Sunday, 19th May 2013

 

Walk: Kirkstone Pass Road, Broad End,  Stony Cove Pike, Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell, Yoke, Garburn Road, Limefitt Park
Start Point: Church Bridge, Troutbeck Grid Ref: NY 411 026
Distance: 13.5 miles Ascent: 4,150 feet
Weather: Misty in the morning clearing in the afternoon Time: 7 hours
Comments: The forecast was for a misty morning clearing in the afternoon and that is pretty much what we got. The first 6 miles took us from Troutbeck to Stony Cove Pike with an ascent of approximately 2,500 feet! Perhaps it was fortunate that the mist obscured the views of our descent of nearly 600 feet to Threshthwaite Mouth followed by a climb, again of 600 feet, to Thornthwaite Crag. Taking lunch at the Beacon we were safe in the knowledge that we were now faced with 'mere undulations', over Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke before making a gradual descent along Garburn Road. A steeper path took us down the hillside to Limefitt Park and back to the cars. An energetic but rewarding walk.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

John gathers the troops ready for the start

 

He explores paths we haven't used before . . .

 

to reach the higher stretches of the Kirkstone Pass road

 

A cairn provides the backdrop . . .

 

for Garry to show off his new trekking poles

 

Leaving the cairn we make our way through the mist . . .

 

to Stony Cove Pike

 

The mist hides the fact that this is quite a steep, rocky descent . . .

 

to Threshthwaite Mouth - and looking back up we can't see much!!!

 

A 600 foot climbs takes us to Thornthwaite Crag . . .

 

where we stop for lunch

 

Windermere comes into view to the right . . .

 

and Kentmere Reservoir to the left . . .

 

as we make our way onto . . .

 

Froswick . . .

 

and capture some of the group before moving on to . . .

 

Ill Bell where we have a brief stop

 

A patch of sunlight catches the Kentmere Valley . . .

 

as the mist lifts to reveal the reservoir

 

Robb adds another stone to the cairn on Yoke

 

Looking back up the Troutbeck Valley from the Garburn Road, most of our walk can be seen

 

Ian spots a tiny butterfly

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