A short 2-day circuit of the Birker fells on the southern side of lower Eskdale, a generally little trodden corner of the Lake district usually forsaken for the sport of the higher mountains, but offering a greater sense of wilderness and holding ample rewards for those who seek them out. We took a new approach to the area via Brantrake Crags.
A forecast of a couple of good clear days in a vigorous northerly weather stream held the promise of dramatic landscape photos, but it was much cloudier than expected and the views were rather dull, the exception being the superb sunrise we saw from the tent on Great Worm Crag. They were dead right about the wind though.
Despite that it wasn’t as cold as predicted and we could have taken the ¾-length Thermarests rather than the Exped Downmats which were not needed at all.
7 Comments
Has a wild almost bleak look to it over in that part. The sunrise photos were stunning. Thanks for that.
Martin,
Thanks again, it’s a lovely area for a short round. I’ve been lucky with sunrises and sunsets the last few trips, let’s hope for some inversions now in the colder weather.
Enjoyed reading your report Geoff. I was over those parts in the summer with the family and it brought back memories - though we’d have been a sight warmer I’ll bet.
Thanks Phil, it wasn’t as cold as they said but it was enough.
Hi Geoff - it looks like you had another good trip, loved seeing photo’s of a part of the Lakes that we’ve never walked yet, I think the closest we’ve been is when we did Whin Rigg earlier this year. We are planning to tackle the ‘western’ side of the Lakes next year now, probably with a couple of wild camping trips …
Gary
Thanks Gary, the south-west has a different atmosphere than the very popular areas, in particular Eskdale is a superb wild approach to the Scafells and Bow Fell. Those lower ones have a charm of their own.
Try to get a camping trip in winter, nothing like moonlight on snow and frozen tarns!.
Geoof - the thought has crossed my mind, as I need to get some practice at cold weather cmaping, I’m planning to trek upto Everest Base Camp next autumn and we have to camp up on the glacier for a couple of nights at around 18,000 feet so it could get a wee bit chilly!