Red Pike

Dropping down from Great Borne the mist disappeared and the wind dropped. I had good views over to Hen Comb and Blake Fell, where I was yesterday. Starling Dodd lies between Great Borne and Red Pike. Sometimes it seems a bit unfair to go uphill only to come down again. It wasn't long though before I was plodding up to Red Pike's summit. The mist and strong wind returned as I got higher. I'd forgot what the summit of Red Pike looked like (although it does have a reddish hue) and it was only when I got the map out and sussed the path going down to The Saddle, that I was happy that I'd reached the top.

My plan was to drop down into the Ennerdale valley to High Gillerthwaite, but I was ahead of schedule and so decided to extend the walk a little bit by carrying on the ridge to High Stile. 

High Gillertwaite

Once I'd reached High Stile I'd half a mind to continue along the ridge over High Crag and drop down to the Ennerdale valley at Seat. Visibility was down to about 50 metres and the wind battered me. It would be a very long day if I went down by Seat, and so I started my return to Red Pike. I met two couples making their way from Red Pike to High Stile. We had a brief conversation. They were disappointed with the mist but looked grimly determined to continue along the ridge.

I started the descent from Red Pike and was initially surprised at the steepness of the path. It soon flattened out to tufty grass and for a while I lost the path (if indeed there is one in this area). I'd now dropped below the mist and I could see two people down below making their way up towards me. I presumed they would be on the path and so headed towards them. There was a superb view over to Pillar and Steeple. Pillar Rock was clearly visible. My knees knew they'd done a workout when I reached the forestry road at High Gillerthwaite. 

Return To Bowness Knott

It is a well made forestry road back to Bowness Knot. I was glad that I'd not decided to extend my walk over to Seat. I I had, it would have been a very long way back down the Ennerdale valley on a hard surface. I was surprised at the amount of traffic driving along the forestry road. I made way for cars, landrovers and vans. At one point I made way for a skip lorry. The driver stopped beside me, rolled down the window and asked me if there was a hostel down here. He said that when the tarmac disappeared, he had feared that he'd taken a wrong turning. I reassured him that there was a hostel another mile further down the track. He looked relieved.

A lot of the time the views over Ennerdale Water were blocked by trees, but there were occasional gaps where I got impressive views across the lake to Crag Fell and Angler's Crag.

It had been a walk with great views, although I wished it had been less misty on the tops. My legs felt they'd had a great workout..