BB1519 : What Happened To The Clag?

Wednesday 27th May 2015

What is happening to the weather forecasts?  Yet again the forecast did not live up to its evil billing and had we known in advance,we would probably have gone higher.  

Nevertheless, with John missing, we were still able to help Terry to pull two back on their comparative Wainwright counts.

Holme Fell and Black Crag make a good circuit for poor weather, especially when the Hodge Close Quarry and the Cathedral Cave are thrown in for good measure. Plus, there is the passing-by of one of Lakeland's most frequented attraction- Tarn Hows.

We didn't expect the weather to be poor on Holme Fell as we set off from near Glen Mary Bridge but nor we did expect to be able to see the tops of Coniston Old Man, Wetherlam and all the other local peaks.  They were supposed to be enshrouded in clag with rain to come in about 3 p.m..  In fact they were virtually cloud free, making us wonder what we were doing down low.

Langdales round to Fairfield from Holme Fell

After Holme Fell we passed the two small reservoirs before reaching Hodge Close Quarry.  

It seemed to be Abseil Day.  We first met a man who had just climbed the steep path out of the quarry, puffing and observing that abseiling down was a lot easier then climbing back out.  Those in charge appeared to be lowering a young girl down the sheer cliff face.

A little further along were mum, dad and two lads aged about 8, all properly kitted out for their leap into the unknown.

We preferred a safer way down- the old trolley trail.  The descent and ascent were enlivened by a "walk the log" test which, much to my amazement, I think I won!  The view at the bottom did not need enlivening.  It is quite spectacular.

Click on Coniston and Hawkshead National Trust for more information.

More ancient workings were then passed as we then sought out the Cathedral Quarry which is also spectacular.

Comitibus : Near Cathedral Quarry

Panavista from Black Crag

After lunching outside the quarry, overlooking Little Langdale, we set off east for the second Wainwright for Terry.  The increasingly steep climb from Hollin Bank led to that point: Black Crag (although AW prefers to call it Black Fell).

The return to the car was via an unusual route round Torver Intake to Tarn Hows.  Maybe it was my sheltered upbringing but I don't remember seeing goslings before.

To be fair to the forecasters, around this time the clag was coming down on the high hills and the first hint of the rain arrived.  After we reached the Brown Horse at Winster it started to pour down.  But by then it was our insides that were being wetted!

Don, Wednesday 27th May 2015

Nepal Update

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1519 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

Photos have been gleaned from many sources
although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.

I apologise if I have failed to acknowledge properly the source or infringed
copyright.  Please let me know and I will do my best to put things right.

Unless stated otherwise, please feel free to download the material if you wish.
A reference back to this website would be appreciated.

Wainwrights

To see which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing see Which Wainwright When? This may or may not be up to date!

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

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BOOTboys 2015

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