Half a Horseshoe

 It had been a long time since I was last on any high Lakeland fell and I used the excuse of ticking a couple of ex-Nuttall summits above Longsleddale to revisit the eastern half of the Kentmere Horseshoe.

Starting from a busy Sadgill we started up the byway and turned right at its highpoint towards Shipman Knotts and the main ridge.  A small scramble through Wray Crag led to more open ground before the final incline up to the summit, followed by an easy walk to my first objective of the day, Goat Scar.  The views from this high-level promenade towards the Kentmere trio of Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick were magnificent and reminded me of the days gone by of spending a lot of time in the Lake District ticking the Wainwrights.  Lakeland has such a different character to the Pennines which is where a lot of my more recent ticking exploits have been undertaken.

Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick

The summit of Kentmere Pike was a pleasant spot to eat lunch.  This was a leisurely half hour, sunning ourselves, enjoying the conversation and savouring the views towards England’s loftiest massif.

The mile to Harter Fell was as relaxing a high level walk as I’ve had in the Lake District.  We started to come across other fellwalkers as the ascent from Mardale was obviously the most popular route up.  Following the broad north-east ridge gave us the opportunity to savour the ever more expansive views down the valley towards the magnificent Haweswater.  Why is it that the best views in the national park are from high ground looking down valleys containing a lake?  It is a formula oft-repeated across the district.

Haweswater

Instead of following the path directly down to the Gatesgarth Pass, my companions indulged my ticking ambitions and accompanied me to the ex-Nuttall summit of Adam Seat.

As we descended into Longsleddale, the shelter from the breeze prompted us to shed some layers under the sun.  I would imagine that the track back to Sadgill would be a boring trudge in poor weather, but the company and blue skies made it a wonderful end to the walk.

Two Dales Outliers

Looking at my map of summits to tick, there were only three left in the southern Yorkshire Dales.  Two of them were Birks Fell and Dodd Fell Hill.  I had the opportunity to tick them on previous walks but I had opted to shorten those days – one only a fortnight ago – and leave them for another time.  I decided that time was now!

Starting from Buckden a short walk to Redmire led to the bridleway which takes a diagonal line to the plateau.  I cut across to trig point on Firth Fell, serial number S5499, which is just one less than the last trig that I had visited on Yockenthwaite Moor (S5500).

Firth Fell trig point

The drystone wall past Birks Tarn led to a ruined hut that is only faintly marked on the OS Explorer map.  From there it is only a short walk to the summit cairn which can be clearly seen on the skyline.  Pen-y-ghent was the most significant mountain in view from the top and Pendle Hill could also be seen in the distance.

Pen-y-ghent

I walked to Birks Tarn and dipped my feet in before strolling along the edge of the plateau, enjoying the views over Buckden to its namesake Pike.  The descent back to Buckden on the bridleway was a steady amble to end a very pleasant walk.

I drove to the junction of Cam High Road and Oughtershaw Road from where I started out for Dodd Fell Hill.  The ground was boggy in places but I made my way alongside the wall without incident.  Heading just about true north from the wall the terrain became a bit more challenging and at one point my right leg plunged knee-deep into the bog; luckily I was wearing gaiters.

At the trig point the views were expansive with the Yorkshire Three Peaks stretching across the skyline and the Lake District fells were clearly seen, particularly the Scafells and Great Gable.

Dodd Fell Hill trig point

Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough

the Scafells and Great Gable

Those views made up for the return walk – plenty of peat hags and a long slog along over a mile of tarmac.

The Boggiest Summit

Starting from Buckden, today’s plan was to bag a couple of Nuttalls that overlook the very pretty Wharfedale with Yockenthwaite Moor being first on the list.

I followed the Dales Way on the bank of the River Wharfe to Hubberholme before the first uphill of the day, a good track up to Scar House.  Above the intake wall I never saw another person all day.

I roughly followed a way close to the walls at the side of Strans Gill but staying out of the fenced-off areas enclosing new plantations as part of a Langstrothdale initiative.  None of the recently erected fences were marked on the map but they didn’t add any difficulty to the navigation needed to head towards the summit Yockenthwaite Moor.  The Nuttalls suggest following the wall to its end and then undertake some bog-hopping among the peat hags but I had aimed off and took a more direct route towards the top.  As I neared the trig point in the mist, the hags just to the east assumed a formidable obstacle.  Taking a straight route was impossible and it was a serious challenge to keep my feet dry and avoiding plunging into the peat.  I reached the trig point without much incident but the Nuttalls’ assessment that this is “the boggiest hill in Yorkshire” appeared to have some merit.

