Place Fell & a Round of Tarns

With: on my own

Weather: terrible; frequent heavy showers occassionally merging into longer spells of rain / hail. Fresh NW wind

Route Summary:

Patterdale; Boardale Hause; Round How & a round of Tarns and Contour features including the summit trig point

Approx 5 miles & 1700' ascent

Place Fell Summit

Un-named Tarn NE of Summit

A glimpse of Brothers Water

Two Schools

Centre life has just clicked into top gear, since returning from Snowdonia we have had an exceptionally busy but rewarding time in hosting: two Church groups last weekend; two schools through the week; a Church group & a Youth group last weekend & back to two schools this week. Fantastic, this is what Blaithwaite is all about!

Activities have been largely group centred with: 

- climb / abseil sessions

- bushcraft

- a walk up Blencathra, via Mungrisdale Common, in excellent conditions (no camera though!)

I got out to practise some orienteering on Sunday morning with a trip to the Bannerdale Crags area (see pictures).The weather was poor with gale force winds blowing in frequent heavy showers.

Bannerdale Lead Mine Adit

View back east down the valley

Remnants of the miners bothy

Knee update - I've torn the medial meniscus in my right knee. There isn't much that can be done short term so the plan is to rest as much as possible (not easy at this time of year); no fell running for a few weeks. Hopefully it may heal to a degree & settle down as the left one did. Otherwise could be back to the Consultant.

Snowdonia: Good Time; Great Run - Inury!

Kay; myself; 2 daughters; one son-in-law & one grand daughter are just back from a few days in Snowdonia - last opportunity to spend some time away from the Centre before the really busy season takes off. It was a great time & a few photos to summarise the visit are shown below.

I got out for a very enjnoyable run (some details also below) but fear I have done some damage to my "good" knee.

We got back Friday to a full Centre for the weekend & in time for our first double school of the year so a busy week of activity ahead.

Llyn Dinas

Llyn Dinas & Sygun - Run
09 May 2011
Approx 6 miles & 1100' ascent
After working for six years at Llyn Gwynant (just up the road) this is a familiar area & it was good to get out for a run here.
I set off form the parking area outside the new cafe at Nant Gwynant (great addition to the area!) and ran in the direction of Beddgelert taking the minor road across the river and the trails alongside Llyn Dinas. At the end of the Lake I took the steep miners path up the dry valley to the SE into a kind of hidden valley / plateau at the top, quite a lot of old mine evidence. I emerged from the valley above Sygun show mine and began a rough but very doable descent back towards the mine. At this point the heavens opened and a most spectacular thunderstorm kicked off overhead - quite exciting. Unfortunately on this descent my right knee (usually the good one!) gave way under me twice, meniscus injury? The rest of the way back was moderately painful & the remainder of the evening agony! The knee responded to rest to some degree over the next 48 hours but now remains stubbornly sore and painful each time I put my foot down - am seeing Andrew Hoe on Weds & hoping he can work some magic again!!

Llanberris - Pete's Eats

I do like Punch & Judy

Had hoped to get up Moel Siabod but above events thwarted plans

Dolwyddelan Castle

Dolbadarn Castle

A Busy Bank Holiday & An Evening On Barrow

The Centre was very busy over the Bank Holiday. Guests in the House & Stables enjoyed wall to wall sunshine, there was also a great turn out on the camping field where the sun was also enjoyed albeit tempered by the cool north easterly which is still blowing now after the last campers have gone.

Kay on Barrow

Barrow ( Evening of 02/05/11)

 

Looking Into Newlands from Barrow Summit



With: Kay



Weather: Dry, sunny but very cold in strong easterly wind

We just went straight up & down Barrow via Braithwaite Lodge. The light was incredble & the views superlative in all directions. The only negative was the bitterly cold & very strong Easterly wind. When we got back to the car at just before nine o'clock the temperature was just five degrees, some contrast to the afternoon we had spent around the Centre wearing shorts & T-shirts. To be able to wander out the evening and enjoy the fells is one of the real bonuses of living & working at Blaithwaite.




Me on Barrow Summit