Holme Fell (Marilyn nr. Coniston)

A few years ago, I had a wonderful day in the Arrochar Alps with a good friend, Malcolm Lomas, aka Sol. We have known each other since the 50s. Sol is the eternal optimist, an ideal companion on the hill and the the safest guy in the world for rock climbing. He always sees the patch of blue sky before anybody else, and I have always respected his judgement. 

On that crisp, cloudless blue sky day, with snow cover on the tops I remember having that pleasantly satiated feel after seven hours and anticipating relaxation back at the caravan, and then Sol... "It's great isn't it. You just don't want to go down do you?" Sol was always ready for more.

Another time we used mountain bikes for a couple of Munros. Returning to the car after a strenuous day Sol opted to cycle the six miles back to the caravan leaving me to come back by car.

Sunday had a similar feel. My commenter Gimmer is another old friend. We go back further than Sol to our school and scout troop days. List ticking is aired from time to time here. I unashamedly wanted to finish my four remaining Lake District Marilyns and suggested Holme Fell. It can be assumed from the six hours we took compared with a less than one and half  hour there-and-back dash I had read about, that our motives were more focused on enjoyment than list ticking on such a glorious day.

As you turn up to Tilberthwaite from the Coniston road the rocky south west prow of Holme Fell is dominant. I have always thought it would make a good scramble and we were half considering this, but we opted for an easier route.

On Sunday I had that "...just don't want to go down" feeling.

Bog Ashpodel

I am particularly drawn to heather - seems a bit early here?
Langdale Pikes at skyline - see next shot for zoom to pikes

Holme Fell summit. Windermere in background

On the way back

My speculation re scramble was enacted. We saw a couple high up on the face after our ascent. There seemed to be one pitch marginally justifying the rope which is shown here. I think that I was on 21 x zoom. I am well pleased with this performance of the Panasonic TZ40

They are just finishing the pitch shown above. I have reversed the order of these two pics. to fit my narrative

Arnside to Oakham via The Viking Way - slideshow

Here is the slideshow from my walk WITH CAPTIONS. Yes I know there are some typos but it is quite a big job to alter them once the Photoshop files have been saved as jpegs.

The pics are in two sections as was the walk, so there are two separate links.

Click on the first photo to view as a slideshow.


1. Arnside to Wetherby:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7kspj9p2z57ixi2/AAAwQsDnJqd1JXu3SeAY8O-Ra

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2. Wetherby to Oakham:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ewuntqxbw77j27k/AAB3mtRqx8D6sETyamKM2cBua

On the Ermine Street pick ES branches off to the right not left as I said in the caption. Will alter later.

Viking Way summary

Arnside to Wetherby  -  Saturday 26th April to Sunday 4th May             5.5 days

Wetherby to Oakham - Tuesday 18th June t0 Wednesday 2nd July         15.5 days

This walk fell into two halves after my involuntary break at Wetherby, returning home to support daughter Jill (High Horse) with her redundancy problem.

There was an extended plan not revealed. The initial attraction was to start by walking out of my own front door, and that was very satisfying. Later Gayle later guessed I must be intending to loop back home from the end of the Viking Way, but that would have been anti-climax. Whilst the first part of the walk was enjoyable, especially the Yorkshire Dales, this was familiar ground, and it was not until after Wetherby that I had the pleasure of venturing into new territory.

The first objective was to get to Caister to pick up the Viking Way and walk that to its end at Rutland Water and Oakham. I had already walked the northern section  from Caister to the Humber Bridge on my Broads to The Lakes walk in 2009.

From Caister the VW follows the high ground down the Lincolnshire Wolds through attractive countryside.

Later on there were more crop fields, but in general the VW is well maintained with cleared paths and pretty good signage. Providing one accepts that this is country walking I would recommend the VW.

