I was hoping to spend my birthday high on one of the Lakes biggest peaks; perhaps Helvellyn or even Scafell Pike, but it became clear fairly early in the week that the weather was going to make that a pointless exercise.
Instead I chose to walk a much lower level route, across some new ground for me. This worked well as it transpired. I could see many of the higher peaks around me covered in cloud, but for the duration of my walk I had no such problems. I was also expecting a fair amount of rain, but although it tried once or twice, it didn't seem to have the heart to rain on me properly.
I walked from the car park at White Moss; there are actually two car parks here, about 200 yards apart, I chose the one closer to Grasmere, simply because there was a 'PC' marked on the OS map. These toilets were actually closed when I arrived, but I'm sure they would be open by the time most people start walking.
Although I'd seen a couple of walkers a long way ahead of me on the path to Blea Rigg, I didn't meet a soul on the fells until I got half way down the path to Easedale Tarn, where I started to meet people walking up from Grasmere to Easedale Tarn and some who then ventured further up the path towards Blea Rigg.
Date: 2008-06-28
Start: White Moss Finish: White Moss
Distance: 10.5 mls, 16.90 km
Height Gain: 3000 ft, 914.4 m
Start Time: 07:58 End Time: 12:50
Duration: 04:52
Ave Speed: 2.2 mph
Region: Lake District
Route Description: White Moss car park, Loughrigg Terrace, Loughrigg, High Close, Silver How, Swinescar Pike, Blea Rigg, Easedale Tarn, Easedale, Grasmere village, White Moss car park
Parking Grid Ref: NY 34838 06559
View Parking space in: OS Map or Google Street View
Walking with: Alone
Long Distance Path:
2470 - Blea Rigg (1775 ft)
2499 - Silver How (1292 ft)
2507 - Loughrigg Fell (1099 ft)
3783 - Swinescar Pike (1348 ft)
TP4549 - Loughrigg Fell (Good condition)
Walk Name: Yorkshire 3 Peaks
Date: 2008-06-14
Distance: 24.0 mls, 38.62 km
Height Gain: 5300 ft, 1615.4 m
Walk Name: Gragareth & Great Coum
Date: 2008-07-05
Distance: 14.5 mls, 23.34 km
Height Gain: 2000 ft, 609.6 m