Wansfell Pike

The strength of wind increased, the higher I climbed. Fortunately it was a westerly and provided some assistance by blowing me uphill. By the time I approached Wansfell Pike's summit, it felt gale force and my walk became a blown stagger. The last remnants of daylight had disappeared and I put on my headtorch. On Wansfell's rocky top I braced myself against the wind and looked down on Ambleside and over to Windermere. I could see the Christmas lights and it all looked rather cosy and homely down there. I wondered if the people enjoying a drink in the bars of Ambleside realised it was blowing a gale 500 metres above them. After a few more moments contemplating this, I decided to make my way down to join them.

 Return To Ambleside

I started down the stone steps on Wansfell's western flank. After about 5 minutes I'd dropped down out of the wind completely. It seemed eerily silent in the darkness. Halfway down the stone staircase I met a couple making their way up. We exchanged greetings and they continued upwards. Two ships in a storm, as they say. They'll be in for a shock I thought, when they poke their head above Wansfell's parapet and feel the full force of that wind.

At the bottom of the stone steps, I followed the path back towards Redbank Wood. The recent rain had made it resemble more of a stream than a path. It felt a bit weird walking back into the Fisherbeck Estate and re-entering civilisation. All those multi-coloured Christmas lights and decorations were a world apart from the gale on the top of Wansfell. At 2 hours, the walk was only a leg stretcher, but was really enjoyable after the cabin fever of the last few days.