BB0928 : An Ard Day's Hike

Thursday 17th September 2009

It has been an Ard day’s hike, to misquote the song, and we have been walking like dogs. Joyfully and responsibly it should be said, not like the one we saw chasing sheep.

The "Ard" was Ard Crag; just the middle section of a three range assault on some outstanding (in both sense of the word) Wainwrights in the North Western fells.

Taking advantage of this fine run of weather, Bryan, Stan and I set off early for the Newlands Valley and found the last off-road parking place at Chapel Bridge, near to a glorious morning view of Hidscarth and Robinson.

Our first objective was Causey Pike.

Stan has been berating me for years for not having included this on BB0613 but we had had enough by then.  As it happens, that was a good thing as it triggered this wonderful walk.

Hindscarth and Robinson

A prominent Causey Pike and a peeping Ard Crag to the left

We tackled Causey Pike by the nose which meant, after a bit of road work, a long and steep start to the day up Ellas Crag and Rowling End, a more gentle stretch along Sleet Hause before reverting to steep as we made our way upto the final seemingly impenetrable buttress looming over us.  Inevitably there was a way up, via a long but not difficult gully before emerging at the Pike’s summit.

Causey Pike summit in front, Ard Crag central, Robinson to the left, Hindscarth extreme left

Scar Craggs, the next Wainwright, was, in comparison a doddle of a ridge walk.

Looking from Scar Crag to Sail

Looking back from Scar Crag to Causey Pike, Skiddaw in background

We dropped down to the col before Sail and then down to the valley bottom in order to tackle the next range- Ard Crags.  

Having dropped down from Scar Craggs

Naturally, we chose the direttissimo route up the hill which, although steep, proved easier than I expected.  

Knott Rigg ahead, Robinson looming to the left

Another ridge walk led us to Knott Rigg before another descent to a valley, this time at Newlands Hause.

Bryan checks unfamiliar peaks

Newlands Hause, the Robinson path behind

The mass of Robinson was looming over us and I confess I was not looking forward to the climb.  

Looking down Keskadale from Buttermere Moss

It proved steep but easy up to Buttermere Moss where the ground was very, very wet and as we were all in running shoes rather than boots, so did our feet!  However they soon dried out on the final climb to the Robinson summit.

Three lake panavista from Robinson- Buttermere, Crummockwater and Loweswater

Comitibus, Robinson

After lunch overlooking Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater (and getting chilled because the sun had gone whilst there was a cool north wind) we contemplated returning via Hindscarth.

However, once we were satisfied that it was not needed (having been ticked off on BB0620) common sense prevailed and we returned by the long and, at times, challenging ridge toward Newlands. The sun had returned and the views were magnificent.

The way back off Robinson

The final descent was a gallop down short green grass from High Snab Bank to a pleasant valley trail. Just before the car, we discovered Newlands Church, another lake district miniature gem.

Looking back to Robinson

Newlands Church

There was a fine afternoon view of Causey Pike and Ard Crag

Newlands Church, left, Ard Crag and Causey Pike

Was it really a hard days hike?  Certainly there had been a lot of hard climbing, our biggest single day’s vertical achievement so far this year, but well worth the effort for the views.

Or to put it another way:

    It’s been an Ard day’s hike
    and I’ve been walking like a dog.

    It’s been an Ard day’s hike
    I should be sleeping like a log

    But when I get home, for you
    there is one thing I must do-
    that’s to finish this BOOTboys blog!

 Don, 17th September 2009

 

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STATISTICS

BB0928

Thursday 17th September

Distance:

10.1 miles

Height climbed:

3,952 feet

Wainwrights:

Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Ard Crags
Knott Rigg, Robinson

Other Key Features:

Newlands

Comitibus:

Bryan, Don, Stan

 

If you have Memory Map on your computer, you can follow our route in detail by downloading BB0928.

Steve G advises: "For those who like to look at your meanderings but use Tracklogs or other software then your logs can be converted using the freeware utility GPS Babel."

For the latest totals of the mileages, heights and Lakeland Fells Books Wainwrights see: Wainwrights.

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

 

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BOOT boys

This page describes an adventure of BOOTboys, a loose group of friends of mature years who enjoy defying the aging process by getting out into the hills as often as possible!

