Troutbeck Tongue - no photos today
A bright clear morning after the sun rose, but below freezing as I park at Chapel Bridge, Troutbeck.
Just down the main road is the start of the Garburn Road that I take until close to its junction with Dubbs Road, a stile gets me into a field just before a conifer plantation, up over the field to the Dubbs Road which is crossed using two stiles.
Up the fellside, over grass with occasional signs of a footpath, up to the stile in the wall just as it plunges downwards. Through the various hummocks is a pleasant walk to the summit that is a rocky little tor amongst the grass.
A very pleasant and easy walk in the sunshine, the coldness of the air gives excellent, clear views to Coniston and Bowfell with Scafell and Mickledore showing in between.
The summit “hump” of Sallows resembles an overturned boat that boasts the smallest excuse for a cairn that I have seen. Straight down the fell to the Garburn Road is the wrong way down - I have to climb over the wire fence topped with barbed wire in order to avoid finding a proper way across it.
Excellent walking conditions, sunny and cold with clear views all around as I make my way along the ridge. The usual large muddy areas are all frozen making the whole ridge a pleasure to walk along, Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick.
Then take the path down to Troutbeck via Hagg Gill, at the wall turn left and follow it until a sheepfold allows access to The Tongue. The interesting panorama here shows fells and blue sky towards Threshthwaite mouth and dark clouds over the lowlands to the south and the sun still shining as it sinks low in the sky.
A plain walk over pathless, frozen ground takes longer than you would think until the small summit is reached. An interesting, easy zigzag route takes me down the more interesting end of the Tongue until I get the the track to Troutbeck Hall Farm.
I was going to climb Wansfell but it is too late so I settle for a relaxing walk along Ing Lane and then the path to Limefitt Park, avoiding a slog along the main road.
Andy Wallace 26th December 2001