The weather forecast for today, was bright and sunny in the morning, clouding over by lunchtime, and rain by tea time. Not too bad, so I headed off with Cleo to explore the remote valley of Bannerdale in the Far Eastern fells. This is an area of the Lakes where I've not really walked much before. Probably because most of the routes that I've done stay on the tops rather than dropping down into the valley. The plan for the walk was to walk over the Beda Fell ridge, ticking off Beda Fell for Cleo, on route to Angle Tarn. From the tarn there was a path shown on the OS map heading down between Heck Crag and Buck Crags into Bannerdale. It didn't look too bad on the bad, but I was having second thoughts was I kept looking at the proposed route at I walked along the ridge. I could see any obvious signs of a path and the ground was very steep and scree covered. To be honest it turned out to be OK, there was a reasonable path, as shown on the map. Very narrow in places, probably on old sheep trod, it was a bit loose and eroded in places but nothing really awkward. The walk back through Bannerdale was lovely, it's not often you can find such a secluded spot in the Lakes. I even got a few fleeting glimpses of the red deer, not close enough to photograph, but nice to see. I even found a pair of antlers, well OK Cleo did, but she quickly dropped them in return for a biscuit!
Heading for Christy Bridge at the start of the walk, my route would take me behind the farm, then along the ridge behind
The view along the valley from the bridge
Heading up onto Howstead Brow
Looking across to Gowbarrow Fell from Howstead Brow
From here my route would take me along the Beda Fell ridge to Angle Tarn, about 3 miles away
One of the local 'Herdwick' sheep posing for a photo
As I gained more height Ullswater started to appear to the right of Hallin Fell
Dove Crag and Hart Crag over Boredale Hause
Looking back down the ridge
The cairn on Low Brock Crags
Halin Fell and Ullswater from Beda Head, the highest point on the ridge
The ridge becomes broader and flatter from this point, and also a lot wetter underfoot
Patchy sunlight on The Nab
Looking down into Boredale
Heck Crag and Buck Crags at the head of Bannerdale, my descent route would take me down between these
Looking across towards Helvellyn
and again from the cairn on Bedafell Knotts
Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Fairfield, with the flat topped summit of Angletarn Pikes on the left
A glimpse of the head of Ullswater and Glenridding
Angle Tarn comes into view
It's difficult to get all of the tarn in one shot, but I've just about managed it with this one
A quick look down into Bannerdale, my return route, but first time to explore around the tarn
The view from my coffee stop beside the tarn
Heading down into Bannerdale
Looking back up at the steep path I'd just come down, a bit loose in places but not too bad
Foxgloves
The valley floor was covered in thousands of them, not easy to show in a single photo
Looking back into the head of Bannerdale
Looking across to The Nab
Almost down to Dale Head farm where I would pick up the road back along the valley
Dale Head farm
Hmm, a complete change from the blue skies when I set out this morning!
Crossing Christy Bridge again, not far back to the car now
The old church in Martindale, with it's ancient Yew tree's
The inside of the church
I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the photograph's from this walk? If you have any questions or comments regarding them or the walk in general, please either leave a message below, or send me an email, and I will get back to you asap. Thanks Gary ...
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The previous journal entry was a walk over 'The Dodds' from Dockray
The next journal entry is ac walk along the The Green Trod in Upper Teesdale
Other Lake District walks 2011 walks journalAll of the photograph's from this walk were taken using my Canon 5D MkII camera and 24-105mm L series lens
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