A spontaneous 4-mile detour from a trip to the ice cream van at the end of the afternoon break at the annual Readers’ Retreat at Rydal Hall (L only)
Route: Leaving the main entrance of Rydal Hall intending to walk down to the ice cream van and being lured right by the view of Nab Scar to the right. Walking up the lane to the ascent path, bending left round Hard Head Farm, and walking up the steep, stoney zigzags to the summit. Then taking the ridge route (start of the Fairfield Horseshoe) towards Lord Crag but forking left at a cairn to head down to Alcock Tarn on a clear, grassy path.
Crossing the outflow of the tarn to the south on stepping stones and turning left to join the main bridlepath momentarily before forking left off that onto a much smaller but still distinct path heading SSW. After crossing a wall at a gate, detouring off the path briefly to the left to investigate a very unusual-looking double-chambered sheepfold and returning to the path which rejoined the wall a little further on. From there following the wall, moreorless, all the way steeply down to the Coffin Route, at one stretch between two walls, with distinctive Manchester Water Company gates.
At the Coffin Route turning left and following it all the way back to Hart Head Farm and from there right and then left to turn into the grounds of Rydal Hall again.
Conditions: Blazing sunshine and hot but surprisingly few people about on this route (on a late Saturday afternoon), just c15 parapenters above Lord Crag. Largely dry underfoot with only occasional muddy patches.
Pub?: A day later, meeting Tim at Tweedie’s (see later post!)
