Windgather Rocks

I spent today at a very windy, Windgather rocks putting my climbing skills to the test, as I was a little rusty! Windgather is a gritstone crag located  in the Peak District National Park, as the name suggests the area is exposed to the prevailing westerly winds. I spent most of the day in a winter down jacket!

After my friend led the route it was my turn to 'thug' my way up. the first route was called Route 2 a VS 4B, for a full list of routes at windgather check out Rockfax. 

 

 After seconding a few routes it was time to lead one (South Buttress Crack).

By this time the wind was really picking up and we thought it was best to stop and sit down for a coffee. 

 After our coffee the wind finally died down a little and the sun started to shine, we spent all afternoon playing and completed 9 out of the 67 trad routes at Windgather I will definitely be returning to tick a few more off! big thank you to Fruit and Lorna for inviting me. 

My First Video

My first video, shot whilst wild camping in the Lake district, let me know what you think...

Kentmere10

The plan was simple, to walk the Kentmere horseshoe and bag 10 Wainwrights at the same time. We set off from Cheshire at 7am, all very eager and excited to start the walk, there wasn't much conversation in the car. When we arrived in Kentmere we soon realised there wasn't much going on, and very few parking spaces. We soon found ourselves knocking on the door of a farm house to ask if we could park on his land, we were greeted by an nervous sounding voice and a woman saying "is that you Jonathan" I can only imagine she doesn't have many visitors. Anyway she took £3 from us and let us park on her drive. Tip: for anyone who's going to try the Kentmere round, there's a lovely woman that lives at the start of the trail and for £3 will keep an eye on your car for the day. 

 

Above: my friends Paul and Craig heading up Garburn pass with the first three summits in the back ground Yoke, Ill Bell and Frostwick. The view from the Garburn pass has to be one the best views I have witnessed in the Lake District, a picture wouldn't  do it any justice, you'll just have to get up there to see it! 

Kentmere's old industries- there is evidence of human habitation in the kentmere valley dating back as far as 4000 BC, when the valley and surrounding hillsides were cloaked with trees; but the first recorded settlers were Celtic farmers who arrived during the Iron Age. Kentmere became a big player in the local woollen industry following the construction of water mill in the late 13th century.  

Do you really need to leave the UK for amazing views?

Thornthwaite Beacon: a famous lakes landmark that can be seen from miles around. 

Conversation soon turned to food, and we decided to stop and have lunch just below High Street summit overlooking Haweswater. England's only resident golden eagle has occupied a site just below our lunch spot in the Riggindale valley since 2001, but sadly we didn't see him. 

View of Kentmere reservoir, Frostwick, Ill bell and Yoke from Mardale 

 

Looking back at the Horseshoe felling tired and hungry but all very worth while. kentmere remains untouched by the commercial machine of the modern world, lets keep it that way. 

And of course a mountain day wouldn't be complete without a refreshing cool off in the river kent.

  

But watch out for these little nippers..