More Treasure hunting

So after recovering during Saturday from Friday’s lost sleep I decided to have a trot out onto the SUW and try and find the kist on that leg. Figuring it would give me a good half days outing and a chance to explore somewhere new.

Really nice drive down to Sanqhuar (think I’ll return road biking here sometime) and I was off just after lunch, making my way out of town and onto the hill side. The path is very straightforward as it keeps an uninterrupted line all the way to Cloud Hill and on over to the isolated cottages of Dalgonar & Polskeoch. At the time of writing the first cottage was for sale, great place if you want to live out of it, but I’d imagine they get cut off in winter.



Polskeoch bothy





Impressive Memorial cairn
from the 1890's

Here the forestry starts and the route makes its way up onto the higher hills via a series of fire breaks and tracks passing the small but basic (i.e. no fire or stove) forestry commission bothy.

On getting to the tops the wind picked up and showers arrived forcing me to put more clothes on and curse the trial jacket I was wearing. I’d still not come across the kist and was thinking about how far I’d go before turning back. Approaching the summit of Benbrack I’d spotted this arch construction wondering what it was, surveying round I could then see two more on distant hills. On returning I’ve since found out they were commissioned by the sculpture Andy Goldsworthy who lives locally and wanted to do something to help encourage visitors to the area.

Benbrack Summit Arch

Here’s the link:           http://www.stridingarches.com/

From the summit I decided to go out as far as Manquhill hill passing a couple of back packers as I descended to it, but I’d still not seen the post markers to alert me to its presence. So finally turned round after 3hrs for the return leg covering the same ground as I’d come out on and on food rations as I’d not expected to be out quite this long. Still it good practice occasionally as it teaches you to function on a little.



Manquhill Hill my turn around point



Views to the Galloway hills

I caught this guy back up at Cold Hill and had a chat with him, explaining the kists and that I was looking for them, telling him to keep an eye out as there should be one on this leg. Before pushing on to get back.

As I went along I kept a keen eye on the posts looking for the mark, eventually finding it around Cloud Hill. All that was left was to grab a handful and run the remaining six miles back to the car, fortunately most of it was downhill and with a tail wind for once so didn’t need too much effort. 

Booty!!!



A night out with Bob

Rolled up in Keswick for an attempt at a solo Bob Graham (74 miles  /42 Lakes peaks). Weather forecast wasn’t great but I figured whatever happened it would be good training regardless. Dropped a couple of stashes to keep weight down for the first two legs and then wandered to Moot Hall for a 00:30AM start where I met Jim Thurlow of Open Adventures sat updating the Day1 Terrex race details. I’d brought a camera but though I checked the batteries before setting off, I turned it on only to find the red battery light, so decided to ditch this on the way out as I could divert back near the car and lose only a handful of minutes.

Skiddaw summit 01:54AM , believe it or not!

I set off in near perfect conditions and little wind and warm enough for shorts and t-shirt, making steady progress to get out of the town and onto the track to Latrigg. These climbs go on for 4 miles to top of Skiddaw so I paced myself making sure to run all but the steeper inclines and take advantage of the easy underfoot conditions.

Once it steepened I got my poles out to help keep momentum up as I marched to the top. On reaching Lower Man I entered the cloud and visibility reduced to a couple of metre’s, despite being on a motorway of a path it slowed progress as I had to remove my head torch and hold it low to the ground to get any penetration through the fog. I was hoping that it would just be claggy around the 3000ft mark otherwise it would impede my scheduled pace. It helps to know the terrain, but still it takes longer as you have to keep to a bearing along the ridge, knowing you’ll arrive at the trig point eventually. I got here 15mins up on plan which was pleasing, then donning a jacket, checking map before setting off into nothingness on a bearing. A couple more bearings and I’d picked up the trod down wondering how far I had to descend before I came out of the cloud. A long way was the answer.

The increase in popularity of the BG route and inevitable reccy’s has had the effect of creating paths where once there was nothing. It probably is worth at least 1-2hrs over the full length of the round as it makes things easier navigationally and effort underfoot. Point of case is the path up Great Calva, weaving up through the bracken. Again I just followed it up back into the clag and to the summit fence where a left turn brings the cairned top, losing 5mins over the leg with conditions. The route off here was easier using the fence as a “handrail” to navigate down to the river and across to climb to Blencathra passing a snoring wild camper oblivious to my passing.

The next section was spent walking over rough ground on bearings with zero visibility; eventually I picked up an indistinct path which made walking a bit easier and arrived at a small cairn top. From my map I couldn’t work out the exact spot (so many cairns being built on hills now and only a few are actually mapped as the original navigational ones) and so spent a bit of time working out where I was. Then the rain and wind arrived to make things even more pleasant! Finally I concluded I was at the top of Sharp Edge ridge and followed the small path round which sure enough turned into a motorway to the summit. I’d wasted some time but was still on schedule. By now I was getting a bit cold and damp and not relishing spending the rest of the day like this as I figure if I’m going to spend this long out on the hill I at least want some decent views and reasonable weather so decided to call it a day and head back to the car. The rain kept on till just outside Keswick as I made my way in on the old railway line which is now a cycle track. As dawn broke I could see that all the high fells were shrouded and was glad I’d called it off. Whilst it might have been a challenge it wouldn’t haven’t necessarily been enjoyable.

Ae Up

Having spotted this off road route from Beattock to Ae when I was running on the SUW, I had it in my mind to come back and use it as a basis for a ride. So this Sunday I went down to give it a bash.

