#catstycam

Been in the Lake District for the last week, so here’s a few pictures: 1) Dam in the old mine workings above Greenside, Helvellyn 2) View from the way up Sheffield Pike 3) Sheffield Pike from Glenridding Dodd 4 and 5) views from the top of Catstycam 6) Summit of Loadpot Hill 7) Hartsop-Above-How 8) Hart Crag 9) High Hartsop Dodd 10) the obelisk on Hallin Fell above Ullswater

The Falls That Destroyed

Mighty Catstye Cam rises above the floor of Glenridding, shimmering with its winter coat on.

Though a fell in its own right, in actuality it’s more of a terminus of Swirral Edge, one of two famous arȇtes, or thin ridges, that branch off from the main Helvellyn summit (the other is the famous Striding Edge). Still, it’s a gorgeous fell in its own right, especially in these sort of conditions.

Glenridding, Lake District, Cumbria, England.

In Between Seasons

Hello! Sorry it’s been a while since my last post: until recently, conditions around North England have been unpredictable and uncooperative. Thankfully, in the last few days, an area of high pressure has moved over the country, giving us dry and sunny days. I took this opportunity to hike up a valley that’s escaped me for years: Glenridding.

Glenridding is famous for a number reasons, like being on the shores of England’s 2nd largest lake, or the starting point of the trail up to England’s 3rd highest mountain… but in more recent times it became known throughout the nation, unfortunately, for being flooded and destroyed four times during the December 2015 Floods (starting with Storm Desmond). Even today, there’s still lots of work happening all over the village to mitigate future floods, but it was good to see businesses up and running, and folk walking around the area with smiles on their faces.

My goal was through the village and up High Glenridding valley, past the abandoned Greenside Mine until I could get a view of Catstye Cam (890m/2,920ft), also named “Catstycam” and even “Catchedicam”. As with a lot of places in Northern England, the fell’s name comes from Old Norse katts stigr kambr meaning “ridge with wild cat’s path”. The sight of the fell appearing from behind the Glenridding valley slopes is arresting, especially in this scene where pure crystal Spring water crashes through a series of waterfalls whilst the mountain itself remains locked in the throes of Winter with its snowy coat. =)

Glenridding Beck, Glenridding, Lake District, Cumbria, England.