A solo circuit of Lower Eskdale from Ravenglass, my first visit to the Lake District of this year, taking the Muncaster Fell and Illgill Head approach to Great How and returning via Stony Tarn and Devoke Water.
The choice was suggested by a weather forecast of generally “north and west is best” with a strong easterly wind, and I had two days of unbroken sunshine and excellent clarity. The area around Great How, one of our long time favourites, is a hummocky fell of rocky knolls and little cliffs that would offer good possibilities of a sheltered pitch above valley level for the Lasercomp, and it worked out well.
The NeoAir performed very well and without incident on its first outing, and when packing I noticed the low volume more than the low weight, a great advantage.
The OMM Trio Chest Pouch was surprisingly good, a definite improvement on the Lowepro camera case for both ease of walking and better balance of load. On the flat brisk sections I experienced only a slight neck pain and only briefly, a good omen for future tests.
6 Comments
Great How is one I have yet to do. I keep thinking I will go and wildcamp there in the summer with my step son. Those photos have made my mind up.
It’s a superb spot with some lovely tarns. Sheeptrods are the nearest thing to a path on the whole fell, almost always deserted (because you-know-who never mentioned it).
Another great route Geoff. Thanks for your report.
Thanks Phil.
We never tire of Eskdale, our favourite part of the Lake District.
Thanks for the inspiration Geoff. Had a walk and wildcamp on Great How and was everything you promised in the brochure:-)
Karl
Karl,
Excellent stuff, and Raven Crag tarn as well - two of our most memorable pitches. It’s a long time since we were around Pen, there’s another idea for a route.