Wasdale - Slight Side - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - Illgill Head - Wasdale.
12 miles, 4000 feet of ascent
As I approached Wasdale Head, Wastwater was very still and with the cloudbase at around 3000 feet the tops of Great Gable and the Scafells were hidden.
The start of the climb which goes along the side of Fence Wood was very gentle, when I came across this bridge which is very grand considering how insignificant the gill it crosses.
After not a great deal of effort Slight Side came into view with Scafell still in cloud.
I then took a bit of a detour and headed up Hardrigg Gill which was delightful with lots of waterfalls and rock pools.
The walk up to Slight Side from this direction is pretty drab, but just below the summit ridge is an unexpected sight; a war memorial to two Polish airmen who crashed here in their Hurricane in 1941.
The summit of Slight Side is ''rocky, shapely and well-defined'' with super views.
To the North is Scafell, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag.
Round to the East is Bowfell and Crinkle Crags with Great Moss 1200 feet below me!
Time to turn my attention to the next two objectives of the day, Whin Rigg and Illgill Head seen here beyond Burnmoor Tarn.
The summit of Illgill Head gives a wonderful view of Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Lingmell and the Scafells and whilst the cloud has lifted, it was still hazy.
Great Gully. That's a long way down!
AW recommends two viewpoints on the cliff walk back to Illgill Head and I can understand why.
The view back to Whin Rigg is pretty good as well.
Having made my way back down to Brackenclose the sun came out for the first time all day. Typical! Super view of Pikes Crag.
Another excellent days walking. Time to head off to Lorton to meet my friends Andy, Esther, Gary, Sheena, Tim, Zoe and Zeta at The Wheatsheaf in Lorton. Only 5 more Wainwrights to go and all being well I will do 4 of those tomorrow.
All photographs taken with either a Nikon D40X (10.2mp) or a Nikon Coolpix 4200 (4.2mp)
