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Birkhouse Moor

Date ... Saturday, 28 November 2009
Distance ... 6.50 miles
Ascent ... 2015 feet
Time ... 4 hours 20 mins
Weather ... 3 ºC, cloudy with sunny spells, dry, moderate W winds
Walked with ... Solo walk with Tim dog
Summits ... Birkhouse Moor - 2350' (aw78)'
Start ... Glenridding - pay and displycar parking (NY385169)
Maps ... Ordnance Survey - Outdoor Leisure Nº5 (1:25,000) or Landranger Nº90 (1:50,000)
Books ... Pictorial Guide Nº1 - The Eastern Fells by Alfred Wainwright


To see the route map of this walk follow think link which will take you to the Anquet Maps web site, which I now use to display my route maps. You can follow my route and see the 'locations' of all the photo's from this walk by visiting Everytrails

I was feeling quite a bit better this week, I think the change in pain management drugs had helped. So I decided to try how strong my back and neck where by trying a bit more of an adventurous walk. When I left home it was really foggy and I thought that I wasn't going to get any photo's, but by the time I'd gotten over to Penrith the cloud has started to break up. To my great surprise I saw that all of the fells had a dusting of snow on them, above 1000 feet. This hadn't been forecasted, well they said there could be the odd light snow shower, but nothing like this. So I was more than happy as me and Tim walked along the road towards Greenside mines, enjoying the warm morning sun and views of the snow covered fells. It was only when I started the climb up to Red Tarn that I found out that my back/legs where still much weaker than I'd thought. It was a bit of a struggle getting up there, but I took my time, anyway, there was loads of great views to photograph. I was surprised at how few people were out on the fells, I only met about 20 or so all day. Normally on a day like today, with the first fall of winter snow the place would have been packed. Obviously the flooding from last week has put loads of people off. Well you can take it from me, Cumbria is definitely back open for business and the fells are just waiting to be climbed. There was some signs of flood damage but nothing to stop you visiting. It was a shame to see the cafe's and shops so empty when we got back down into Glenridding, and as you will see in my last photo, the car park was virtually empty! It was great to get back out and enjoy a walk on the fells, even if by the time I'd gotten back to the car I had very little feeling left in my back/legs, it was well worth it.

An early morning view of Ullswater from Glencoyne, on my way to Glenridding

An early morning view of Ullswater from Glencoyne, on my way to Glenridding

The dusting of snow on the fells was a lovely surprise, it hadn't been forecasted

The dusting of snow on the fells was a lovely surprise, it hadn't been forecasted

Sheffield Pike catching the early morning sun

Sheffield Pike catching the early morning sun

Looking back towards Glenridding, some low cloud was still hanging over the lake

Looking back towards Glenridding, some low cloud was still hanging over the lake

Rake Cottages with Place Fell behind

Rake Cottages with Place Fell behind

Looking back down the valley, with Angletarn Pikes in the far distance

Looking back down the valley, with Angletarn Pikes in the far distance

Looking in the opposite direction towards a snow covered Raise

Looking in the opposite direction towards a snow covered Raise

Above the old mines workings at Greenside I crossed over onto the opposite bank of Glenridding Beck

Above the old mines workings at Greenside I crossed over onto the opposite bank of Glenridding Beck

Looking back down towards Greenside mines, with Sheffield Pike behind

Looking back down towards Greenside mines, with Sheffield Pike behind

Whiteside (aptly named today covered in so much snow)

Whiteside (aptly named today covered in so much snow)

Raise

Raise

Looking into Kepple Cove, the zig zag's on Raise standing out well in the snow

Looking into Kepple Cove, the zig zag's on Raise standing out well in the snow

As I climbed up towards Red Tarn banks of low cloud started to appear

As I climbed up towards Red Tarn banks of low cloud started to appear

Kepple cove, Whiteside on the left and a cloud covered Raise on the right

Kepple cove, Whiteside on the left and a cloud covered Raise on the right

Tim really enjoyed the snowy conditions

Tim really enjoyed the snowy conditions

Once I was above the snowline the paths became icy and very slippery in places

Once I was above the snowline the paths became icy and very slippery in places

Zooming in on Nick Head, with the slopes of Hartside behind

Zooming in on Nick Head, with the slopes of Hartside behind

Walkers on Striding Edge, that's the sun behind them and not the moon!

Walkers on Striding Edge, that's the sun behind them and not the moon!

Looking south towards Birkhouse Moor from close to Red Tarn

Looking south towards Birkhouse Moor from close to Red Tarn

There was plenty of snow at the tarn

There was plenty of snow at the tarn

A tranquil but misty Red Tarn, I was lucky enough to have the place myself for 20 mins while I ate my lunch

A tranquil but misty Red Tarn, I was lucky enough to have the place myself for 20 mins while I ate my lunch

By the time I'd eaten the visibility had really deteriorated, as this shot of walkers heading for the tarn shows

By the time I'd eaten the visibility had really deteriorated, as this shot of walkers heading for the tarn shows

Approaching the 'Hole in the Wall'

Approaching the 'Hole in the Wall'

Conditions weren't much better here, but all I had to do was follow the wall

Conditions weren't much better here, but all I had to do was follow the wall

Heading out across Birkhouse Moor, plenty of footprints to follow

Heading out across Birkhouse Moor, plenty of footprints to follow

The cairn on Birkhouse Moor, still not much of a view

The cairn on Birkhouse Moor, still not much of a view

As I started the descent down to Glenridding I reached the cloud base and the visibility improved somewhat

As I started the descent down to Glenridding I reached the cloud base and the visibility improved somewhat

The paths were still very slippery in places so I carefully picked my way down

The paths were still very slippery in places so I carefully picked my way down

Looking down onto Glenridding from the top of the descent down alongside Mires Beck

Looking down onto Glenridding from the top of the descent down alongside Mires Beck

Zooming in on Ullswater, it looked sunny at Pooley Bridge

Zooming in on Ullswater, it looked sunny at Pooley Bridge

Glenridding and Place Fell from the bottom of the steep descent, I was glad to reach here as my knees were killing me!

Glenridding and Place Fell from the bottom of the steep descent, I was glad to reach here as my knees were killing me!

Glenridding Beck, the line of leaves on the grass shows how high the river level was in last weeks floods

Glenridding Beck, the line of leaves on the grass shows how high the river level was in last weeks floods

One last look at Birkhouse Moor, from the empty car park!

One last look at Birkhouse Moor, from the empty car park!

Tim nice and comfy in the car boot, ready for the drive home!

Tim nice and comfy in the car boot, ready for the drive home!

DON'T FORGET TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE NEW 'PICTURE OF THE MONTH' GALLERY - YOU COULD END UP OWNING A COPY OF YOUR FAVORUITE PHOTO!!!!!!