Robin Hood & his merry summits

I've slowly been working my way through the Shap Fells and today I planned to merge two of Wainwright Outlier routes into one, AW devotes a chapter each to the Crookdale & Wasdale Horseshoes. With Wasdale Pike omitted the remaining six summits make a more complete horseshoe of Crookdale.

Earlier in September I'd walked the Bannisdale Horseshoe and out of all the Outlying routes this is the one I had been looking forward to the most, unfortunately it hadn't really impressed me - although the poor weather I encountered could have played a part. Feeling uninspired & with this in mind I wasn't looking forward to these and the morning forecast of extensive hill-fog didn't really help my 'flat' feeling.

The official route starts from the A6 near Borrow Bridge but access beside the farm is no longer tolerated so I started from the old road where there is an abundance of parking. With the weather better than forecast and access problems avoided my mood improved and I really enjoyed this foray into the Shap hills. Its quite wet in places so would be ideal left for winter but I managed to finish with dry feet.

Early morning, the climb up High House Bank, two deer disappeared before I could reach to the camera...