Walla Crag…and Using a Compass

Yesterday’s forecast was bang on – a clean, clear crisp day, plenty of sunshine and a great day for a walk. And it really was.

I had planned to go up Skiddaw – I’ve lived in Cumbria pretty much all my life and have never climbed up it. Plus everyone says it’s relatively easy, there’s a decent path right to the top. But on Wednesday evening, as my husband was lying in bed, dying of flu, he said maybe I should try something a little shorter / smaller. I couldn’t deny a dying man’s wish so I put that on hold and went for Walla Crag instead.

I have an OS map with me, plus a newly bought compass that I’m trying to figure out how to use properly. I think a compass is one of those objects that we all know what it does but hardly any of us know how to use it (me being one of them). It came with instructions and the husband tried to explain it to me but I just ended up getting grumpy as he used his dark magic and said words to me in a way like he thought they sounded simple. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about but I could tell it made him feel helpful to explain it to me and I took it with me anyways. I mainly use guides for walks and this day I used the ‘Walks to Viewpoints” Top 10 Walk book (you’ll have seen them around – they’re in almost every single shop that has anything remotely to do with the outdoors). 5.5 miles, 2-2.5 hours. Perfect for a morning walk and get back for lunch. I added my water, snacks and a notebook to my bag and off I went.

As soon as I got out the car, a super friendly robin greeted me. So friendly that I managed to get its picture!

The first part walks round Calf Close Bay on Derwent Water – it was so still and calm, the view of Catbells almost unreal. It was my first sense that day of being totally alone (but in a nice way). Big deep breaths and I instantly felt that everything was right with the world, no matter how crap life gets I always feel good when I am outside in the fresh air (unless my husband is talking about how a compass works).

Walking back up towards and over the road, the climb started. Quite fun, scrambling up rocks and feeling like you’re a kid again. The odd stumble (it was very slippery) but managed to find a good boulder to sit and take in the view. It was the first time I’ve stopped and really took in the view. I managed to name a few of the fells, sketch a little outline of the Skiddaw group, say hi to a couple passing by and remarking on the weather (we’re British after all) and tried to be completely focussed on what was in front of me. I guess that’s what the mindful part is all about for me. Those of us who live in and around the Lake District will all probably say that we don’t get out much and visit it as often as we’d like, never really appreciate the beauty of this natural wonder. But sitting there it really did make me think how lucky I am to live half an hours drive away and be thankful that I had the time to sit and take it all in.

Well the boulder was a bit chilly on my bum, so back I went climbing further up. Eventually you get to the path to start climbing but a little detour takes you to Ashness Bridge and onwards to Surprise view. Both places I’ve heard about or seen photos of but it was great to finally see them for myself. The view from the bridge is amazing and the walk up the steep narrow road to Surprise View is definitely worth it. I sat there and took a good 15 minutes just looking out across the lake, eating a banana and whispering to the spa at Lordore Falls that I would be there soon – promise! I had another go at sketching and went back down to rejoin the path and start climbing onwards.

As a side note, I also tried a few timed photos and some selfies. Although on a couple of shots my face says something to the contrary, I am having a GOOD TIME! (My husband says my face looks like I am trying to count to 10; I set it to a 10 second timer. He has reminded me I don’t need to do the counting, the phone will do that for me, I just need to pose, smile and look pretty… I’ll know for next time).

Back to the climb and this is where I will admit I got a bit confused. The book said climb over a stile through a wall and then a rocky outcrop will be the summit. Now I did walk over a stile but it was over a fence, joined a path and then saw a rocky outcrop. I thought, hmm, that’s slightly lower than I thought and no one around which is odd on a day like today. But I ran down over the grass (again, feeling like a little kid!) and sat on the rocky outcrop. Another lovely spot for contemplation, which involved getting the map out and contemplating on trying out the compass (it went back in the bag – I didn’t want to look completely lost if anyone came past!). The instructions on the guide didn’t make sense but I thought I might as well rejoin the main path and wing it, I looked at the compass and he agreed, onwards and upwards!

More running down grassy banks ensued and eventually I got to a wall, with a stile and on the other side was a rocky outcrop. Ahhh!! Maybe this is the summit! There’s a few more people, it’s higher up. Yep, this must be the place! And the bonus is the instructions in the guidebook make sense. Happy days, I definitely reached the summit of Walla Crag!

A lovely walk down from here by a stone wall and eventually across a stream, where the path eventually goes through Great Wood. A nice walk down through the wood and something that made me smile was a couple walking the opposite way and asking if the path would take them into Keswick and I only bloody knew the answer and managed to give concise directions. Look at that – I helped!

Eventually the path led down back to the car park and looking at my Strava time on my almost dead phone, I actually did 6 miles in just under 3 hours. A late lunch was had when I got home and a big smile on my face for the rest of the day. I felt amazing during the walk and can’t wait to get back out there to who knows where next.

See ya xx