Dolly and I thumbed a couple of pages from R B Evans last week.
On Monday, we chose Nitting Haws in Borrowdale.
It's a spur within the valley, so somewhat sheltered when conditions "upstairs" are less good. It provides about 250 metres height of scrambling, topping out at 410 M, with grandstand views down the valley.
The scrambling has a wide range --- from merely very steep walking, to two or three places with 4a moves which would not be out of place on a Diff or V Diff.
And crucially, Nitting Haws is almost next to the idyllic teashop in Grange.
On the other hand, it's discontinuous. The middle section in particular, features a series of juniper-covered ribs....... a masterclass in trying to tell one from another.
Lunch was finally taken at the skyline, where the wind was a boisterous 35mph, followed by an afternoon stepping out making the full circuit of High Spy, Dale Head, and Hindscarth, to return over Maiden Moor to a welcome cream tea after a 1200-metre day.
Saturday saw us reinforced by Caroline and Dan, heading up Deepdale to Link Cove Beck.
The Grade 3 options here would involve a liking for slimy dank chasms, and a willingness to stay all day. But there is reasonably continuous Grade 1 rock alongside, which leads happily up into the combe.
Next, 10 minutes on grass leads to the White Slabs of Greenhow End. Acres of steppy rock, climbable almost anywhere, open and sunny.
Picking the best line at will, brought us out onto an attractive rocky spur, after some 300 metres ascent, and up we went onto Fairfield.
Early cloud had burnt away. We were rewarded by perfect panoramas in every direction.
Second Lunch was to be served in the Priests Hole. So away we went over Hart Crag to eat in the airy lookout.
As a finale, it was back up onto the ridge line, and over Dove Crag and Little Hart Crag to drop down Scandale pass. We made do with ice cream in Pooley Bridge....... but secure in the knowledge that a table was waiting for 10 of us at the Viceroy.
ANDREW
