Lingmoor Fell

Tuesday, 25th October 2011 and after a 'rest day' at Ingelton Waterfalls we decided to meet up with our friends Ian (Dicko) and his missus Sue, with their son Richard.  They're staying at Dicko's brothers cottage in Bassenthwaite for the week and are keen hikers.  The objective was Lingmoor Fell.  We met them in the car park of a pub near Thirlmere (can't remember the name, how shocking is that?) and followed them to a car park Walthwaite Bottom to park up.  However, on route we took an unplanned detour round about Huntingstile Crag on the smallest road known to man with passing places.  I was following Dicko in his Yaris and we came to a halt to let another car through using a passing place.  The car passed safely and it was Dicko's turn to set off.  We were on a decent incline and he put his foot down, however the road was covered with fallen leaves and the front left wheel on the Yaris started to spin, but instead of taking his foot off the accelerator, the wheel stared to smoke and me and Kel were choking on the fumes of the burning tyre.  The passing car went on its merry way but Dicko was still struggling to get grip, we had to reverse twenty metres before he could get traction. 

We parked up at Walthwaite, took the piss out of Dicko and headed off.  We had to cross the bridge in the very nice village of Elterwater and took a right.  This is quite a navigational minefield and it took some thinking about what route was where etc.  But we selected a route passed the quarry and headed off towards Elterwater Hall. Took a right and headed towards Baysbrown Wood where it's climbs to a nice sheltered dry stone wall for a well deserved brew and another piss take of the spinning smoking wheel incident.  We hopped across the farm, gate which the farmer had kindly welded steps onto the bars to help our passing.  Took a sharp right towards the summit.  The route is fairly easy with a dry stone wall leading you near enough to the top where the there's a very good view.  Windermere, Elterwater Water and even the Irish Sea was in clear view.   

  The ascent was  quite blustery and even the gloves had to come out for everyone.  We passed Brown How and crossed the stile with the summit in sight. As we sat and admired the Langdales and countless fells to the north west, including Scafell, I couldn't help feeling envious for the occupants of the few farms and cottages that lay in the Great Langdales valley whose every waking moment is my current view.  Bastards!!!

Anyway Blea Tarn looked lovely in the sun and reflecting the ripples were quite prominent as we dropped dramatically then headed right over a brand spanking new gate to meet the Cumbrian Way just before the Great Langdale Beck. We then followed the a very boggy Cumbrian Way to the a crossing at the beck, chance for a boot wash, then headed off to the Wainwrights Inn.  Chance for a cheeky pint then back to the car, we did get a fairly good shot of a Heron on the Beck before turning to the car park.

Done and a fairly good walk, had a few good laughs on route mainly due to Kel's slippery boots but a belting hike.  Highly recommended and great views.