Yockenthwaite Moor trig point

Leaving the top and negotiating some more peat hags I took aim for the small building marked on the map.  This turned out to be an abandoned shepherd’s bothy with no roof but it otherwise appeared to be a sturdy structure on an isolated and windswept hillside.  It is worth noting that an approach to the summit directly from the south rather than from the east would be a little more enjoyable and easier on the feet.

I continued to the group of four tarns marked on the Ordnance Survey’s Explorer map only to find them completely dry.  I managed to take some screenshots of my GPS track showing me having walked through the two biggest!

I descended past a limestone crag and having dropped out of the mist I could see the way ahead, up Hagg Beck towards Birks Fell.  This was my plan at the start of the day but I couldn’t steel myself to take on another sizeable slope uphill, especially into the murk, so I decided to leave that summit for another day.

The Dales Way back to Hubberholme was a very pleasant low-level walk with upper Wharfedale showing off its charms with various some falls within the river.  Perhaps I should consider the Dales Way as a route once my legs get too old for the hills!

Three Final Fellrangers

 This was my first outing of 2020 as lockdown restrictions relaxed after the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic decreased.  It was quite easy to choose an objective as the Fellrangers list had been updated by their compiler Mark Richards.  Three new summits had been added to the Cicerone guidebooks as a result of the expansion of the Lake District National Park towards the Lune Gap of the M6. 

looking north through the Lune Gap

Overlooking the Westmorland Borrowdale, Grayrigg Forest, Whinfell Beacon and Winterscleugh were the new summits on the list.  I had already completed the original list of 227 but I wanted to tick these three fells so that I could still claim a completion.

From the Hause Bridge layby on the A685 I started up the ridge that separates Little Coum from Great Coum.  This was quite boggy low down but as the slope steepened to what looked like a green plod it turned out to be an incline of hidden rocks with the gaps filled in with vegetation; this is not a slope to be descended unless quite a bit of care is taken.

Great Coum and Grayrigg Forest

There were a number of minor summits at the top of the ridge on Grayrigg Pike but I decided to follow the path to the first Fellranger of the day – Grayrigg Forest.  From the trig point the radio masts were clear to see and I strolled along the broad ridge towards them and continued over boggy ground to Whinfell Beacon.  I tapped the top of the cairn and stood on the small mound that was the true highpoint and carried on across Whinfell Common, passing between the multiple summits of Old High and Castle Fell to the southern boundary of Mabbin Crag’s forest.

Grayrigg Forest trig point

Whinfell Beacon summit

The way through the forest was easy to follow but very wet and muddy in places.  Emerging from the trees, I saw an old stone hut which although looked in reasonably sturdy condition, had a roof that had seen better days.  A little bit of work would make this a better bothy than some I know of.  The way to the top of Mabbin Crag was clear of trees as was the continuation to Ashstead Fell.

Mabbin Crag "bothy"

Rocky ground is in short supply on the ridge but the well-trodden path leading to the summit of Ashstead Fell followed a narrow rake through the short rock band.  Definitely a scramble, albeit an easy one, this was the day’s only clear opportunity to get hands on rock.  A relaxing stroll followed as the weather improved before the descent to Borrow Beck was reached.

I had a long rest at the Borrow Beck stepping stones before making quick progress up the Breasthigh Road to reach Borrowdale Edge.  This ridge is much less undulating than its southern counterpart and has a wide-open feel to it.

Whinash is the first significant summit east of Breasthigh Road but its featureless and flat top does little to inspire.  However Winterscleugh has terrain that is more deserving of “summit” status, with its small outcrop, modest cairn and super views across to Cross Fell and neighbouring northern Pennines.

Winterscleugh summit looking towards Cross Fell

Winterscleugh was the final of the day’s Fellrangers and also marked my second completion!  There was no celebration and because I was tired I decided to drop to the valley floor at the earliest convenient point which turned out to be the bridleway at the col below Belt Howe, from where I took a fairly direct line down to Borrow Beck and started along the track back towards the Lune Gap.