As most live in South Lakeland, it is no surprise that our focus is on the Lakeland fells and the Yorkshire Dales.

As for the name, BOOTboys, it does not primarily derive from an item of footwear, and certainly not from any skin head associations or other
type of social group,
but is in memory of
Big Josie,
the erstwhile landlady
of the erstwhile Burnmoor Inn at Boot in Eskdale,
who enlivened Saint Patrick's Day 1973
and other odd evenings many years ago!

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2009 Outings

  • BB0901 : A Gordon Day Out
    Thursday 8th January
  • BB0902 : Thank You,
    Aunty Ethel!
    Wednesday 14th January 
  • BB0903 : A Wicked Hike???
    Wednesday 21st January
  • BB0904 : Take a Mug With You
    Sunday 25th January
  • BB0905 : Down in the Forest
    Thursday 29th January
  • BB0906 : Not How But Where?
    Thursday 5th February
  • BB0907 : Binsey Can Wait
    (but Uncle Monty Can Not)
    Thursday 12th February
  • BB0908 : Badgers on the Line
    Thursday 5th March
  • BB0909 : It's not a W!
    Thursday 12th March
  • BB0910 : Up on the Roof
    Thursday 26th March
  • BB0911 : Not the Blisco Dashers
    Thursday 2nd April
  • BB0912 : John's Comeback
    Monday 6th April
  • BB0913 : Two Churches, a Pulpit and a Cherry Picker
    Thursday, 23rd April
  • BB0914 : Companions of the BOOT
    Thursday 30th April
  • BB0915 : The Gale Force Choice
    Thursday 7th May
  • BB0916 : The Comeback Continues
    Thursday 21st May
  • BB0917 : BOOTboys Encore !
    28th May - 2nd June
  • BB0918 : Hello Dollywagon
    Thursday 11th June
  • BB0919 : Has Anyone Seen Lily?
    Thursday 18th June
  • BB0920 : Ancient Feet on the Greenburn Horseshoe
    Thursday 25th June
  • BB0921 : The Tebay Fell Race Walk
    Thursday 2nd July
  • BB0922 : For England and St George 
    Thursday 9th July
  • BB0923 : The Coniston Outliers
    Friday 31st July
  • BB0924 : Little To Be Said In Favour?
    Thursday 6th August
  • BB0925 : The Third Night of the Rescue 
    Thursday 13th August
  • BB0926 : Long Wet Windy Monty Bothy Fun?
    Thursday 20th August
  • BB0927 : Dear Mrs Scroggins
    Friday 11th September
  • BB0928 : An Ard Day's Hike
    Thursday 17th September
  • BB0929 : A Canter of Convalescents?
    Thursday 24th September
  • BB0930 : BOOTboys International Autumnal Expedition
    Wednesday 23rd to
    Sunday 27th September
  • BB0931 : A Bit of an Adventure
    Thursday 1st October
     
  • BB0932 : Paths of Glory?
    Thursday 8th October
  • BB0933 : When Yorkshire Was Welsh
    Wednesday 14th October
  • BB0934 : Unlocking the Whinlatters
    Thursday 22nd October
  • BB0935 : A Tale of Crinkley Bottoms
    T
    hursday 5th November
  • BB0936 : Aye Up What?
    T
    hursday 12th November
  • BB0937 : Where Eagles Wade
    Tuesday 17th November
  • BB0938 : After the Floods
    Thursday 26th November
  • BB0939 : The Mystery of the Missing Glove
    Thursday 10th December
  • BB0940 : A Too Short Walk
    Thursday 17th December
  • BB0941 : One Hundred and Onesfell
    Tuesday 29th December

 

 

  • BH0901 : Back to the Beginning 
    Thursday 13th August
  • BSKIB09 : BOOTskiboys in Saalbach
    14th - 21st March
  • BB09XX : Los Chicos y las Chicas de la Bota
    11th - 14th May
  • BB09Bav01 : Peaked Too Soon
    1st September

 

 

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

 

Wainwrights

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

If anyone wants to claim other peaks, please let me know and I will submit them to the adjudication committee!

 

 

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