beda Head
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-120544.jpg)
Starting to gain a little height, a look up the valley of Rampsgill
Beck. Unseen in the mist and sunglare, The Nab divides the valley.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-121344.jpg)
Having gained the ridge, I can now look over into Boredale and down to
Ullswater
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-131359.jpg)
From Beda Head, Hallin Fell splits the view of two parts of Ullswater
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-134228.jpg)
Having crossed over Bead Head, the ridge continues to provide a
high-level route, but with the opportunity to escape back into the
valley if I needed to.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-135507.jpg)
On the right, one of the summits of Angletarn Pikes appears, my next
objective
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-141819.jpg)
From the high point of Angletarn Pikes, a look to the south-east summit
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-141913.jpg)
Brotherswater from the high point
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-142708.jpg)
From the south-east summit, a lovely view of Angle Tarn. It was dense
fog when I was last here, so although it was a bit hazy, it was a big
improvement and I was glad I'd continued along the ridge. My route was
down to the tarn and after a short way along the left side, to turn left
and down into the valley
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-144657.jpg)
Just after leaving Angle Tarn, there is a great view down Bannerdale
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-145433.jpg)
Some of the deer from the Martindale deer forest
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-153048.jpg)
Approaching the valley bottom, these trees and barn caught my eye
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-153920.jpg)
The weather was so pleasant that it became a long-sleeved t-shirt walk,
the fleece consigned to the rucksack, simply wonderful for early March.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-02-154300.jpg)
Dale Head farm, where I picked up the road for the remainder of the walk
back to the old church.
Zoom in for more detail, or see map in larger window: Ordnance Survey |
Open Street Map |
Google Maps
Total walk: 11.6 km with about 630 metres of ascent in 4 hours 12 mins.
4 March 2012 - Latrigg
After a quiet day on Saturday with even more time in bed, I planned a couple of
short walks for Sunday. The first was Latrigg, above Keswick. The forecast had
the cloud breaking and lifting, so I had a late start too.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-113928.jpg)
After parking at the top of the fell road, I took the bridleway around Latrigg,
with tantalising glimpses of snow-capped hills hiding in the clouds
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-114440.jpg)
After a short way, a footpath leaves the bridleway and zigzags up the hillside
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-114716.jpg)
The cloud lifted from time to time, showing the beautiful north-western fells
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-114912.jpg)
Looking back to the lower slopes of Skiddaw
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-120010.jpg)
Ahead, the summit of Latrigg. Perhaps the easiest summit to gain from a road in
the Lake District
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-120027pano_small.jpg)
But some glorious views of fells and Derwentwater
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-120624.jpg)
Continuing along the top of the summit
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-121046.jpg)
Another look at Skiddaw before making a slippery descent to the track which runs
east from Latrigg and a return to the car
Zoom in for more detail, or see map in larger window: Ordnance Survey |
Open Street Map |
Google Maps
Total walk: 3.0 km and 122 metres of ascent in less than an hour.
Raven Crag (almost)
The second planned walk was to the summit of Raven Crag at the foot of Thirlmere.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-132147.jpg)
Having paid to park the car, a short distance later I found this notice. I
suppose I should be grateful that the notice was there at all, but could it not
have been in the car park too?
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-132217.jpg)
I decided that as I'd paid to park, i would have a walk up the hill to see what
it looked like, and whether the notice was unduly alarmist.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-132957.jpg)
Making my way up the forest track, Raven Crag comes into view.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-134553.jpg)
It then started first to hail, and then to snow
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-135507.jpg)
The world gradually got whiter, but with my spikes on my boots I had no
difficulties underfoot.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-135646.jpg)
Here the permissive path leaves the forest tracks, and is definitely blocked by
quite a few fallen trees.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-135704.jpg)
In the other direction, the path to Shoulthwaite Hillfort is open
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-140258.jpg)
But I had a couple of goes at finding a way around, but, particularly being not
at 100% fitness, and the ground very wet after rain and snow, I gave up on each
side of the original route, and will have to come back when the conditions are
better.
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-141811.jpg)
As I descend, there is a view ahead to Helvellyn
![](../../images/2012/2012-03/2012-03-04-143105.jpg)
Back at the road, Castle Rock is sitting below snowy Calfhow Pike and Great Dodd
Total distance 2.5 km and 230 metres of ascent in 1 hours 30 mins
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