Tuesday was yet another fantastic day to go hiking. The plan for the day was to hike up to Wansfell Pike (1581 ft), and then continue down to the village of Troutbeck to have lunch at Mortal Man Pub (The coffee cup symbol to the right). Then we would continue around the southern slopes of Wansfell Pike (1581 ft) on our return to Ambleside. It all worked out great! The hike was 6.6 miles, with 1,524 ft of ascent, and it took 5 hours and 8 minutes, with a great stop near half-way.
This map was downloaded from the Gaia GPS website.
This is the route we took, going clockwise out of Ambleside, over Wansfell Pike, down to Mortal Man in Troutbeck, and back around on the southern slopes of Wansfell Pike, with constant views of Windermere Lake.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/4500 sec.
This was on the initial gradual climb out of Ambleside, heading northeast. This was the view looking northwest, with the valley of the River Rothay and the face of Nab Scar (1493 ft) in the distance at left, and the valley of Rydal Beck at center.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/590 sec.
This was a peek looking northwest towards the north end of Ambleside, and the valley of River Rothay beyond.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/3900 sec.
This is where the path took a Ralph towards the southeast. From here, the top was nearly 1000 ft straight up (But the stone steps helped a lot.)!
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/1800 sec.
Here we’re still below the tree line.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/610 sec.
It just kept going.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/2700 sec.
We started to get some great views of Ambleside and the peaks beyond. That’s the steeple of St. Mary’s church at center. You can’t even see the peaks on the right, because they are covered in clouds.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/1700 sec.
We’re still climbing.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/3900 sec.
You always think that when you look up and see the edge of the mountain against the sky, you must be seeing the top, right? (Not!)
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/2700 sec.
Ambleside was getting smaller, and smaller. Here you can see the valley of River Rothay on the right, which leads to the village of Grasmere. The Coffin Road, which was the path that coffins had to be carried from Ambleside to the consecrated ground at Grasmere for burial, is on the facing slope of that valley.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/4500 sec.
This is a similar photo, showing more of the path.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/7000 sec.
And every stone had to found, extracted, moved, and placed.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/5500 sec.
This is looking north on our initial ascent, over towards Kirkstone Pass. At 1489 ft, Kirkstone Pass is the highest mountain pass in the Lake District that is traversed by road. The mountain to the left of the pass is Red Screes (2546 ft).
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/8000 sec.
Finally, we reached the top. And looking south, we saw Windermere Lake spreading out before us. Ambleside is off-screen right. We would be descending off-screen left, and then circling the base of the mountain from left to right.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/9700 sec.
Here we are at the top of Wansfell Pike (1581 ft), in a view looking south. Windermere, the lake, is at right, and the town of Windermere (and School Knott beyond) is in the distance directly above my head.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/7000 sec.
‘Just another gorgeous view of Windermere. The water to far left appears to be Morecambe Bay, over 15 miles away, where the River Kent flows into it at Arnside (where we stayed on Day 2 and hiked on Day 3). That is probably School Knott (522 ft) at the water on the very far left. Morecambe Bay is part of the Irish Sea which separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/4500 sec.
This is looking east from the peak. The clump of trees to right center is a the old Applethwaite Slate Quarry. Mortal Man Pub, where we’re heading next, is down that trail that winds in the distance, to just this side of the valley floor directly opposite the quarry (out of view). The quarry looks so close! But it is nearly 2 miles away as the crow flies, and much further as we would have to hike it.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/5000 sec.
Down we go. The quarry is at top left. The village of Troutbeck is over the ridge to the right.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/3500 sec.
Here we’ve turned south on Nanny Lane, just before we made the turn west, to go straight down-slope into the Trout Beck valley.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/2400 sec.
And there it was, Mortal Man Pub. If this was a hallucination, it was a damned good one! Their website says that there has been an ale house here since 1689 (for like, 334 years). That’s the slate quarry at top right.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/3400 sec.
At this point, I was ready to do some heavy lifting.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/5500 sec.
I can’t breath!
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/750 sec.
Steak and eggs on toast. ‘Just the ticket.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/450 sec.
And Patty’s Avocado Toast looked great too.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/3400 sec.
Here we’re turning back towards Ambleside. That’s Windermere Lake at left.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/2800 sec.
And at center.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/8000 sec.
It was an easy walk through rolling hills.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/4500 sec.
The mountains in the distance are The Langdales.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/2200 sec.
We had an audience.
Apple iPhone 11, 4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/4800 sec.
That field to the right contains the remains of the Ambleside Roman Fort.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/8900 sec.
This is looking south, back along the path.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/20 sec.
Once we got back to Pavement Cottage, we showered and headed off to a 16th century farmhouse restaurant called Mason Arms, near the hamlet of Cartmel Fell. This was my beef pie with chips.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/35 sec.
And my (our) Sticky Toffee Puuuuuddddding . . .
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/25 sec.
And I totally forgot to powder my wig. So embarrassing!
Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 2.22mm, f/2.2, 1/25 sec.
How did these people survive without a wide-screen TV!
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