Fairfield, Helvellyn and the Dodds

Posted by Sam Harrison on May 19, 2012 at 17:43.

The Welsh 1000m Peaks race is quickly creeping up on me and unfortunately revision has got in the way of any serious training - the last time I did anything over 10 miles was a good two weeks ago. So, time for a bit of a serious run!

Lorna, Imogen and Darren were heading up to Keswick for the Keswick Mountain Festival yesterday, and so I asked if they'd drop me off at Rydal Hall on the way up. From here I headed up onto Nab Scar and along the ridge to Fairfield (second week in a row!). After a short break and a bite to eat, I descended to Grisedale Tarn before heading up the well-managed path other Nethermost and Dollywagon Pikes and onto Helvellyn.

Amazingly, the cloud lifted as I got to both Fairfield and Helvellyn, leaving me with some staggering views. Helvellyn, being the third highest mountain in England, had crowds of people on the summit and there was a queue going over Striding Edge. It was also the first mountain in Britain that a plane was landed upon in 1926, and for the first time I stumbled across the plaque up there that commemorates the event.

From Helvellyn, I headed across the Dodds to Clough Head, before descending to St John's in the Vale. It was only the second time I've been across the Dodds and the first time was in thick cloud, so it was nice to see the view yesterday! The run turned out as 17 miles with 6000 ft of ascent (27 km / 1800 m), taking me just under 4 hours.

After the run we all headed to Castlerigg Stone Circle and then Keswick Mountain Festival. I've never been to the festival before and enjoyed the good atmosphere and freebies - including free YHA membership for the year!

Castlerigg
Castlerigg Stone Circle, one of around 1,300 stone circles in the Britain constructed as a part of a megalithic tradition during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages.


KMF
The "Airbag" at Keswick Mountain Festival. The idea is to cycle as fast as you can onto the ramp and fly onto the airbag. Looked great fun!


Derwent Water
Me and Lorna by Derwent Water - what a setting for a festival!
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