It was February 2018 since I last walked Clough Head and believe it or not it was January 2020 since I last did a Birkett walk which I'm still struggling to digest, that's over a year and a half ago. Of course a lot has happened since then and although I'm still working my way through an ever increasing 'to do' walk list I still aim to complete the Birketts as soon as my walking schedule returns to normal which after today, kind'a felt that way.
I'm hoping we're not coming to the end of the dry spell after todays greyer than grey day on the hill when even across the tops it felt pretty cool against the skin I guess it's easy to take the nice weather for granted after such a long spell but after a forecast such as we had it's important to remember why we love the Lakeland fells, it takes a day like today to bring one back down to earth.
Todays route is pretty straight forward collecting Threlkeld Knotts before the steep ascent on Clough Head via Red Screes. Continuing south Calfhow Pike is next followed by Little Dodd and Great Dodd from where we descended north easterly onto Randerside then over to the top of Wolf Crags before finally descending onto the Coach Road where we where treated to views of the mighty Blencathra all the way back to the starting point. It's been way too long and it felt great to be walking in Birketts footsteps again. |