A 2019 Summary

At the start of 2019 I had 441 summits on my combined ticklist of TRAIL 100, Nuttall, WASHIS, Simpson, Dawson, Dewey, Moss, Wright, Bridge and Buxton & Lewis summits.

The year was another in which ambition exceeded activity, although the start of the year showed some promise.  After April, no targeted summits were ticked and only a few “boots on” days happened after then.

Overall I :

            went on             9                                  walks

            walked              68.9                              miles

            ascended          17,890                          feet

            walked for         44 hrs 24 mins            (including rest stops !)

            reached            20                                 individual summits that I hadn’t been to before

            reached            6                                   individual summits that I had been to before

            reached            15                                 summits on my combined ticklist

            reached            1                                   previously unclimbed TRAIL 100 summits

            reached            5                                   previously unclimbed Nuttall summits

            drove                2195                             miles on trips to and from walks

I’ve detailed this in previous blogs but this year saw the removal of the Moss, Simpson and Wright summits from my ticklist.  This resulted in a list with 146 fewer summits!

The most significant or memorable walks included Pendle Hill, a traverse of the Howgills, Arenig Fach and Sàil Mhòr in Scotland.

All of this meant that after removals and my walks, my ongoing ticklist decreased from 441 to 280 summits.

A Carneddau Meander

The rising footpath southwest out of Abergwyngregyn that joins the North Wales Path turned out to be a good warm up.  We continued in the sunshine the highpoint of the path and then took a rising traverse line to join the footpath that curved around the southwest flank of Moel Wnion.  Although there was a breeze, it was surprisingly warm.

At the col between Moel Wnion and the Drosgl ridge we decided to head down towards Aber Falls rather than take aim for Drosgl.  It was mid-afternoon and it was apparent that continuing would put us at risk of walking back in the dark and more importantly, missing the 4'o'clock closing time of the café!

We saw two motorbike scramblers who had come down from the top of Moel Wnion and they made short work of the northwest slopes of Drosgl.  Although envious of their rapid progress, the noise somewhat spoilt the ambience.  The ponies and sheep close to track of the scramblers seemed to agree as we could clearly see them running away from the disturbance.

From the col, Drosgl was the obvious summit ahead and the top of Gryn Wigau at the end of the shoulder was clear but not particularly prominent.  Bera Mawr, although set back behind Drosgl, showed off its castellated top.  Sometimes, actually being at a place to view the lie of the land can make sense of terrain in a way that studying maps doesn't.  I still have these Nuttall summits to tick and this recce gave me a good preview of that future route.

We followed the Afon Garn down to rejoin the North Wales Path and took some photos of the Aber Falls.  The walk out was easy and I was surprised by the number of day-trippers on the path, despite the sunny skies and warm weather.

Reaching Caffi Yr Hen Felin with time to spare, I indulged with a hot chocolate and a big slice of delicious Victoria sponge cake rounding off a relaxing post-Christmas day out.

The TRAIL 100 – 12 new summits

In the January 2020 issue of TRAIL magazine, it was announced that in the February 2020 issue (published in December 2019) there would be a feature about the TRAIL 100 list – "THE UK'S ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN TICK-LIST".  I thought that it would be a revisit of the original list first published in the April 2007 issue but looking at the teaser list of mountains I noticed that Slioch was included; Slioch wasn't on the original list.

I Googled "TRAIL 100" which returned the Live For The Outdoors website and I followed the link.  I wasn't expecting anything new on that page as TRAIL magazine generally doesn't populate links until after the relevant issue has been published.  But this time I was in luck – the "new" TRAIL 100 list was there in its (almost) entirety.  There were 99 mountains listed; the missing entry was Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland but this was just an oversight which Oli Reed (TRAIL’s editor) confirmed after I tweeted him.

The new list had changed – 12 summits had been removed from the list and replaced by 12 new ones.