I saved the one mile ascent of tarmac by driving up to Easter Earshaig justifying it, that I’d be doing enough miles anyway later on. The route starts off obvious enough with a blue Sustrans directing you into the woods, and the occasional marker. I thought it'd be just follow the track to Ae, straightforward enough.

This way...

Except that there has been recent works to build a new forest highway (maybe for forest extraction to come). Seeing sprayed “WALK” signs on rocks pointing me down it I assumed this to be my route as there was no obvious signage or evidence to suggest otherwise (here comes the ass out of u part). It was 30 minutes later and several more “WALK” signs before I realised that I was being brought back to Beattock village. Retracing my steps (well good hill training anyway) I speculated this must be left from the Moffat Walking festival. So arriving back at the said new junction I followed the not so obvious other way and sure enough in 5mins came across a maker post. Once back on track, it is straight forward with regular markers to give assurance as you make your way through what is a very quiet area, Queensbury hill providing some of the backdrop.



Southside of Queensbury and
the middle of nowwhere

 
So I eventually arrived at Ae which is one of the 7 Stanes biking centres in southern Scotland, heading off to do the red route before coming back. Although this is a “trail centre” it has a more XC feel than the others and you have to work all the way round. About half way I came across a father & son who had punctured and got the wrong fit inner tube with them. I wasn’t able to help as I had only one spare tube as I’d gone and lost one when my seat pouch had opened accidentally, fortunately for me my bike tool hadn't fallen out as well.

Ae "North Shore" riding



Bike posing at Water of Ae



Towards the end of the loop I spent a bit of time trying to find a link back to my forest route without having to go to Ae itself but with no map I eventually accepted my fate after arriving at the top of the downhill route (now I know what the orange route is!) and rode back to the beginning where I then picked up the cycle track and reversed my route to Beattock without further adventure.

Two Breweries run

I decided to get some hill work in and at the same time have a recce of the route to look at some alternative lines. It also gave me a chance to break my new fell shoes in. Setting off it felt warm enough, but as soon as I stuck my head high up the showers and wind kicked in.

Glen Sax

A different route off Birkscairn Hill had me floundering in bracken and steep slopes and by the bottom of Glen Sax I was toying with turning round once I reached Hundleshope. But when I got there I figured I was nearly halfway so might as well tough it out. Which I’m glad I did as the weather improved a bit and it was pleasant in Manor & Stobo valleys.

Stobo Loch

The final assault of Trahenna is always hard and there’s no escaping the stiff climb however you try it (and I’ve tried most lines now). That just left a head down descent eyes watering with the wind.

So what did I learn? Nothing much really, apart from the route is a little over grown compared to last year (less grazed I guess) and the route I use is pretty much the best line. Just have to learn to go faster over it now.

Lakes run

Was down the Lakes and decided to go for a run out to Great Gable to remind myself of the BG route off and get some up & down practice in. Setting off from Gatesgarth in Buttermere in shorts & t-shirt sun shining I climbed up the Fleetwith mines calling in at Warnscale head bothy, perched on the hill looking out to Buttermere. I’ll be back for a night here sometime when its not holiday season.

Warnscale Head

Running over to Gable the weather turned and I spent the next hour in cloud, rain & Gore-Tex. I took note of the key to hitting the right way off, as its easy missed on this summit and dropped back to the track I’d come up.

Not always blue skies,
on Great Gable's summit

 

Honister Mines

Running from memory again (who needs a map) I started descending off Green Gable but something didn’t feel right so this time I stopped and sure enough a quick break in the cloud confirmed I’d drifted off the spur to Base Brown. A quick correction and I was away over Brandreth & Grey Knotts before dropping steeply to join the summer tourists at Honister mines. No coffee shop stops for me.



Newlands valley from Dale Head

 Across the road and up I went to climb Dale Head where the weather had improved, then across to Hindscarth & Robinson before ploughing a direct line back through the ferns to the valley floor.

Change of plans

The plan was to meet some friends in Dent Friday night, one of whom I hadn’t seen for the best part of 10 years. A good craic was had in the Sun Inn tasting the local ales with me hooking up with a possible skipper / yacht for next years Scottish Island’s race (I just need another runner now). Before heading back to crash at Rich’s catering barn where more beer and curry was consumed.

Loonking down a wet Dentdale.
With more showers on their way.

I was up early (ish) the next day and heading out into the rain and wind by 9am, as I planned to run down the Dalesway to Lisa mums, leaving everyone else in bed. As I progressed down Dentdale I was “swithering” about what to do as it was pretty poor weather and my back / hip was giving me some jip. So by Ribblehead I decided to change course and head to Settle, this would allow me to catch a train to Skipton if my back got worse. Fortunately I know most of the paths around here so not having a map wasn’t an issue.

For the first part I used the three peaks route to head to Pen Y Ghent. I'd already passed nearly 100 walkers around Blea Moor and as I progressed along passed many more doing one of the charity organised 3PKS that was on that day. It was while I headed across Birkwith that the thunder and lighting started and thoughts of going over the tops changed as it was breaking directly above me. So I diverted down to Horton to pick up the Ribble way which tries its best to follow the river to Settle.


The end. A welcome sight.

By the time I’d reached town it had finally eased off. I called out the recovery truck for collection and headed off for a café for tea and chip butty. Not much time to linger though as the next stop was a quick bath and change and then onto Halifax for Smithy’s BBQ / Birthday / Extension warming, where a pleasant and tame by our standards evening was had by all.