My main attraction to the outdoors relates to hills and mountains. In consideration of my knee problems and prolonging as long as possible walking in general, over the last two years I have walked mainly flat routes - canals, rivers, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

RR commented on the last post of the walk:

"...In Lincolnshire especially huge houses are still available quite modestly. One might say that the county is simply unfashionable but the house price phenomenon has been going on too long for that. It's clear most people just don't want to live there despite the fact that the towns are still unspoiled..."  (my italics).

"...I'm sure it has something to do with the land being flat...  Man needs contours"

I agree with RR to some extent, but attraction lies in the fact the villages and countryside are still unspoilt as he says. Whilst one prefers the ambiance of the hills there is much to be said for the panoramic views and the awesome, massive skies seen from the slightest elevation because of the extensive flatness of the surrounding landscape.

If there was a choice between camping and other accommodation I chose the latter. In view of increasing age that may the way forward in future - shorter trips (only because of the increased expense) with more planning for the stopovers, obviating the need to carry the camping gear. Crawling in and out of a one man tent and carrying the weight is becoming ever more onerous.

This was a great trip and I would have liked to have continued. In one's youth fitness increases day by day on such ventures, but I believe that as age increases the graph goes the other way and all you achieve is more damage than good, so a rest seems a prudent decision.

Greetham to Oakham (last day)

Would you believe it? That bloody dog came for me again this morning but fortunately the landlord was able to call it off before it struck. I had a few words with him after that. What would you expect to get if you crossed an Alsatian with a Great Dane? No funny answers please, it's more serious than that. The landlord had acquired this as a rescue dog, and kept stressing that it didn't behave like this with other people, "it was playing with young children yesterday" he said! I was even more cross because the implication was that there was something wrong with me,which perhaps there is, but I didn't want to know about it just then.

Walking was fine but a bit hot and bothery. I met a couple of girl dog walkers and we chatted. They asked me what best tip I would give for backpacking and I was a bit stumped. Walking on I mused on that - my answer: keep the weight down, by spending money on good lightweight gear.

After arriving at Rutland Water the route joins the cycle track along the A606 for a four kilometre Tarmac slog into Oakham.

I am now on the train home, and will likely post a résumé of this trip later as well as a Dropbox photo show, hopefully with captions.




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Forgotten incident today (update)

Halfway to Sewstern I had to walk through the Buckminster Gliding Club. I nearly got run down by a taxiing light plane. Further on I found the club's buildings and idly wondered if they had a café, a fanciful notion, but as I approached feeling a little trespassy a guy appeared and I sort of joked and hinted about the café. I was promptly ushered inside and a cup of tea was made for me and I bought two choccy bars and made an appropriate donation to their honesty box. I had interesting chat with various members. This is an old WW2 RAF station and steeped in the history of its resident squadrons. That was all a memorable visit which I inexplicably missed when writing up my post today.


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Woolsthorpe to Greetham

Despite the 8:30 breakfast time I walked across to the pub from my room at 7:30. All was locked but I attracted attention of a lady who was there to do breakfasts (no proprietor). I tried to negotiate some consideration for not taking breakfast but the lady had no authority. I paid up in full and departed for the village post office which opens at 7:00 am. Fruit juice, a sandwich and hot coffee got me off to a good start.

The route today was all on a long track which I suspect must be another old Roman road. It has been trashed to utter devastation in parts by 4WDs making for awkward walking.

At one point I met council workmen who were erecting concrete blocks to stop the invaders entering from the public road. Apparently any motorised transport is prohibited but they still come.These guys were good fun and we had some chat and I took photos then they took one with me on. They said the blocks should stop the 4WDs, but the motor bikes will still get through.

I had intended to go only as far as Sewstern, but I arrived there're about 1:30 pm and the pub did not do accommodation, so decided to press on another six miles to Greetham.