The 12 summits that are no longer on the list are:

            Beinn Tarsuinn                         Arran

            Bleaklow Head                         Peak District

            Cadair Berwyn                          Berwyns

            Cairn Toul                                 Cairngorms

            Clougha Pike                            Lancashire

            High Pike                                  Lake District – Northern Fells

            High Raise                                Lake District – Central Fells

            Hound Tor                                 Dartmoor

            Loughrigg Fell                          Lake District – Central Fells

            Moel Ysgyfarnogod                  Rhinogs

            Rhobell Fawr                             Arenigs

            Worcestershire Beacon           Malverns

Of the 12, I have already ticked 8:

            Bleaklow Head, Cadair Berwyn, Clougha Pike, High Pike, High Raise, Hound Tor

            Loughrigg Fell & Worcestershire Beacon.

3 of the 4 unticked old summits are on my own ticklist either as Nuttalls (Moel Ysgyfarnogod & Rhobell Fawr) or as a Scottish 4000-foot summit (Cairn Toul).  I will keep Beinn Tarsuinn on my ticklist; I'll be able to tick it when I head to Arran to tick Goatfell.

The 12 summits that have been added to the updated list are:

            Ben Lawers                              Scottish Highlands – Loch Tay

            Ben More                                  Scottish Highlands – Crianlarich

            Braeriach                                  Cairngorms

            Cat Bells                                   Lake District – North Western Fells

            Crib Goch                                 Snowdon

            Ill Bell                                        Lake District – Far Eastern Fells

            Pen yr Ole Wen                        Carneddau

            Slioch                                        Scottish Highlands – Letterewe Forest

            The Devil's Point                      Cairngorms

            Y Garn                                       Glyderau

            Yr Aran                                      Snowdon

            Yr Eifl                                        Lleyn Peninsula

Of these 12, I have already ticked 6:

            Cat Bells, Crib Goch, Ill Bell, Pen yr Ole Wen, Y Garn & Yr Aran.

Only 1 of the 6 unticked new summits is already on my own ticklist as a Scottish 4000-foot summit – Braeriach.  All 5 of Ben Lawers, Ben More, Slioch, The Devil's Point & Yr Eifl will be added to my ticklist.

My ticklist includes the (old) TRAIL 100 summits and I had stood on the top of 64 of them.  Now that the list has been updated, that total has decreased to 62!

Overall I think that the updated list has a greater validity than the old.  The Lake District fells that have gone won’t be missed although Loughrigg Fell will have its supporters.  To me, Bleaklow is just a big peaty mess and Clougha Pike should never have been included as one of the UK’s 100 “finest”.

For those added to the list, I’m sure that people will be able to debate the inclusion of each of them.  I wouldn’t have chosen Pen yr Ole Wen but Slioch is probably the most deserving addition – I’m looking forward to visiting it.

However, whether the mountains listed deserve their place or not, I’ll be aiming to complete both the old and new versions of the TRAIL 100 list.  This means 112 summits and as I have already climbed 70 of them, I only need 42 to finish the task.

An Alternative Outdoor Walk

On the morning after the club’s Christmas Dinner night before, a lot of us had expected rain and the sunshine had taken us by surprise, although the steady wind made sure over 30 of us were warmly wrapped up and sporting beanies with some even feeling the need for gloves.  We set off from Outdoor Alternative in Rhoscolyn – the scene of the previous evening's feasting and dancing – towards Borthwen Bay and then turned eastwards to follow the coastal paths above the cliffs.

The wind had a significant influence on the sea meeting the coastline with many inlets being full of sea foam, formed not by pollutants but by the churning of organic material in the water.  Walking along the tops of the cliffs was rewarded with some spectacular views as the obvious swell and waves produced an impressive show of massive sprays, reaching far above the cliffs.  The wind made it difficult to stand steady enough to get photos of the erupting water but I managed to capture some reasonable images.

stormy seas

Reaching the end of the cliffs at Silver Bay set the scene for a stop for snacks and a chat before heading up through the pinewoods, enjoying the shelter that the trees afforded from the wind, before following the quiet lanes back to Cerig-yr-adar.

Remembering an Old Friend

It’s been 10 years since Bill died.  He was the club’s heart and soul and he probably had more influence over the running and direction of the club than any other member.  There is a significant gap in the club that has been left behind; Bill left big shoes to fill.

On the tenth anniversary of Bill's passing I thought that we should do something to honour his memory.  I suggested a walk starting at our hut and heading up Moel Eilio would be appropriate as the hut was a focal point of Bill's life and he had probably walked to the summit of Eilio more times than anyone would care to suggest.

