Armboth Fell & High Tove walk

Plenty of space at the deserted Steel End Car Park at Thirlmere. Was it the fact that there were a lot of road closed signs up that deters folk from parking here, or maybe it was just that it was a dreary Monday morning? Anyway, no panic getting a spot today !

I set off northwards on the Thirlmere lakeside road and soon crossed Dob Gill.

My straightforward plan was to walk to Armboth Car Park area, turn left and head up the fellside on the Watendlath path to get to Armboth Fell. But Oh No! The road is still closed and not just to cars - but to us walkers too. This was my fault, I had not done any research on the progress of the work and to the extent of the current restrictions. I had just stupidly assumed there was no access for cars. Right, I need to change my plan for today's walk.

I quickly decided to head up to the main central ridge via the Dob Gill path instead and then mulled over the various routes I could take once up there. As I had Armboth Fell in my mindset today, I decided I wouldn't be beaten and I would still go there, but it wouldn't necessarily be a circular walk as I always try and do.

Heading up through the woods above Armboth, not quite as dense as it used to be due to the mass felling to the right.

Arriving at Harrop Tarn for the first of two visits today.

A left turn away from the forestry track.

And out onto the open fellside.

Standing Crag, Low Saddle & High Saddle surround Blea Tarn in front of Ullscarf's summit.

Following the broadest of ridge paths, I rounded Bull Crags and then High Tove & Armboth Fell came into view.

A bit of easy off path walking followed as I ventured over to Armboth Fell first.

Standing on the rocky mound that is the summit of Armboth Fell and looking over towards High Tove and to the right in the distance, High Seat.

Now for a 'squelch' over the boggy path to High Tove.

High Tove summit looking back over the route I took to get there.

I returned to Blea Tarn and found a nice spot for lunch and to ponder my next move. It was reasonably early in the day, so Ullscarf, Greenup Edge and the Wythburn valley would be an excellent call. But I was concerned about the snow fall that was forecast with the Pennines, a likely recipient of plenty of the white stuff (and my drive home could suffer). It was already starting to snow and Helvellyn over the way was getting whiter by the minute. So I decided to head home early, I had always intended that would be the case but I did feel a bit cheated that the access restrictions earlier on in the day had meant my relatively short walk was one I wouldn't have chosen to do.

Starting my descent with the now white top of the Helvellyn massif in the distance.

Crossing Dob Gill at Harrop Tarn this time.

What a 'cracking' view as I look back to the tarn, with Standing Crag to the left and Brown Rigg straight ahead. Harrop Tarn is a classic glacial tarn in a high corrie also with the impressive Tarn Crags around its south west shores.

The summit of Birk Crag can be passed on the way down

Helvellyn & Nethermost Pike are more or less straight ahead as I follow the wall straight down.

The path veers to the left and is a gentle grassy descent back down to the lakeside road.

The last half a mile was on the flat road. Not the day I'd planned or wanted, but at least I'll get back home before the weather sets in.