17th October 2009 - Lake District - On Gummer's How we saw a Virgin

Area:	Lake District	Ascent:	500feet
Walk No:	313	Time:	1hour 45minutes
Date:	17th October 2009	Parking:	Gummers How car park
Distance:	2.00miles	Weather:	Fine & Sunny

Route:

"Let this be a test of map reading, route finding and direction sense. If these abilities are so diminished that you get lost the future is bleak and without hope"......AW from "The Outlying Fells of Lakeland"

For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

On Gummer's How we saw a Virgin.

Oh come on now, you can't really be thinking of anything other than the Virgin Hot Air balloon that is a common sight on days like these in the Lakes. Our sighting today came as we descended and brought squeals of excitement from some youngsters each time the burner cut in. According to many, including I believe AW Gummer's How gives the best views of Windermere. With this I wholeheartedly agree but I do wish that one day we will get up there and see the fells as clear as they were yesterday. In retrospect I think we were a little too early as later when we were in Fell Foot park the views N'wards seemed a lot clearer.

Gummer's How of which AW wrote......

“ The time comes to every Lakeland fellwalker, in due course, when he has good reason to give thanks to Gummer’s How for salvaging his pride. Here is a fellwalk in miniature , a little beauty, with heather, a few rocks to scramble on, soft couches for repose , a classic view and a rustic Ordnance column --- just like the real thing”

The sun catches the top of Gummer's How as we leave the car park.

Gaining some height and a look down at Summer House Knott and Lakeside.

There are others here...2 Mums, 4 Kids and 1 dog. I love to hear the sound of children on the hills and believe me those four were making plenty.

Shouts of "we're higher than you" and "I'm the king of castle"

Looking across Windermere to the Coniston fells.

The MV Tern leaves Lakeside for Bowness.

Almost there. We could still hear our little friends although they were now out of view.

A little disappointed with the views N'wards. There was an haze that was reluctant to clear.

Coniston Fells

Fairfield Fells and Red Screes

Kentmere fells and the Troutbeck valley.

We walked N'wards hoping that it would clear but to no avail.

I have probably been up here on 30 or more occassions and the views if clear are fabulous but recent excursions have always left me wanting just that little bit more.