Although the day of the anniversary fell on a Tuesday most of Bill's contemporaries would be retired and it would not be too much of an inconvenience to attend.  Ten of us gathered at the hut in poor weather and a worse forecast so suggestions to amend the itinerary gathered support.  Predicted 50mph winds, poor visibility and heavy rain convinced us to stay low and initially head for Penceunant Isaf just above Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon's Llanberis path.

We went uphill first before traversing Eilio's lower slopes and following the path to the derelict Hebron chapel.  The weather forecast was accurate and we reached the tea rooms to order coffee and bara brith.

Following a leisurely rest we once again donned waterproofs and walked down to the town and then across to Vivian quarry where we remembered some of Bill's stories and the routes he climbed.  We headed into Padarn Country Park, stopping to admire the horns and long fleeces of a flock of feral goats, but not their smell!  At the old quarry hospital we tucked into our packed lunches although when the rain came again we hastily retreated into the old mortuary!  Once the rain had stopped we strolled back to the hut.

Although the weather was not brilliant we managed to reminisce about our times with Bill, recalling some of our favourite stories.  I'm glad that we had made the effort and it was gratifying to know that Bill is much missed but fondly remembered by his friends and club mates.

Foel Goch & Moel Eilio from Padarn Country Park

Three New Fellrangers

The Fellrangers is a list of Lake District Fells first detailed in the eight “Fellranger” guidebooks written by Mark Richards and published by Cicerone.  There were (note the tense!) 227 of them and I completed them in 2013.

There is a lot of overlap between this list and the Wainwrights and that shouldn’t some as too much of a surprise as Mark was somewhat of a protégé of Alfred Wainwright; anybody ticking the Wainwrights wouldn’t have to expend much more effort to complete the more modern list.  But, as is so often with guidebooks, the routes to the summits subtly change and revision is required to keep the information current.

The guidebooks are currently in the middle of such a revision process and the first two (“Wasdale” and “Langdale”) were published in late 2019.  In the back of each of them is a list of the Fellrangers and the new volumes in which the summits are or will be detailed.  And there are 230 of them!

So, having completed a list I find out that now I haven’t!  But what are the differences between the old and the new?

It didn’t take long to work out, but it really is as simple as the addition of three new summits.  All three are on the Borrowdale watershed, not the famous valley that feeds Derwentwater, but the lesser known Westmorland namesake that can be found between the A6 and the M6, leading into the River Lune.  It’s part of the extension to the Lake District National Park that occurred in August 2016.

The three new summits are Grayrigg Forest, Whinfell Beacon and Winterscleugh.  The first two are on the southern watershed and the third is on the north and they can be ticked in one walk with Richards’ new “Mardale and the Far East” guidebook detailing such a route. 

Now all I have to do is take a trip up north to complete the Fellrangers – again!

A Staffordshire Stroll

We prepared for the walk by retiring out of the rain to partake of tea and coffee (honestly!) at the Wincle Brewery.  Suitably refreshed, we took a narrow footpath out of Danebridge and walked uphill towards the Hanging Stone, a prominent feature on the skyline ahead of us.  The footpath led to the road highpoint at Roach End and after a short discussion we decided to follow the road under the Five Clouds before arriving to Rockhall, the Don Whillans Memorial Hut owned by the BMC and built around a cave, where we took advantage of the benches outside the hut to stop for lunch.

We continued the walk along the bottom of the Lower Tier of the Roaches, picking out routes climbed or aspired to, particularly the classic “Valkyrie”, before taking the steep steps up to the Upper Tier.  The broad ridge now took us to the legendary Doxey Pool before arriving at the trig point, having put on and taken off waterproofs as the rain decided its own intermittency.  This highpoint of the day was in mist but we soon dropped out into clearer air as we reached Roach End again.

The Roaches summit

descending Lud's Church

Descending into Forest Wood led us through the trees to the top of Lud’s Church, a famous landmark chasm cutting deeply through the gritstone.  Instead of losing height and following the Dane Valley Way back to Danebridge, we took the contouring path back to Hangingstone Farm and followed a slightly different route to that taken outbound, back to the cars.

Of course, as is customary, if there is a nearby pub then it will be visited.  The Ship Inn in Wincle and its fire warmly welcomed us and I tried a new beer that I hadn’t come across before – JW Lees Cosmic Ale.

