BOOTboys

BB1108 : Taking The Brunt

Thursday 31st March 2011

Thanks to the uncertainty in the evolving weather forecast, our intentions for today kept changing. Late last night, Bryan suggested a Kendal to Staveley outing via Potter Fell, returning by bus. This seemed a good idea, given the likelihood of a damp early morning and very high winds thereafter.

We assembled at Bryan’s rather later than our normal start time.

It was still overcast with low, heavy cloud- no sign of it relenting.

As we went along Burneside Road, we passed the rear of the house in which Margaret and I lived from 1975 to 1979.

Then we sold it to Stan and Joan who lived there for several years before they moved to Edinburgh.

Happy memories and the big hedge I planted is still doing its job!

The old home and its hedge!

River Kent in Kendal

The first few miles were very gentle, following the River Kent upstream beyond Burneside, Bowston and Cowan Head (with its micro golf course) to Hagg Foot.

River Kent at Bowston

Cowan Head

Bowston weir

Cowan Head Golf!

Then the climbing began but the weather had not improved! We did not linger at Potter Tarn but pressed on to Gurnal Dubbs where we intended to take lunch.

Potter Tarn

Gurnal Dubbs

The boathouse was locked and provided no shelter but we were able to get out of the wind close to the small weir. There was a heron on the tarn.

Comitibus: Gurnal Dubbs

Gurnal Dubbs Heron

Potter Fell

After lunch, we continued the climb onto Potter Fell- a fairly vague area of heather and bog but we found the summit without too much difficulty. It made a nice change to be up there when you are able to see (unlike BB0633) and are not knee deep in snow (BB1102)!!

Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick from Potter Fell

The next objective was Brunt Knott which proved to be a bit further than it looked but the biggest challenge overcoming the wind.

Brunt Knott summit

Once this had been accomplished, it was an easy stroll down to Staveley in progressively improving weather.

Dropping down off Brunt Knott

Nearing Staveley, Reston Scar behind

On arrival there, we had a choice to make: a bus in five minutes time or one in 65 minutes with a visit to the Brewery bar to occupy the time. Guess which one won?

Wrong!

To my amazement, the consensus was the bus in five minutes! We must be getting old.

Don, 31st March 2011

STATISTICS:

BB1108	Thursday 31st March 2011
Distance in miles:	10.2
Height climbed in feet:	1,637
Wainwrights (Outlying Fells):	Potter Fell, Brunt Knott
Other Features:	Potter Tarn, Gurnal Dubbs
Comitibus:	Bryan, Don, Roger T, Stan, Tony

BOOTboys routes ares now being put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading BB1108.

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see
Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights see: BB Log.

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2011 Outings

BB1101 :
Wasnfell Revisited
Tuseday 11th January

BB1102 :
Recuperation Scar!
Thursday 17th February

BB1103 :
A Promenade of Pensioners
Thursday 24th February

BB1104 :
The B Team
Thursday 3rd March

BB1105 :
A Little Bit Of Wind
Thursday 10th March

BB1106 :
A Linthwaite Round
Thursday 17th March

BB1107 :
Home From The Pulpit
Thursday 24th March

BB1108 :
Taking The Brunt
Thursday 31st March

BB1109 :
Up The Spout
Wednesday 6th April

BB1110 :
Not The Royal Wedding
Friday 29th April

Click on the photos
for an enlargement
or related large picture.

Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright
top was visited on which
BB outing see Which Wainwright When?.

To download a log of heights and miles and which Wainwrights have been done by which BOOTboy in the "modern" era, i.e. since the advent of BOOTboys
click on BB Log.