Eskdale Moor - Lake District Walk

Thursday 28th June 2007

The forecast I saw for today suggested that the weather was going to improve with occasional showers and the cloud lifting during the afternoon. With the forecast in mind we decided to head out along Eskdale Moor and return via the Screes to take advantage of the afternoon's improving fell top conditions and to enable John to bag four tops that I had done when I was single. The forecast was to prove to be highly inaccurate, although the cloud did lift very briefly as we headed towards Illgill Head's summit. The rain started as we arrived at the summit shelter and as we made our way along the top towards Whin Rigg with the rain blowing hard into our faces and visibility down to barely 100 metres it was becoming clear that this wasn't a shower. When we left Whin Rigg's summit we couldn't find the path and then had to navigate our way down to Irton Fell and out of the cloud using a good old compass bearing. Whilst it's comforting to know we can do this it isn't an experience we really wish to repeat especially as the much anticipated views of Wast Water never appeared and John only got to bag two of the intended tops. One of those days when you wonder if you are mad to do this for fun. To make matters worse the next day was warm with blue skies but all our stuff was drying out so we couldn't do any walking!!!

Start: Eskdale campsite (NY 1776 0106)

Distance: 11.5 miles     Ascent: 752 metres      Time Taken: 8 hrs 30 mins

Weather: Warm to start but heavy rain and strong winds later in the day

Pub Visited: None    Ale Drunk: None

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