Irksome Irton

I intended starting my walk by going up Irton Pike. Unfortunately the forestry company had been up to its usual tricks and the permissive path on the map didn't exist in reality. I gave up tryng to find the start of the path and headed off up the Wasdale path. Irton Pike would have to wait for another day.

The early morning had been thick mist. As I got higher, I broke through the mist and a wonderful cloud inversion became apparant. The sky was blue and the sun was out above the mist. It was a different world. Amazing.

At Mecklin Park a wonderful view opened up. I could see all the way along the Wasdale valley. All the mountains were chrystal clear, but the lake was covered in white cloud. Latterbarrow protruded above the cloud and looked like an island on a glacier. 

Wild Camper

As I made my way up to Whin Rigg I met a bearded walker coming down. He had wild camped here last night and was now making his way down to go home. He was a local and said he knew the best camping spot to get the best reception on his phone. He watched 'Have I Got News For You' last night.

After Whin Rigg the huge crags and sheer drops down to Wast Water became apparent. It was very dramatic. Between Whin Rigg and Illgill Head there are some tarns. The area looked like an ideal camping spot to me. I bet beardy man camped here. 

Illgill Head - No Room For Improvement

After Illgill Head the views just got better and better. The clould inversion was still along the valley bottom, but all the surrounding mountains were crystal clear. I sat down to have my lunch and to let it all sink in. It was hard to leave the Wasdale views, but having dropped down from Illgill Head, I had to turn my back on it and contour around to the pretty Burnmoor Tarn. 

Miterdale

I'd never been down the Miterdale valley before. It started off well with the path contouring the hill side below Tongue Moor. It was quite a steep drop and would be quite interesting under snow and ice. Eventually I reached fields and started some field hopping. The cloud inversion was still there and it wasn't long before I'd dropped down into it. I reached what I thought was a derelict building but turned out to be a schools outdoor activities centre. More field hopping and my path took me through Low Place farm A young girl was attending to some cows. We exchanged 'hellos'. That's me and the girl, rather than me and the cows. I noticed that a number of shot pheasants had been hung up near the barn. 

Forestry Shenanigans 

The route from Low Place to tarmac seemed clear on the map, but I'd not accounted for the forestry company. Twice I followed paths that I thought had been marked on the map but eventually ended up in dead ends. in the end I gave up and just followed a forestry road back to tarmac.

As I walked back to where I'd parked the car, I could just see through the mist that four people were on the top of Irton Pike. So there is a path up there!

Just as I was about to set off in my car, I noticed across the road, the same elderly couple and their huge dog approaching their car who had unnerved me this morning. They must have just come back from giving their canine monster an afternoon walk. The dog looked at me. I'm pretty sure it winked.