Author: Wainwrights Relay

Leg 11 Kirkstone to Troutbeck; Martin Wilson and Duncan Archer

Second run for us two in this adventure, both excited to be out again on the fells (and Martin not feeling too bad despite doing the whole 40km monster leg 2, including walking into a post in the bracken in the dark…). The first half a dozen hills were great – steady climb to Stony Cove Pike, then lovely grassy ridge running out and back to Hartsop Dodd and Gray Crag. The Thornthwaite “beacon” commanded majestical views down to Windermere, and the ridge over the bumps of Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke invited us onwards. Maybe the less said about the next two hills the better – a steep bracken descent to the valley and up to Troutbeck Tongue, then over to Baystones (Wansfell) – a hideous leg combining bracken, long grass, bogs, and a series of wall crossings that got progressively higher and more technical to surmount. Steve Lumb and dogs welcomed us to Baystones, and all that remained was paths and tracks down to Troutbeck.

  • Thornwaite Beacon
  • Grey Crag
  • Hartsop Dodd

https://live.opentracking.co.uk/dfrw21/

Leg 8 Tilberthwaite to New Dungeon Ghyll. Dan R & Patrick

Holme Fell gave us the only people we saw on the leg, a slightly surprised couple camping on the summit who weren’t expecting any visitors at 10.30 pm. A good route down to the road then the bit we’d both been dreading: bashing through head high bracken to hit the path leading round to Black Fell, but we lucked out with a good line. Fabulous being on the top with a pretty full moon above us. Then some careful route finding back down to the road and over towards the last hill on the leg. The climb up Lingmoor Fell always seems go on and on so a relief to get to the small summit cairn on a rocky top. Then a careful run along the top followed by a ‘brakes off’ run off the top down to New Dungeon Ghyll to handover to Tom & Rory. Fabulous conditions, great company; felt like a privilege to be on the hill tonight.