We set off at 7 a.m. so there was plenty of space to park at the beginning of the Walna Scar Road above Coniston and we were walking by just after nine. ‘It seems a day, one of those heavenly days that cannot die’ I thought as we set out. The sun was shining and the visibility in the still air was superb.
It had been six weeks since the last walk, because the weather had been too gloomy or soaking wet. As a muscular exercise walking in such conditions isn’t too bad, but snorkelling at 2000 ft isn't much fun and photography is rather limited.
It was, of course, soon very hot with no cloud at all, and my memory of the route from when I was last there being rather hazy I found the ascent rather tiring and of course slower than Andrew.
At the summit of the road, between the little bump of Walna Scar and the more significant rocky point of Brown Scar (2200') we became pushed forward by a strong wind that had suddenly developed, funnelling through the pass. We dropped down the western side a little to stop and snack, hoping to be sheltered but the sudden drop in temperature soon had us walking again. I suppose my low temperature living at home and much working in the garden enables me to put up with slightly chilly wind.
We started to walk along the ridge and although the wind dropped to a breeze it took a few minutes to feel comfortable again. I was rather disappointed in that I could remember nothing about the place since my only visit there on 2 June 1997 after climbing Dow Crag from Seathwaite (Duddon) Tarn. Then I had been more interested in exploring the old quarry workings on the west side.
We walked along to White Pike, a good viewpoint, then almost doubled back to White Maiden and thence dropped steeply down towards Red Gill.
Navigation proved a challenge until we reached the site of an old bridge over Ash Gill. Later we had to ford Torver Beck, Andrew in bare feel, I in boots after removing my socks. I regret I didn't take any photos!
We walked down to Bannishead Quarry. From there
Wainwright indicates only a direction of march over a ‘featureless and dreary scene’ as there are no footpaths.
Wasn't I glad to eventually arrive at the car park, joining a crowd of walkers, climbers, families with kids, all creating such a contrast to our day, until then meeting maybe only six people, and none at all on Walna Scar ridge.
We dried our feet and then set off
home in Andrew's car, calling at a restaurant in Lindale for Fish Pie for me
(The best Fish Pie I've ever tasted) and Lakes Venison Burger (Andrew's
choice).
For
some strange reason I didn’t take many photos, so I ought to remedy that
sometime.
