Weekend in Langdale

A leisurely start to Saturday saw us motoring up to the start of the Langdale Horseshoe fell race where a number of familiar faces were about at the start.  A few of which can be seen below. 

 

Having seen the racing fraternity off, I had a delightful outing up over the Band, up to Bowfell summit, across Ore Gap and along the race route before making my way back via Angle Tarn, down Rosset Gyll and back to the ODG.  What a grand day out it was for everyone.  However, we were surprised to learn from Dave Bateson, who was  also staying at the Achille Ratti hut on Saturday night, that the weather on the Kentmere Horseshoe was horrendous.  Dave and his wife did the horseshoe and suffered from 50mph winds that almost blew them over, visibility was down to 5ft and although not raining, the cloud base was so wet that his glasses never cleared for the duration of the outing.  No-one could believe it was the same day!

Meanwhile back in Langdale it was a shorts day….

Looking across at Pike O’Stickle from the Band – couldn’t have been better

Some random dog enjoying the day

Looking over to Three Tarns from the path up to Bowfell

FSS approaching Bowfell

TF approaching Ore gap.  Great to spend time with TF after the race and catch up as our Saturday commitments haven’t seen us out running on the same weekends for quite a while! I hung about a bit to see EtU through, but finally concluded that he wouldn’t be arriving and so trotted down to Angle Tarn (below).

A fantastic day – you can see my route off to the right down Rosset Ghyll to take me back to the race finish.  Getting more confident with the old map and compass, but need more practice in adverse conditions.

 

Another wonderful morning dawned on Sunday - the view from the breakfast table

The breakfast table

After breakfast we drove up to Threlkeld to check out the descent off Clough Head  for Mark's winter BG for which FSS is navigating leg 4 (anti-clockwise).   This was a huge success with FSS locating a route he had used previously which avoids all the rough stuff between the track (Hauswell Brow) and Newsham farm. 

Hope to be out Tuesday UTUP.   No free Saturdays now until 13th November.

NLN