Date: Thursday 26th December 2024
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 12.2km, Ascent: 624m
Time: 4Hrs 35Mins
We set off this morning from our hotel to Bowness Knott car park for an ascent of Great Borne and Starling Dodd. Having researched the route in advance, I was expecting to have to pay eight pounds to park in the National Trust car park but was delighted to find the parking machine was not working so parking was free
.Route:
Once suited and booted we set off walking a short distance back along the road, towards Whins, before climbing over a stile to access the hillside.
Bowness Knott:
If dull Mungrisdale Common can be a Wainright despite its lowly 2.4m drop, surely Herdus which is a fantastic fell in comparison, should be a Wainwright with its lowly 3m drop.
Herdus:
I enjoyed the ascent of Herdus despite it being a little steeper than anticipated.
Looking back towards Bowness Knott:
Ascending Herdus:
Both the MetOffice and MWIS forecasts for today were pure fiction. We were expecting mist and rain but instead were treated to blue skies with pockets of cloud inversion. Our waterproofs remained in the rucksacks throughout the walk, which is more than I can say for my last three Christmas to New Year Lake District trips when waterproofs have been needed every day.
Looking north during ascent of Herdus:
While the weather was mostly great, we were above the clouds during the walk from Herdus to Great Borne.
Looking down to Bowness Knott and Ennerdale Water from Herdus:
Herdus summit cairn:
According to the Database of British and Irish Hills, the summit of Great Borne is 'a rock'. I visited the rocks which looked highest, as well as visiting the trig point and summit shelter, before deciding the 'fuck-it' factor applied. There was no way I was visiting all the rocks
.During the ascent of Great Borne, I kept thinking Jason Bourne. On writing-up this report, I wondered why the photos weren't loading and on checking realised I had called them 'Jason Borne'
.Approaching the summit of Great Borne:
Great Borne summit shelter:
From the summit of Great 'Jason' Borne, we made our way across to Starling Dodd. The walk between the two fells was pleasant and very straight-forward.
Heading from Great Borne to Starling Dodd:
Ann-Marie heading for Starling Dodd:
View towards Grasmoor:
By the time we reached the summit of Starling Dodd, the surrounding views were fantastic. Having now ascended 179 of the Wainwrights, they are becoming quite familiar and identifiable, a bit like walking in Scotland where I rarely need to look at a map as I know the hills so well.
At the summit of Starling Dodd:
At the summit of Starling Dodd:
Grasmoor:
From the summit of Starling Dodd instead of returning the same way, we decided to undertake a circuit. We therefore continued on to the summit of Little Dodd before commencing our descent.
At the summit of Little Dodd:
During the descent we were treated to some lovely cloud inversion.
Nice cloud inversion shrouding the summits:
The scree descent was fairly steep.
Scree descent:
Looking back at scree descent:
Looking back towards Little Dodd:
On reaching the good track, we followed it back to the Bowness Knott car park. The walk back along the lake was pleasant albeit we passed numerous people walking the track.
Ennerdale Water:
An enjoyable walk.