Monday 27th March 2006

Arriving at lunchtime we sat in the car park hoping that the rain would stop and the mist might lift. After a short while the rain stopped and we could see Windermere below us, decision made off we we set. The short break in the weather came to an end as we reached the top of Gummer's How meaning we only saw the trig point from a very short distance below it. As we left the summit of Birch Fell, no view again, the heaven's opened. One thing was certain though as I'd suspected on my last two walks my boots had gone so a trip to Ambleside followed to purchase much needed new boots and rucksack.

Start: Astley's Plantation car park (SD 3894 8762)

Route: Astley's Plantation - Gummer's How (72) - Birch Fell (73) - Astley's Plantation                    

Distance: 2.5 miles     Ascent: 180 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 50 minutes   

Weather: Heavy rain and low cloud.

Pub visited: Sportsman Inn (Ambleside)   Ale Drunk: Thwaites Thoroughbred

Windermere is down there somewhere.

Gummer's How summit, the first Birkett of the holiday taking my total to 72. If the path to it
 hadn't been so good we might have never found it as we only saw it when we were virtually on top of it.

The view from Gummer's How. The mist/cloud was so thick that getting to the next summit 
was only achieved with frequent GPS readings and use of map and compass along with the
 fact the description in my book was still accurate.

After clambering through many fallen trees Birch Fell's summit was finally reached.

We walked around Gummer's How to return to the car park, the path to Gummer's How can be seen in front of us.

Our route down the hill from the path to Gummer's How, probably the best view of the day.