I found The Black Horse and a room . They had a young Alsation/ Great Dane cross dog which was quite boisterous and only marginally under control,

Later as I came down the stairs to eat, the dog was lying on the larger corner step on the turn of the staircase and he went for me and hit both of my shins, then the landlord appeared and called the dog off. As I walked into the bar it was apparent my leg was bleeding through my trousers. Everybody was concerned. It had only been a nip, and I didn't feel inclined to make a fuss, but I hope that dog is kept under control in future - I hope I don't develop tetanus tomorrow.

I chatted with an entertaining couple (both four times married) and with four, or was it five Yorkshire terriers? He was ex Royal Navy with many anecdotes, and she the accounts lady for an on-line trading company which was of interest in view of daughter Jill (High Horse) launching into a similar field with The Nutty Duck. I got the feeling that this couple had at last found their respective soulmates.

Tomorrow I will walk out to Oakham and return home. I am still motivated to continue, but the cost of accommodation I am accumulating, having fallen out with the tent to some extent, is beginning to concern me, and the knees are struggling. I would rather give them a rest and go for something else later rather than grinding them into total destruction by prolonging this trip. When I reach Oakham I will have completed the first stage by completing the Viking Way, of what was a very ambitious plan devised a few months ago. Maybe I will return and start again, or miss out the middle bit and do the final leg later in the year ( for botanical reasons).


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Marston to Woolsthorpe

Monday

This morning at the Thorold Arms there was no cooked breakfast but what there was made up for it with fruit juice, cereal, toast on homemade wholesome brown bread to die for and marmalade and plenty of tea. I was then able to buy a ham and cheese sandwich for later from the shop which is part of the pub.

I had received an email from Gayle of Mick and Gayle fame,
galeybird.blogspot.com

I originally met them on my LEJOG and we have been friends ever since.

Gayle set off from Long Bennington about five kms. down my route and met me halfway, then accompanied me to within a mile or so of my Woolsthorpe destination; she then had to walk back to her car. I reckon Gayle must have done twenty miles overall - she is a formidable walker, but very kindly adjusted herself to my geriatric pace, and guess what, those who know Gayle - WE NEVER STOPPED TALKING FOR A SECOND THE WHOLE WAY. And more than that she brought me some of her own fruit cake and iced buns. What a star. Thanks Gayle.

Most of the walk today was on tracks which were fine except for a few short exceptions where 4WD vehicles had been allowed forming ruts eighteen inches deep. Fortunately the ground is dry, but in wet conditions they would have been extremely awkward. Many years ago I was a Land Rover club member, but this sort of thing is extreme environmental massacre.

I am now at the Chequers Inn at Woolsthorpe. I have got a bed as big as Centre Court at Wimbledon. The bathroom has a bath but no shower. Two hours after I had arrived and already having taken advantage of the bath a guy knocked on the door and gave me a bath mat; there had been one available anyway. I wonder when he thought a weary, sweat stained backpacker was most likely to use the bathroom facilities.

Sat here eating, having ordered and with a pint of real ale in front of me another guy appeared and asked me if I wanted some tap water - I have never had that question asked before in a pub, you usually have to fight to get it in place of the exorbitantly priced bottled stuff.

When I arrived there was an ex military looking guy sat on a strategically placed corner bar stool. We exchanged a few words. Three hours later I reappeared to eat - he was still there. As I have eaten I have watched him go through four different conversation partners he has attracted, so that's now at least four and a half hours he has been there. I suppose some people may be people-watching me?

I had an expensive starter: scallops with chorizo and barbecue sauce - the taste combinations didn't work for me. . The pork, cider and mushroom pie was much better. I am about to try: Affogato - vanilla ice cream, a shot of Illy espresso and shortbread.

Since writing the above I have changed my mind to blackberry and apple crumble.

Reading this back it seems to be obsessively about food. Time to sign off I think.

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P.s. x 2.

I have now found out breakfast isn't served until 8:30 am.

The rubber welts on both my Merrell shoes have parted company with the soles leaving exposed what I suppose is the Gortex lining. They were nearly new when I started this walk and cost around £80.

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