High Snockrigg, Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head and Robinson again!

A belting day out. With today being the one decent day for weather this week, we headed to the fells. We parked at Newlands Hause and then straight up onto the flank of High Snockrigg (great name!) before heading to the summit for some cracking views over Buttermere and beyond. Then back down and over Buttermere Moss, which was rather damp, and then up onto Robinson. After Robinson it was along onto Littledale Edge and some lovely arctic/alpine plants. We then turned left and onto Hindscarth before back tracking a little and onto the lumpy ridge that leads to Dale Head. Dale Head offers some superb 360 degree views that cover the whole of the Lakes. After lunch it was back and over Robinson again, before the rather steep descent back to Newlands Hause - after a real bog plodge over Buttermere Moss...

Looking down Newlands.

Heading up High Snockrigg, overlooking Buttermere and Crummock.

Overlooking Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike.

White Worm Lichen (Thamnolia) Alpine Clubmoss, Alpine Club Moss in cone, and Fir Clubmoss.

From Robinson, looking to Hindscarth on the left and then along the ridge to Dale Head.

Along the ridge to Dale Head.,,,where we turned left for Hindscarth.

The first Pink-footed Geese of the year flying over Hindscarth.

Rocky on the top.

Looking form Hindscarth towards Dale Head.

Great Gable over Honister.

Towards Little Town.

Looking back towards Hindscarth and Robinson.

Towards the Langdale Pikes, where Tom and Natalie were on the tops.

Rocky on Dale Head.

Fungi.

Back up and over Robinson.

Great Gable and Herdies, quintessential Lakeland. 

And back down - the steep face of Robinson coming into the sun. 

A family affair

Another classic Hesket Newmarket Show and a fabulous day for it. We were so lucky to find a dry and sunny day in between the recent dreichness! A good smattering of prizes: with Molly retaining the most points for Baking trophy (albeit she had to share it with me- which was most unexpected!). Her fine Salmon and Asparagus quiche was sublime!  I retained the most points in the Industrial tent cup, Natalie had a very high success rate for her entries and we were all delighted that she won a first for her crocheted Wisteria bunting. Tom's collection of prehistoric tools, quite deservedly, won a first in hard craft and the first ever entry from his garden (yard) of three courgettes gained a third. 

The star though had to be Isla, Will's Mum's Labrador, that took fourth place in the all comers 'Terrier' race - brilliant! 

And the famous race....

And the presentations begin.....

The Mardale Horseshoe plus one!

A cracking and hard day on the fells, with 8 Wainwrights done. My Garmin gave the stats as 3400 feet of ascent and then descent, over 12 miles. The Mardale Horseshoe includes Harter Fell (2555 ft), Mardale Ill Bell (2490), High Street (2718), The Knott (2330), Rampsgill Head (2598), High Raise (2500) and Kidsty Pike (2560)...we did also add in Thornthwaite Crag (2572) due to a 'slight' navigational error by me! But it was a nice place to have lunch! Steves iphone gave the distance as a bit further - what ever it was - it was a good walk in perfect weather! 

Looking across near the beginning of t he walk, at Mardale Head, towards High Street.

From Harter Fell over Haweswater.

Harter Fell Summit.

Panorama. 

From Mardale Ill Bell looking back at Harter Fell.

A fly-past.

From High Street across to Thornthwaite Crag with the towering summit cairn.

Descending from High Street towards The Knott.

Looking across to the Knott.

Looking down onto the Nab- that peat-bog of a fell!

Rampsgill Head. 

 

The view from Kidsty Pike.

And finally back to the valley. 

Would I repeat the walk - Oh Yes!.. may be not today though!

Red-necked Phalarope

Well we took the dogs down Wedholme Flow this morning and to our surprise there was a lovely Red-necked Phalarope pootling round on one of the pools! To make it even better it was in amongst some very nice Ruff.

Autumnal colours.

The paths have all been recently mown.

Autumn...plenty of dragon and damselflies too...

The pond....

The Red-necked Phalarope.

Mawbray's Roman Weights

Occasionally, we are lucky enough to find Roman weights on the beach - they may be fishing weights or warp weights and I refer you to Ann Lingard's blog on this for more information click here . Which ever they are, there is always a real buzz when you find one, yet alone two on the same day! Today we were lucky. 

Primarily this was a dog walk, but it soon changed focus....

Looking across the Solway.

Bonkers dog - ours was more restrained!

The first find...it was partly exposed so I dug it out not thinking to take a photo first...

The second find in situ....

Together...

This one was particularly large and unworn. As it was found lower down the beach than normal, I wonder if it has just been sat in the sediment for longer with less exposure to erosion.

And is this a finger print? It certainly fits my thumb nicely and the lines align perfectly with the lines of my thumb print. Who held this last? 

Closer in...