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The Fellwalker by Peter John Farnworth
WALK 44 SATURDAY OCTOBER 13th 1990THE RETURNWhat a good heading for Walk 44! You will have read Walk 6, so you will understand why I call it this. Since I first walked to this summit all those years ago in 1975 (and you will agree I have been onto a few since that date), I am still aware that danger is always with you. Even now. To be too complacent is to be caught out, and more so if you look at the date above. I know it's not Friday, but it's still the 13th. I’m not saying I am superstitious, but I will not be taking any chances today!
On this walk I went back to Ullscarf, this time with Mark (another one for him to log up.) We have been waiting for three weeks to get the right weather conditions to attempt this walk, for they needed to be right judging from my previous experience of this area. The walk started at Dobgill (car-park), at the side of Thirlmere, just outside the village of Grasmere on the opposite side of the main road which leads to Keswick (A591.) From the car-park we walked up a very steep leaf-covered path which led us through a lovely wood to a place called Harrop Tarn (by the way this has way-ward markers for those who cannot get to the high ground.) Once past the Tarn, still following the path, we headed for the far corner of the wood where we climbed the high stile over the perimeter fence. Since this fence stood nearly eight feet high, I assumed there must be deer in this wood, but this is only a guess. After climbing over the stile, we climbed steadily up the fell side until we reached a wired fence with an open pathway through it and leading on towards Blea Tarn and Watenlath. By following the wired fence to our left, we picked up the old County- Boundary fence posts which run parallel with it up and over Standing Crags and to the summit of Ullscarf. As I have mentioned in Walk 6, these fence posts can be a life saver, and I mean that very sincerely. Because they are the only marker on the fell top, if the mist were to come down this is vital to know. Standing Crags - what a fine place to stay a while when the sun is shining (we have been here since this date and the wind was bitterly cold, with snow and ice down, but that's another story…) On with the tale. Since this is a high area at this point, you have a panoramic view across to Borrowdale, Skiddaw, Blencathra, and the Helvellyn range. Also we had a good view of Blea Tarn. This is one of only two Tarns with the same name, the other being near Pike O-Blisco near Little Langdale, and there is a Blea Water near Mardale Ill Bell, near High Street. Sorry to keep deviating from the tale. As I was saying, we continued to follow the wired fence and the boundary posts to within three quarters of a mile of Ullscarf, then the wire fence ran off to our right across the fell. We reached the summit where we had a bite to eat and enjoyed the scenery unfolding before our eyes. To describe this summit, I can only say it is a vast mass of featureless high ground, and but for the old County Boundary posts which run across the fell, there would be nothing. Even on this clear day, I still wondered how to get round to follow our route. First, we had to cross this very rough ground to make our way towards Castle Crags, which was pathless, and swing round to Nab Crags and down to Birks Crags to the stile. At this section it was very steep and great care had to be taken as we slowly made our way down between the crags, which were very slippery with dew on the rocks. NOTE: There are only three stiles on this outer fence, which goes round the wood on this circular route, and you have to make sure you return to one of these. If not, you have to make your way down to the road the best way you can. A word of warning - beware of changing weather conditions when on this mountain. Mountains walked that day: Ullscarf 75 [[]] Diagram & Stats
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