Sàil Mhòr

A particularly dreich start to the day and similar forecast scuppered plans for a traverse of An Teallach so our agreed alternative was the Corbett of Sàil Mhòr.

Starting from Ardessie on the shore of Little Loch Broom after hastily applying repellent and donning midge nets, we followed the east bank of Allt Airdeasaidh past the impressively eye-catching falls over the sandstone slabs.  One large block on the far side looked as if its perch wouldn’t be lasting much longer.  The meandering path came perilously close to the edge of some large landslips and I’m convinced that it sometimes went over the tops of some peat “cornices”!

At the first tributary flowing into the Allt from the slopes of Sàil Mhòr we started looking for a good point to cross the river which was thankfully not in spate.  There was no obvious crossing point and we reached the far bank one by one but a rather vocal member of our group needed a bit more help which was given by a gallant gentleman who had to empty his boots as a result of his chivalry.

After following the tributary westwards and uphill we reached some boulders successfully enticing us to stop for lunch before taking aim for the col between Sàil Mhòr and Ruigh Mheallaindh and then striking out for the southeast spur of Sàil Mhòr.  Foreshortening made the slope look more challenging than it actually was.

The ascent was made easy by the stepped nature of some exposed sandstone bedrock and short vegetation with many welcome rakes and terraces aiding a traditional zig-zagging approach.  For such an incline it was unusual to see so many frogs, only catching the eye as they hopped away from the vibrations caused by our approaching footsteps.

Remaining firmly in the clag, we reached the top of the spur at a mini-summit before a short walk to the 700 metre contour.  Easy ground curved around to the summit of Sàil Mhòr where we took a couple of quick photos of our bedraggled group at the modest cairn before we quickly made our way down the south ridge which was exposed to the wind that we hadn’t encountered on the ascent.  A small group of four feral goats was seen briefly before they disappeared towards Lochan Gaineamhaich and we turned eastwards, heading out via the way we had come in.

As we descended, a very big flock of feral goats was spotted on the slope we ascended.  There must have been over 40 or 50 of them and some of them were huge, with similarly impressive horns.  Most were black or dark brown with occasional hindquarters with white flashes although we spotted as least two with the colouring of Belted Galloway cattle.

We carried on down to the Allt Airdeasaidh; this time the river crossing was absent of the familiar “colourful” language!  And then the foot-weary trudge in drizzle back to the cars.

The suggestion to drive to the Dundonnell Hotel for refreshments required little debate and we were soon relaxing on comfy seating with our drinks of choice (I recommend the Belhaven Black) reminiscing the events of the day.

The Arenig Fach Anomaly

A hillwalking friend of mine often decries the fact that Arenig Fach is on the TRAIL 100 list as one of the finest mountains in the land.  Arenig Fawr, fair enough, but he can't see why this lesser neighbour should be included.  To those who look closely, the list has its flaws, and my friend is adamant that this is one of them.

But, it's on the list so it needed to be ticked, whether or not its inclusion is deserved.

Starting from the large lay-by on the north shore of Llyn Celyn it was a short walk to the track that led up through the forest to open country.  The track made for quick progress as I skirted the slopes of Foel-boeth.  I walked up the slope of Brottos under the shadow of a red kite, quartering the ground systematically looking for prey.

I left the track just below Carnedd y Filiast's summit to follow the fenceline over peat hags to Waun Garnedd-y-Filiast.  Retracing my steps, I crossed paths with a walker and wondered if he was on my route for the day, but I never saw him, or anybody else, on the hills for the rest of the day.

From the summit of Carnedd y Filiast, Arenig Fach looked a long way away, particularly under the sun and blue skies of an Easter Monday that would break temperature records.

Carnedd y Filiast summit - Arenig Fach in the distance

I started to follow the fenceline downhill – today was not going to be much of a navigational challenge – and soon discovered that although the ground was reasonably dry following the recent spell of good weather, this area was basically a big sponge.  I had to stray from the fence to tick Carnedd Llechwedd-llyfn, taking in a few minor bumps to ensure that I had reached the highest point.

