This weekend Sophie and I arrive in Wasdale on a Friday evening. Having finished work early enough we reach the National Trust campsite before sunset. This is the first solo camp with Sophie. We have long walk planned for Saturday with a slightly shorter on Sunday on the way back home – Walk 31. Having had a great nights sleep, Sophie having her own tent within the tent, we started out towards the Wasdale Head Inn.
From Wasdale we take the path to Great Gable along Lingmell Beck to Sty Head
The walk up is all the best for the views afforded to us by looking back behind us rather than just in front.
The weather during the ascent starts to worsen. Not really so bad that the views down are totally obscured when we reach Great Gable.
The walk from the top continues downwards for a while before climbing upto Kirk Fell. Again the trick is to keep turning around as the vista of Great Gable stands out.
It remains just a little misty as we continue along to Pillar
As we headed down from Pillar, Sophie finds some wide open spaces, where she is able to let off some pent up steam – clearly I walk too slowly and do not give her enough exercise ! The style is the last dry spot, as the misty weather that had lingered around all day developed into a full lakes downpour.
I’d always planned to eat at the pub, which was as usual crowded. A very kind lass allowed a dripping wet, and affectionate Sophie and me to join her. I did have to make a trip to the toilets to remove most of the wet clothes and put on some of the dry spares I’d carried. An hour later we were back at the campsite being visited by a very friendly Robin. The rain having abated I was able to hang out things to dry and enjoy a drop of red wine. Despite the damp ending this was a wonderful first away day with Sophie.
