Walk Summary
Steep, direct ascent of Wansfell Pike. Wonderful views from the top (assuming it isn't misty). Gradual descent down to Troutbeck with good views over to Ill Bell, Froswick and Yoke (assuming it isn't misty). Interesting return to Ambleside through Skelghyll, Strawberry and Redbank woods. Storm Arwen caused many trees to fall on this route and it may be better (until this is cleared) to return to Ambleside past Jenkin Crag, to Waterhead.
Date: 28/11/2021
Length: 7.56 miles
Height Gain: 562 m
Terrain: Boggy paths, grass paths, stony paths, lightly used road, steep slabs
Navigation: Can be tricky if you go through Skelghyll, Strawberry and Redbank woods (due to tree damage by Storm Arwen). May be better to return via Jenkin Crag to Waterhead.
Start: Rydal Road Car Park, Ambleside
Route: Ambleside, Roundhill Farm, Wansfell Pike, Nanny Lane, Troutbeck, Robin Lane, Skelghyll Wood, Strawberry Wood, Redbank Wood
Map: OL7 The English Lakes South Eastern Area
Weather: Misty, icy, snow, intermittent sun in afternoon
Walkers: Nun, Mo and Calse
Gallery
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Wansfell Pike
Captain's Log
Change Of Plan
It was a crisp, icy morning. The rising sun had illuminated in a golden hue our target for the day, the Fairfield Horseshoe. We set off with high hopes from Ambleside. By the time we had reached the outskirts of Amblside, ten minutes later, the mist was down to the valley bottom and it had started to snow. The weather forecast had predicted snowfall in the morning, but given the promising early conditions we refused to believe it. We didn't really fancy a day walking around in mist and so decided on doing a lower level walk over Wansfell Pike to Troutbeck and back.
Change Of Clothes
In those ten minutes it took us to reach the outskirts of Ambleside we probably went through ten changes of clothes; Mo's jacket was too hot; mine wasn't warm enough; Calse wanted to try out her new jacket, a change of hat was required; we had to stop to put on gloves; and when it started snowing we all had to put on waterproofs. The net result of these delays meant we had only walked about a mile in the first half hour.
The road below Wansfell Pike was very icy. Another walker coming up the road warned us of a very icy stretch further down. He said he taken a 'flyer' on it. We managed to navigate this icy stretch without major problems and then set off up the path to Wansfell Pike. After a few hundred yard, a couple warned us of the severe ice further up. A few minutes later, three people solemnly passed us coming down. The woman in the party had her arm in a makeshift sling. We decided it was time to put on our Spiders.
Folly Along High Sweden Bridge Path
Top Of Wansfell Pike Looking Towards Baystones
Wansfell Pike
The icy stretches were no longer a problem now that we had our Spiders on. It was still misty when we got to the top of Wansfell Pike and so there was no view down into the valley. There wasn't much of a wind either and it was surprisingly mild. Flakes of snow were still meandering their way down.
We made our down the other side of Wansfell Pike, down Nanny Lane and then into Troutbeck itself. We sat on a bench and had our lunch while snow slowly accumulated on our heads. It was nice to have a seat to have our lunch but there was a house alarm going behind us. Apparently there had been power cuts in the area, after storm Arwen hit, and I'm guessing this had set off the alarm.
At one point, a rather embarrassing hydrogen sulphide smell pervaded the surrounding area of the bench and I'd looked accusingly at Mo and Calse. After questioning it turned out that it was just Calse's egg sandwiches.
Robin Lane
We set off back towards Ambleside along Robin Lane. The lane is very well named in that we saw several robins. We were getting the odd patch of blue sky and even a veiled glimpse of the sun, now and again. The mist would gradually clear only to be as thick as ever a few moments later.
A Robin On Robin Lane
Storm Arwen Tree Damage In Strawberry Wood
Storm Arwen
Rather than follow the well defined route through Skelghyll Wood, past Jenkin Crag to Waterhead, I decided to contour around Skelghyll Wood to Strawberry Wood. This is shown as a path on the OS map. The path is reasonably well defined, but I'd not accounted for the tree damage done by Storm Arwen that had hit the area a couple of days earlier. In several points, large trees and branches had fallen on to the path and had meant climbing over or around them. The storm had certainly caused a lot of damage. As we made our way down through Redbank Wood to the exit to the Ambleside Fisherbeck housing estate, a massive tree had fallen just before the gate. All this damage will take some clearing up.
As we finished the walk, the mist had almost cleared and the Fairfield Horseshoe appeared pretty much like how we saw it this morning. We were back to blue skies and golden, snowy peaks. Maybe we should have gone with Plan A this morning, although today's walk had been interesting and enjoyable.