Walk: 10:30am to 6pm - 9.4 miles
Great weather today, dry in the morning and lots of sun through the rest of the day – around the 20c mark and a light wind to help keep cool. However, today’s walk made me re-assess our walking trips - more time studying the route is needed, and also not always take what the map says as a sign of a clear and easy route.
Most of the walk was very enjoyable, however the drop down from Illgill Head towards the path that takes you east of Burnmoor Tarn was not what we were expecting. The path takes you directly down a steep grassy slope for about 3/4km, no real path other than flattened grass and patches of trodden earth - one slip and probably a long slide down the slope.
Also, heading back on the path around Tongue Moor wasn’t as I expected. I knew it was along the side of a bit of a drop – but yet again made the mistake of thinking that as it was a bridleway, that it would be a ‘wide’ well worn path. Well it was well worn but about 12” wide with nothing to the left of you but a steep drop. I didn’t particularly enjoy this 1km or so, and my wife Donna REALLY didn’t!
It all started so well after we left car-park near Porterthwaite, taking the long incline up through the forest towards Irton Fell. We did come across a pleasant surprise as half-way up this incline in a very small clearing was a donated bench giving lovely views across Miterdale - must have been someone's favourite spot as it was a long way from what you might think of as a tourist spot.
We reached Irton Fell and then took the path North-East, firstly up and over Whin Rigg, and then over to Illgill Head. A long walk over the moor, but with great views over Wast Water. I had planned to take some photos down the The Screes towards the lake, but as I went near the edge, I was quickly reminded that I suffer from a little vertigo, and quickly moved away. Never mind though, there are plenty on the internet that others have taken…lol
It was the next couple of hours where we hit the sections highlighted at the start of this blog – we didn’t really enjoy the walk again until we dropped down the slope into the bottom of Miterdale and then picked up the path taking us past Bakerstead Outdoor Pursuit Centre, which to be honest looked like it wasn’t used anymore as it was all boarded up.
Eventually, 7 ½ hrs after leaving the car-park we arrived back at the car, and what a welcome sight it was.
More photos can be found here
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