The clear skies gave an appreciation of what would otherwise be a bleak moorland landscape as I disturbed the local residents – three times my steps prompted a lizard to scatter into the heather undergrowth – but the intrusive signs of humanity were perhaps inevitable.  Discarded fence poles and rolls of wire were a constant as I descended but at two separate points I removed a deflated helium balloon that had ended its journey trapped against the wire of the fence.  One celebrated a 65th birthday and the other had a generic "Happy Birthday" exclamation; I wondered if they were for the same person?  It's a reminder that litter can travel, arriving at places other than where the items are discarded.

when the helium escapes!

At the low point between the two biggest mountains of the day, I crossed the Afon Gelyn and followed it to where its tributary, Trinant, flowed into it.  At this point the uphill started again, heading through heathery tussocks before a very vague track came and went up the steep heather of the north-east ridge of Arenig Fach.

The summit was more interesting than the ascent with a rocky plateau making a welcome change from miles of bog and heather.  But, as enjoyable as the top was, I'm sure that the mountain doesn't deserve the exalted status as one of the country's finest!

Arenig Fach summit

An Amended Ticklist

As I approached completing my rounds of Wainwrights and Outlying Fells, my thoughts were turning to what my next walking objectives should be.  I had been logging my ascents of Nuttall and TRAIL 100 summits so it was obvious that these two lists were to form the backbone of my future time on the hills.

After my completions I registered with the Long Distance Walkers Association to mark the achievements – the certificates they issued appealed to my vanity!  I noticed that the LDWA also registered completions of the England and Wales 2000-foot summits and completing the Nuttalls is within the criteria that allow an addition to the register.  At the time I looked at the completer's register and although most of those listed had completed the Nuttalls, there was a significant number of people who had completed other lists at the same time.  The most prominent of those lists were those compiled by Bridge and Buxton & Lewis.

These three lists (Nuttall, Bridge, Buxton & Lewis) became the bulk of my post-Wainwright ticklist.  The Simpsons had already been included because they were first published in a Wayfarers’ Club journal and I was a Wayfarer.  But after a couple of years I started to wonder whether the completion of all of the LDWA's qualifying lists was a possibility.  Browsing the register of completers, there was only one person who had completed all of the England & Wales 2000-foot lists and I thought it would be a good idea to do the same.  So after quite a few hours of research and spreadsheet manipulation, I had an expanded my ticklist that included lists compiled by Dawson, Dewey, Moss and Wright.

Dawson's list is a subset of the Nuttalls so it was, by default, already included in my list.  After checking the summits of Dewey's list I discovered that these were also included in my original list.  The lists compiled by Moss, Wright and Simpson resulted in the addition of 181 summits to my list.  So now, with the administrative exercise done, was the time to start ticking.

Looking at the list, it was obvious that the summits classified by Moss, Wright and Simpson that were not also in any of the more popular lists had small prominence values.  But they were on my list so they were targets to be ticked.

Although, on the ground, some of them had some merit it quickly became apparent that many more of them were either insignificant or non-existent.  Probably the first of them was Gragareth North Top but at the time it didn't set any alarm bells ringing.  Manod Mawr Subsidary Top was impossible to find as there was no (even slightly) prominent ground in the area.  Y Lliwedd West Top was similarly elusive!  It is completely possible that their inclusion was due to a review of inaccurate (old!) maps rather than any active fieldwork which resulted in various spot heights being added.

It was my walks on Ingleborough and the Howgills that finally prompted me to change my approach.  I wasn't enjoying chasing these minor tops and they were distracting me from the relaxation that I sought when walking.  Which meant more time on the spreadsheets to remove the Moss, Wright and Simpson summits.  My ticklist decreased by 146.

I did some analysis of the LDWA's completion register and now there were only 2 who had ticked all of the qualifying lists – it's not a popular pastime!  There were 262 named completers who between them had registered the completion of 360 qualifying lists (not including Dawson's as it is a subset of the Nuttall list and not including Dewey's list as it quite doesn't have many summits that aren't included in other lists).  By far the most popular list to complete is the Nuttalls.  Next, with about half the number of Nuttall completions was the Bridge list and then came Buxton & Lewis with about half the amount of Bridge completions.  The number of Moss, Wright and Simpson completions totalled less than the number of Buxton & Lewis completions.

It was clear that the Nuttall, Bridge and Buxton & Lewis lists were those that completers targeted, to a greater or lesser degree.  And it was glaring that the Moss, Wright and Simpson lists didn't really capture the imagination of many.  I felt satisfied that the numbers backed up my feeling that these summits aren't really that worthwhile.

