Route: Low Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 31st December 2015
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, 2 Davids, Tom, Rob and Sarah
Distance: 4.0 miles
Ascent: 1,300 feet
Weather: Fair start, but turned appalling
This is the 500th walk to appear on Andrew’s Walks, and I’d hoped it would be a memorable one and so it was – but for the wrong reasons
We parked in the layby outside Thackthwaite and turned right to follow the path out of the village leading up the slopes of Low Fell
The weather was fair during the early part of the climb and there were good views back over Lorton Vale
As we rounded a corner to climb to the summit ridge it started raining and by the time we reached the ridge the rain was torrential, and turned to sleet and hail. This was made worse by a gale force wind making progress difficult. Having struggled as far as the north top of the fell we decided to abandon the walk and return the way we’d come
The south top was only a few minutes walk away but the normally sublime views from there would have been non-existent, so we’d made the right choice
We arrived back soaked, but feeling better for some fresh air and exercise
The camera has to be stowed away for much of the walk, and the photos that follow were taken in dull conditions
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden before we set off this morning
The start of the walk in Thackthwaite
Looking back over Lorton Vale to the foot of Dodd
Whiteside
We follow a tree lined path up the lower slopes of Low Fell
Redhow Wood
Looking back to Whiteside again
Red Pike and Mellbreak
Crummock Water
Tom, Rob, Sarah, David, Gilly and David - the weather will soon wipe the smiles from our faces
Another view back over Lorton Vale
Looking north
On the summit ridge, just before torrential rain and sleet meant that the camera had to be put away
