A Wet Weekend in Wasdale - Day 1

Date:                  Friday, 12th August 2011
Start/Finish:        Wasdale Green Car Park
Distance:             7 miles
Time Taken:        3-4 hours
Companion(s):     Dibble and Lexi

Route Map:          

Set off from home at about 7am on the drive across country, heading for Wasdale Head in the Western Lake District.  This was to be my second WalkingForum group meet-up and I had been looking forward to it for a few weeks now.  However, the weather forecast for the weekend ahead wasn't looking too good so, it was with some concern over how wet we were going to get that the journey began.

The drive went well and I made good time to arrive at the Wasdale Green Car Park at about 10.15am and, despite the low cloud and drizzly rain, what a 'wow' moment that was.  The scenery in this area is simply stunning and, even though I couldn't actually see the tops of the mountains and surrounding fells, I noted how steep they all looked and began to wonder if I'd ever make it up and down any of them!!

A few photos of the views from the car park whilst I waited for the others to arrive....

Great Gable to the left of the building

 Lingmell?

 Illgill Head on the right ?

 Kirk Fell

 Yewbarrow

Everyone arrived eventually and decisions were quickly made on which walk routes were to be done.  Dibble, Lexi and I decided that weather conditions were too bad for us to attempt the Scafell Pike and Scafell route today, so we left the tough guys to it and headed off, via a quick stop at the Youth Hostel, for Ennerdale where we would complete a circuit of the lake.

At first the weather seemed to be a little better in the Ennerdale area but, unfortunately, there was really no great improvement.  The path around the lake was more like a stream and everything was wet and slippy but it still made for reasonably pleasant walking and we didn't get too wet.  Although, the head high bracken on one part of the path did a good job of soaking us :-)

Lots of photos of the scenery around the lake....

 Heading up and over Angle Crag

Looking back on the way up

 

Looking across the lake from the top

 Looking up to the Pinnacles

 Looking down the lake at our route ahead

 Lexi

 We sheltered under some trees for a snack

 Looking back at Angle Crag

 Round on the other side of the lake now

 Nearing the end of our circuit

Nothing too strenuous on this walk but it was just right for today's weather conditions and I enjoyed it very much.  Thanks again to Dibble and Lexi for their company :-)

Day 1 of the weekend was completed with a return journey to the Youth Hostel and then an evening meet-up with everyone in the Wasdale Head Inn for food and drinks.  Very enjoyable!