A very early start this morning getting picked-up from home by Ann-Marie at 3.30am! Six hours of driving later, we arrived at Kentmere for an ascent of Sallows and Sour Howes. Our last walk in the Lake District, in March 2022, was the Kentmere Round, a circuit of nine Wainwrights. Today's walk would be somewhat easier.
From Kentmere, we set off without rucksacks for an easy out and back taking in Sallows and Sour Howes.
Hills: Sallows and Sour Howes
Date: Friday 16th September 2022
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 9.3kmkm, Ascent: 400m
Time: 2Hrs 15Mins
Route:
The weather was nice from the outset albeit there was a strong breeze.
Garburn Pass from Kentmere:
Badger rock:
As per the Kentmere round, we also ascended today to the top of the Garburn Pass before taking a short track to the summit of Sallows.
Ascent to Garburn Pass:
View during ascent:
During the ascent we passed several cyclists and a number of other walkers. I was surprised to see several others also ascending Sallows and Sour Howes.
View during ascent:
On reaching the summit, after saying a quick hello to other walkers, we continued on to Sour Howes.
At the summit of Sallows:
Sour Howes:
We visited several grassy knolls on Sour Howes to ensure we bagged the summit.
View from Sour Howes:
View from the summit of Sour Howes:
From Sour Howes, we returned towards Sallows but skirted round the summit on the way back before descending from the Garburn Pass back to the car.
We then drove to Helmside for an ascent of Helm Crag. We had previously ascended Helm Crag in December 2017 but on that occasion did not climb the Howitzer. I therefore did not claim the hill as having been summited just as I would not claim Sgurr Dearg as the summit missing out the In Pin, or the Cobbler summited without threading the needle. The summit is the top of the Howitzer. In December 2017, the Howitzer had a covering of snow which would have made the ascent, and especially the descent, a good bit trickier.
We parked at the farm paying the £2 parking charge in the honesty box.
Hill: Helm Crag
Date: Friday 16th September 2022
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 4.3km, Ascent: 290m
Time: 1Hr 45Mins
Route:
Looking across to Steel Fell during ascent of Helm Crag:
Ascending Helm Crag:
Ascending Helm Crag:
On reaching the summit area below the Howitzer, I took a good look at the Howitzer before starting the ascent.
The Howitzer:
The Howitzer:
Ann-Marie took a sequence of photos as I scrambled up to the summit.
Scrambling up the Howitzer:
Scrambling up the Howitzer:
Scrambling up the Howitzer:
Scrambling up the Howitzer:
Scrambling up the Howitzer:
At the summit of Helm Crag:
Getting to the top of the Howitzer, and thus the top of Helm Crag, was easier than I had anticipated. I didn't know the grade in advance of scrambling up but I had watched a YouTube video showing the way up.
I have subsequently looked-up the grade on UK Climbing which suggests it is a Grade 1 scramble. On looking at the reviews on UKC, most consider it to be a Hard Grade 1 or Easy Grade 2 scramble. In my view it is Grade 1/2 or 2. It is definitely hard for a Grade 1 especially in descent.
After my quick ascent and descent, Ann-Marie also ascended to the summit of the Howitzer and thus Helm Crag. Getting down was a tad trickier for Ann-Marie but she managed fine with a bit of guidance as to the locations of the hand and footholds.
Ann-Marie at the summit of Helm Crag:
Once down from the Howitzer we returned to the car and to our accommodation for the weekend. Looking forward to some more walks in the coming days.