So now I have a ticklist that I'm happy with.  There are few lesser lists that contribute to it and they are there to satisfy my urge to visit different parts of the country but it is the Nuttall and TRAIL 100 summits that are my major goals for the future.

On the Howgills again

Having previously ticked six of the seven Howgill Nuttalls, the addition of the Moss and Wright summits to my ticklist gave me an opportunity to traverse the main ridge to claim the extra six summits.

I parked at Sedbergh and over three miles of tarmac lanes took me past Howgill to Beck House where I turned off and started uphill on more traditional hillwalking ground.  The path rose around the head of the small Whins End valley to the south-west(-ish!) ridge of Fell Head, where the slope steepened but led easily to the first summit of the day – Fell Head West Top.  This is the best place on the fell for views but it isn't the highpoint; that being Fell Head which sits at an unremarkable point further along the broad ridge.

Fell Head

What remained now was a straightforward promenade in calm air and under a blue sky along the watershed ridge all the way to Calders.

I ticked Bush Howe again from where the next four minor summits could be seen undulating toward The Calf.  Each of the four – Bush Howe South Top, Bush Howe Far South top, White Fell and White Head Fell South-East Top – was little more than a bump with their highest points being subject to some debate, so broad and flat each of them was.  Not too troubling in fine weather, in poor visibility it would be challenging to be sure of standing on the true summits.

At this stretch of the walk, I realised that I wasn't enjoying chasing such insignificant and trifling points on the map.  This would turn out to be my last walk that had Moss and Wright summits as objectives.  This was, in its own way, a hillwalking epiphany.

Being a weekday on a less popular range of hills, I saw only a few people all day, and most of them were in the distance.  Once again, the value of choosing areas away from the more popular honeypots rewarded me with the solitude that enriched the day spent away from busy city life.

The Calf summit

I strolled over The Calf and Bram Rigg Top before taking in the final minor top of the day – Great Dummacks.  After this summit, all of my future objectives would be more prominent summits on more worthwhile hill-lists.

Calders came and went before the start of the long descent back into Sedbergh.  I walked over the top of Arant Haw and dropped down to the col linking it to Winder but as it had been a long day under the sun, I decided to forego its attractions and head for home.

Ingleborough’s Minor Summits

The addition of the Moss and Wright summits to my ticklist meant returning to previously visited mountains in order to mop up the tops that I had never considered collecting.  Ingleborough had 4 of them.

The path from Clapham soon led to the cairn on top of Long Scar with impressive views north.  I followed the Dales High Way towards Nick Pot before stopping for lunch at the derelict shooting hut below the slopes of Simon Fell.  That it is an obvious point for rest was reinforced by the amount of litter discarded, probably by many walkers accepting the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge who succumb to fatigue on the final leg to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Pen-y-ghent

My first target of the day, Simon Fell South-East Top, was easily found but the next one – Simon Fell East Top – was a challenge despite the excellent visibility.  It could have been any of a number of peat hags, but I'm sure that I found the highest one.  Poor visibility would have made ticking the summit a significant task with the risk of missing the top altogether.  It's got to be said that this "summit" is not very worthwhile.

Simon Fell North Top was easier to be sure about but which side of the wall the highpoint resides is open to debate.  This was another summit that makes you think whether such minor summits are worth the effort; do Mosses and Wrights deserve my attention?  And although Ingleborough East Top is a reasonable point to enjoy the view, it is ultimately just a tiny point on the north slope of its parent mountain.

Pendle Hill

I sauntered on to the top of Ingleborough which I had been up a couple of times before.  A few people were enjoying the summit plateau and I took the time to appreciate the view south towards Pendle Hill.  I made my way down to Little Ingleborough from where Gaping Gill was clearly in view.  At the famous cave I walked around the depression, marvelling at the fact that such a small entrance that swallows the stream can lead to a cavern of cathedral-sized proportions.

Ingleborough summit - shelter, cairn & trig point

The path now led through Trow Gill and past Ingleborough Cave for an easy finish into Clapham.

Listening to the radio on the way home, reporters were announcing that the day was the hottest February day ever recorded, indeed it was the hottest winter day ever recorded.  So good was the current spell of weather that the record only lasted one day!