A 9km walk to find the second Thirlmere survey pillar on the slopes of Wansfell.Route: leaving the car in the car park at Brockhole (£3 for 2 hours) and crossing the A591 to take Wain Lane past Middlerigg Tarn uphill doglegging right-left across the C-road to take a track to Robin Lane. Heading west but diverting over a stone stile to examine the unenclosed pillar (nevertheless probably a survey pillar given the location of Manchester Water Company gates pointing towards it from the return path) marked on the map at GR340 502. Then past High Skelghyll to Skelghyll Wood. Immediately on entering the wood, turning half right, pathlessly, on a leaf strewn hillside, crossing fallen trees until the pillar came into view, dramatically on a raised bit of ground in trees. After examining it, considering scaling the wall by a Manchester Water Company gate (locked) to get onto open fellside but instead following the line of the wall tentatively round to meet the normal path and the ladder stile to the familiar (original for us) pillar. Leaving it via another Manchester Water Company gate and descending pathlessly to the extension of the normal path. Turning left on this to reach familiar territory and the outward track. This time, however, descending on Skelghyll Lane and Mirk Lane to the start.
Conditions a grey day, 5C but with high cloud.
Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Hawkshead Mosaic and Millyard Mild.
