Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Walk & Event Reports

Sunday 20th November 2016

B Walk

Ashness Bridge - High Seat

8 Miles Grade 2

Leader: Malcolm Iredale

Report by Peter Flynn

Photos by

Pete Rutland, John McKay, Malcolm Iredale, Chris McKay & Peter Flynn

13 of us set off from AshnessBridge on a beautiful, sunny but very cold morning.  The cheapskates (inc. me) who were not N.T. members and refused to pay about £6 for parking by the bridge, had to park near the main road and walk up the very icy road to meet the others.  John was struggling and did not make it past Watendlath but he sent the next generation in the shape of his son Chris who would normally be cycle racing at what seems to be a high standard. Chris also has played ice hockey to national standards so a) very interesting to chat to and b) what will he do with fell walking?  The walk from Watendlath was steep, a mix of icy and boggyground where we saw a small herd of deer – cf photos. After lunch on High Tove we headed through deeper and deeper snow towards High Seat and swimming up to the summit (cannot think of another term) we were up to our thighs. The views and clarity were stunning: the only feature which really cast a damper on the day was the sight of and noise from 3 motor bikes churning up the fellside about a quarter of a mile away.  Because of the snow conditions Malcolm decided not to continue along the ridge but to head down to Ashness via another valley.  Very slippery, nearly everyone at some stage managed to sit down with a bump but we managed it.  Many thanks to Malcolm for planning and leading a wonderful excursion.

Peter