Lake District Midweek Escape: Walla Crag, High Rigg and Latrigg

Monday, 13th July 2015 - Travelling and Settling In

After getting cleared up and packed away from the Wales/Dolgellau weekend, I headed up to my pal's caravan in the Lake District.  Once unpacked and settled in for the evening I started to plot and plan my walks for the next few days and decided on Walla Crag, High Rigg and Latrigg.

Tuesday, 14th July 2015 - Walla Crag (5.7 miles)

Today was Walla Crag.  Today was gloriously sunny.  Today involved no driving whatsoever.  I was going to enjoy today.

"Breather stop" views over Derwent Water from the steep Cat Gill:

The final pull up to the top ... and the path disappears... oh well, here comes a short scramble up those rocks:

Where'd the path go??

Waterfalls at the head of Cat Gill

Looking across Derwent Water to High Spy and chums

Looking North to Skiddaw and chums

Views down towards Keswick and Portinscale from Walla Crag

A short walk along the A591....

Helvellyn

Pano pic of the easy field walking return to the caravan

Smashing day out, though Cat Gill is pretty steep and eroded in places!

ViewRanger Track

Tuesday, 15th July 2015 - Picnic Tea on High Rigg (2.8 miles)

I had tired legs today so I spent the day tidying up the little bit of garden in front of the caravan.  By the early evening, I felt energetic enough for a picnic tea perched on my favourite craggy, lumpy bumpy fell:

Enjoying views towards Helvellyn

My preferred view towards Blencathra

Walkers on the true summit of High Rigg

Looking down onto the caravan site

 Finally, a few pano shots of the view all around:

 You can't beat it.

ViewRanger Track

Wednesday, 16th July 2015 - Latrigg (7.5 miles)

Today's meander had me catching the bus into Keswick and walking back to the caravan via Latrigg, Low Rigg and Tewett Tarn.  For whatever strange reason, I track recorded this in two parts - Keswick to Latrigg then Latrigg to Dale Bottom...

Latrigg - that's where I'm headed

Views opening out

Rounding the corner and views over Keswick

Enjoying views towards Skiddaw

... and the Dodds/Helvellyn

I'm higher than a Lancaster Bomber!

Tewett Tarn

in the grounds of St. John's Church

St. John's in the vale Church

ViewRanger Track - Keswick to Latrigg

ViewRanger Track - Latrigg to Dale Bottom

Thursday, 17th July 2015 - Cleaning up and packing away

Last day at the caravan today so I spent the day giving it a good hoover through and polish, followed by a little "round the block" low level walk because I was feeling in tip-top condition after a fantastic week of walking in the Peak District, Wales and then the Lakes!  Couldn't fault the weather either.

Brilliant!

Thanks for looking 😊

Wales Weekend: Dolgellau

Day 1: 10th July 2015 - Cadair Idris (almost!)

Another forum meet, this time, a different forum yet some familiar faces.  We spent a long weekend in a lovely old cottage with quite extensive grounds.  Quite a difference from the usual forum meet accommodation!  The walks themselves were much better organised too... The dash up and bag the hill group and the slow, leisurely paced group.  

Some pictures:

The leisurely slowcoaches!

Cadair Idris with its head in the clouds

Lovely woodland and waterfalls at the start

Good views opening out above the tree line

Higher still on the well maintained "Pony Track"

Cadair Idris, still under cloud

An even steeper than the previous steep path!

Looking back down from the steep path

Looking across to Cadair Idris from the opposite hill

A lovely walk really.  Once it was quite clear the mist wasn't lifting from the top of Cadair Idris, I was quite happy not to do it and myself and Catherine chose instead to walk up Carnedd Llwd which was free of cloud.  Again, I found the relentless uphill a struggle but, due to the leisurely pace, I was in no pain with my ankle.  One day, I will return in sunny weather to "bag" Cadair Idris as it really is a simple (albeit relentlessly uphill) walk.

Day 2: 11th July 2015 - Barmouth Bay

Again, there was 2 walk options; a higher route "the Precipice Walk" or a leisurely stroll round Barmouth Bay.  I chose the Barmouth Bay walk again with Catherine.

Some pictures:

At the start, along the old railway line

Heading across the footbridge over the Mawddach Estuary
(note, the tide is out)

I'd like to live there!

Looking back across from whence we came

Sheer rock faces carved out to make way for
the road we were walking on

Barmouth Harbour
(and a curiously large amount of kites!)

There appears to be some sort of kite festival going on

Snacking in a cafe

Random wooden head in the sand dunes!

Jellyfish!

Happy feet (and paws)

Views to hills beyond

Another jellyfish!

Paddling!

Snack stop number 2

Definitely the place to fly kites

Some weird and wonderful kites!

Heading back across the Mawddach Estuary
(note the tide is in)

View from footbridge towards Cadair Idris
(still got its head in the clouds)

Finally, a few photographs of our lovely accommodation - Bryn Adda, Dolgellau.  A rambling stone cottage which sleeps 10 easily.  I think (if my memory serves me right) we paid something like £30 each for 3 days. 

Bryn Adda

The gardens at the rear of the house

BBQ area (which we did use)

View of house from BBQ area

Part of the house from the little courtyard area

Landscaped gardens on the driveway

View of the courtyard area

Squirrel! wanting breakfast

Our final night - we all brought "faith supper" style buffet food
(we managed to fill this massive 15ft x 6ft dining table with food!)

A really lovely weekend.  I wouldn't hesitate to go on one of these again.  Sadly, the forum that organised this is no longer around and everyone seems to have gone their separate ways as far as organising things like this are concerned.