The
eighth and final volume of Mark Richards’ Fellranger guidebooks has just been
published by Cicerone with the majority of his 227 “Fellrangers” being either a
Wainwright or an Outlying Fell. But one
of the few exceptions is the lowly Wallowbarrow Crag in the Duddon Valley. I’ve climbed here on a few occasions but
never stood on the summit despite a couple of top-outs being very close. A simple hour’s walk gave me the “tick” and
served as an easy warm-up for the day.
 |
| Harter Fell, BowFell & Crinkle Crags from Wallowbarrow Crag |
On
the hottest day of the year so far, I drove north over the Dunnerdale fells,
through Coniston and Ambleside and via the western Thirlmere road to arrive at the
Old Sawmill Tearoom at the bottom of Dodd.
I took advantage of the steadily rising forest road to quickly gain
height, soon reaching the tree-line. I
had last been on Dodd in 1994 but that was in the days of complete conifer
coverage. More recent times have seen
the top of the fell being cleared of trees leaving a clear view from the top –
something previously not available for a person of average height !
Although
I had ticked Dodd before, I just wanted to walk up it again in its new guise
before completing my round of Wainwrights and it made a welcome distraction
from my recent campaign of ticking previously unvisited summits. I took the green track as recommended in the
Fellranger guidebook which leads to a super viewpoint overlooking the Lake
District’s only lake. I heard a branch
cracking in amongst the trees and edged my way to the track’s edge to spot a
Roe deer, which decided to avoid my gaze by bounding off into the woods.
From
the viewpoint, a clearly worn but narrow path winds its way amongst the stumps
and felled tree trunks up the northwest ridge.
Although it was hazy, the summit afforded a magnificent southern view of
many of Lakeland’s major peaks. I took
the more orthodox way down on a good path and then the forest roads to make a
very quick descent.
Driving
to Patterdale from the A66 is one of the great routes of the district, leading
eventually to the Kirkstone Pass. A busy
car park (and pub !) greeted me at the start of the route up to Caudale Moor. Almost 25 years had passed since I walked up
here in less than ideal December conditions with my polytechnic room-mate Andy
and although I have claimed the tick, a thought in the back of my mind had long
been nagging me that we may not have visited the actual summit, despite there
being no nearby ground above us.
 |
| Atkinson Memorial, John Bell's Banner |
I
soon passed the scramble up to St Raven’s Edge, chatting to a Geordie about the
stifling heat and then a Scouser who was waiting for his friends to catch him
up. The wall led unerringly uphill and I
cut across to the monument on John Bell’s Banner before reaching the minor
summit of the moor. A simple stroll past
the tarn led to Stony Cove Pike and the summit cairn, stated as the summit by
both wainwright and the Database of British and Irish Hills.
 |
| Froswick, Ill Bell & Yoke |
 |
| Stony Cove Pike summit |
