I made the decision after several months away from the ‘proper’ fells to head to Blencathra – one of the easiest to access – for an evening view across the fells. Many are lethargic or frustrated at the moment, often with good reason, and this week it’s been a flurry of different thoughts for me – likely due to it being my grandfather’s first birthday since he passed. I felt I needed that ‘thinking space’ which gives so much clarity when out in the hills, and in the end was glad I took the opportunity.
Decided to start at Comb bridge and found the little car park almost full when arriving, making sure to cover myself in sun-cream (it was the warmest day of the year so far supposedly) and decided to head straight up the switchback. Fortunately I’ve been able to keep myself active during lockdown and fitness was no problem on the way up, only passing a single fell runner on her way down until I reached the tarn.
Once the ground levels out it’s a lovely little route, with the opposite side of the river Glenderamackin hosting an easy track I keep meaning to do but never seem to choose to walk it – a circular from Mungrisdale aiming to head up by Bowscale Tarn and ending with the Glenderamackin valley. Seeing the valley part of the route in full sunshine bumped it up my list. Also when we get back to ‘normal times’ starting and ending at a pub surely bumps it up a little more… after all they need business to recover, so it’d be rude not to help them out.
It’s also been quite some time since I’ve done Blencathra in good weather I made sure to slow my usual pace to force an easy amble, so I could really make the most of it.
Really took my time, enjoyed walking the ridge and was lovely having it to myself whilst looking down at the tarn in pleasurable conditions.
Ended up wandering around the plateau a fair bit, ambled along to Knowe Crags just for a different angle and to make the most of the evening.
Hard not to put your feet up for a few minutes and just stare
Found myself lingering up here, strolling backwards and forwards enjoying the sunlight. Stopped to have a chat with a couple of guys, one who quickly departed, but the other had a personal story about his recently passed wife which brought him up here, as he was there the exact same day the previous year – in some ways not entirely different from why I was there myself. Seemed a nice guy and wished him well, he was sitting down comfortably out of the breeze and looked to be set for an evening of sunset watching.
Really enjoyed the descent, easy little edges in the sunshine are a lot more fun than being battered by the wind barely two months ago on the same route.
Enjoyed the trip out, pleased to feel my fitness was at a good level and the conditions made it probably the most benign Blencathra trip I’ve done. If only we could wild camp, there was a pitch by the tarn which looked especially inviting..
L|ve the Outdoors 