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BB0623:
Selside Pike revisited
If
you remember our first visit to the Corpse Road (see
BB0608), you may recall that Stan argued that we had
approached Selside Pike from the wrong side and that
we should have approached from the other end of the
Corpse Road, in Swindale.
Given
that Bryan was not there to argue plus the fact that
we wanted a shortish walk to get back into condition
and to allow Philip to return to Kendal in time for
a meeting, today Stan got his wish.
Mind
you, there were a few senior moments at the outset.
I forgot my butties and had to go back for them.
Philip forgot his flask but didn't discover it
until too late. And Stan had a near argument with
a farmer who, he was convinced, was trying to keep us
off his land, unlawfully.
"Look" said
Stan, "both our maps show the Corpse Road starting
here at the Swindale Head Farmhouse so why are you telling
us to carry on up the valley? Eh?? Eh???".
"Because this is Truss Gap Farm, you dozy
set of nerds. Swindale Head Farm is up the valley!!!!"
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The
approach to Swindale
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Team
picture at Selside Pike shelter
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And
so it was! The climb was initially quite steep
but then gentled out onto Selside End and a drinks break
at Selside Pike shelter. The weather was remarkably
good- there was a little window of opportunity according
to the forecasters and they were right.
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Swindale from Selside Pike
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Kidsty
Pike from Selside Pike
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There
were excellent views down to Swindale- a lovely little
valley yet seldom visited other than by water engineers
who may still have ambitions of damming it. Kidsty
Pike was also clear but High Street was in cloud. Haweswater
looked a little low (but don't tell those engineers).
There
are some superb place names around here- Captain Whelter's
Bog, Geordie Greathead Crag, Hobgrumble Gill across
which we skipped in its upper reaches as we headed for
the hanging valley of Mosedale where a huge flock of
sheep was been herded into pens on the fell by about
8 dogs and three farmers. We started to descend
by Force Falls where we had lunch and I almost needed
my suncream! These waterfalls are lovely with
the native deciduous trees clinging to the rocks alongside
the beck.
Mosedale
Beck
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Sheep.
Or are they? Click to find out!
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Force
Falls
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Once
down in the valley it was an easy stroll back to the
car and an enjoyable if illegal return by the engineers'
road to Shap where the clouds started to gather ominously
to close the window. Good timing!
Don,
31st August 2006
STATISTICS
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Distance:
7.0
miles
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Height
climbed:
1,732 feet
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Wainwrights:
Selside
Pike
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For
map reference see Map
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