Walking Warm-up

Wainwrights: Sale Fell, Ling Fell

First day of walking for us today. The night had been very stormy and I was glad for my earplugs, otherwise it would've been a rather sleepless one for me.

Gave Castlerigg Campsite a ring in the morning, but a lot of guests had already extended their stay and realistically we wouldn't know if there was a free space for us before 11:30 or so. 

Decided to stay another night at Dalebottom then and try the next day as many would likely leave at the end of the bank hols.

So instead of packing and moving we cooked breakfast on Rich's ancient gas hob. Did so in the back of the car as it was still very windy. Even then we struggled to keep the flame going at first. 

Venison bangers and scrambled egg with bacon lardons. Proper brekkie that is.

Drove up to the top of Bassenthwaite Lake, then turned left on a minor road and soon parked up outside a church 11-ish.

This part of the Lakes is quite different to where the more famous hills reside. Here it's all low grassy hills, wild flowers and the occasional bit of wood.
Still we enjoyed grand views over to the Skiddaw Range and Grisedale Pike as well as green fields to the West and even the Scottish coast of Galloway.

Up we went on a perfect grassy path skirting Sale Fell's flank at first then heading straight for the top. As we gained height the strong easterly wind hit us, so much so that we could do a proper Moonwalker at the top!

Just a bit of wind up here

Fought our way over the few bumps that make up the top and descended on the South West flank, stopping halfway down for a quick break out of the worst of the wind. It had been a good decision not to aim for any of the higher big ticket items today, despite the blue skies and warming sun.
Indeed, I was walking in shorts and tank top, which I have never been able to do in Britain when the wind was blowing 30-40mph!

Walked steeply down to a wooded section of a minor road then up the other side for objective number 2: Ling Fell.
Again we skirted the slope, gaining height very slowly, but we were out of the worst of the wind.
Brief steep push to the top then down very steeply but aiming straight for the road.
Another short break for lunch with game salami and nuts, then a walk back  to the car on a minor road.

On Ling Fell

It was only 2pm, but we wanted to stop at The Pheasant Inn right by the A66 which had looked like a very nice country pub when we had passed by earlier.

Had a couple of refreshing driver friendly beverages and booked us in for dinner Wednesday night. What a lovely pub! Really liked what we saw on the menu and nice not too posh atmosphere despite the Jags and Maseratis parked outside.

Just sitting here chilling now after a lovely warm-up walk. Somehow I think we should've done one of the grand horseshoe rounds, but with a wind like this it wouldn't have been much fun despite the otherwise pristine conditions.

Going to pop into the Co-op on our way home to buy some booze for tonight and then it's back to the camp site to cook up a nice chilli... probably in the back of the car again,  ha ha.