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Cold Pike
| Date of Walk: |
13/7/2003 |
| Mountains Climbed: |
- |
| Length of Walk: |
3 miles |
| Starting Point: |
Three Shire Stone, Wrynose Pass |
Grid Ref: NY 277027 |
| Route: |
Three Shire Stone, Towards Red Tarn, Cold Pike, Three
Shire Stone |
It had been our intention to visit
the Lake District in May or June, but other commitments meant our
next trip did not happen until July. It had seemed an awful long
time since January, but our patience was rewarded with the most
glorious weather we had ever had here.
This was an added blessing, as the previous autumn
we had finally come up with what appeared to be the ideal solution
to our recurring problem of wishing to be away early in the morning,
before the hotels started to serve breakfast and the need to be
back again in time for the evening meal - we bought a tent!
By searching on the internet for a suitable campsite,
we found Castlerigg Farm, just outside Keswick. This was a family
site with no noise after 10.30pm, which suited us, as we needed
a good night's sleep for walking. Also, the views were stunning
in all directions, and we were able to find a space at the far end
of the field so that we were overlooking Blencathra. |
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The number one priority - a good view of Blencathra
from the campsite |
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our new tent, at castlerigg farm with
walla crag behind |
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Sunset at Castlerigg Farm on our first evening |
We had obviously not tried it out
in January, but July seemed an ideal opportunity, and it worked
a treat - we were able to get up and have breakfast at 7am and be
off on our walks at 8am.
Our first walk did not involve any "peak-bagging".
Steve Doyle from Butterfly Conservation was holding another guided
walk on Cold Pike to look for Mountain Ringlets, this time a little
later in the season, which by pure coincidence happened to be while
we were there on holiday.
So we set off again from Three Shire Stone on
Wrynose Pass towards Red Tarn. |
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Red Tarn |
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Pike o'blisco |
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Red Tarn |
From here, we crossed over across
the boggy ground towards Cold Pike, where we were finally rewarded
with a Mountain Ringlet. It was well tucked into the Mat Grass,
and we would never have spotted it ourselves.
Further on, we found two more, this time not quite so well hidden
in the grass. So our trip was definitely successful this year. |
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Mountain Ringlet |
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Mountain ringlet |
After lunch, we thanked Steve and
walked back to Wrynose Pass and our car. |
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Descending from cold pike towards wrynose pass |
| Back at Castlerigg Farm, we had another
evening of glorious sunset. |
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Sunset over the North Western Fells from Castlerigg
Farm |
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