The weather in the Lake District is very variable. With a favourable forecast sunshine and showers. We decided to tick off a few of the central fells on my Wainwright obsession. Having looked at the map thought could do a 2 car linear walk to get them all! But being a tad more realistic decided to do Eagle and Sergeant Crag, Ullscarf and High Crag.
The weather was glorious and Gary, Stu and Ray came to join me and Dave. Everywhere looked so green and lush in the sunshine. Found parking in the small hamlet of Stonethwaite and our first hill Eagle Crag stood looking majestic in front of us.
A short walk and then the steep ascent up Eagle crag. Calf burning and I was using my poles to push me up. Gary and I said we are going to measure ascent in hills, using Kirkfell and Seathwaite as barometers. This was a definite Seathwaite.
Lots of view stops as we made our way through the ferns. A small scramble and we were on the top of Eagle Crag.
It was wasn’t much of a walk over to Sergeants Crag and now it was raining and very windy. Stuart and I commented that this is so against our “fairweather hiking” policy.
Head down, a slight descent then a gentle walk over to our next summit of Ullscarf. The rain has disappeared and gorgeous sunshine ensued. Coats packed away.
En route I was treated to a poetry recital from the lovely Ray. You can help but smile when he does this. Or in my case smile even more.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love%27s_Philosophy
Though a little boggy under foot, I loved the summit of Ullscarf for its 360 views of the surrounding hills. You really felt as if you were really in the centre of it all. Time for a group selfie shot and my “chav Stick” was produced from my rucksack.
In the distance could see our final summit High Crag, the sun was shining and it was a glorious day. When I took this I joked it was the pin ups of the hills hehe!
We walked past Dock Tarn and Holly had a swim, it was so hot I was tempted to join her.
On High crag the final summit of the day. My legs were getting tired.
It was a very steep descent from High Crag, especially through the forest. Soon the path we started on earlier in the day came into view and more importantly the pub!
A couple of pints at the Langstrath Inn in the sunshine was perfect walkers reward.