The forecasters had predicted rain for Saturday so I emailed David asking did he still fancy getting out his reply was "we can always stay low" which was just what I wanted to hear. I started looking through Birketts walks and Lingmoor Fell instantly appealed to me which is probably due to the lack time I've spent there which kinda nailed the walk for me. I'd been keeping a eye on the Lakeland weather which at the last minute changed from light rain to low level cloud but I packed to take a soaking anyway, this, after another glorious week of sunshine while the nation is at work but hey ho there's now't we can do to change the weather. A quick phone call about 8pm the Friday evening confirmed the meeting time and parking which was at the National Trust car park at Blea Tarn which is somewhere I haven't been since May 2010.
We started our walk at the National Trust car park, Blea Tarn before descending into Little Langdale from where we gained the footpath on the south flank of Lingmoor Fell. This path is undulating with quite a few little ascents and descents thrown in but the views over Little Langdale more than make up for it. After passing below Busk Pike and Bield Crag we gain the quarry path and follow the familiar stone wall which straddles the spine of the fell. After summating Lingmoor we start our descent which by no means can be underestimated with the odd scramble thrown in should you choose the craggy option. By now Side Pike is in full view which is gained easily after passing through 'the squeeze' below the craggy summit. After a short, but steep ascent we stopped to eat a early lunch with views over Blea Tarn and Blea Tarn House before descending back to the familiar cattle grid ending the walk with a circuit of Blea Tarn. |