Wansfell, South Eastern Fells

      At last we are blessed with some better sunny weather, an opportunity not to be missed, decided to do one of my favourites, I say favourite, because it's so readily available. You start at the Car-Park at Low Fold, you walk a few yards to the right, on Old Lake Road, then you take a left hand turn up the steep hill in the direction of Skelghyll Woods. This is proably the old Roman road out of Roman Ambleside, thought to be Galava or Clanoventa, but with some caution.  You must leave your car at the car-park, there is nowhere to park anywhere on this route and if you tried, I'm sure some mad farmer would run a pitchfork into your tyres or accidentely drive his tractor into your door panels!

      All this aside, you begin with a steep climb up the first part, before the route levels out, allowing you to catch your breath and a good view over Waterhed Bay, always worth the walk.

      At least this is a good old dusty old track with lots of trees and vegetation and sounds and smells and it's so good to leave everything behind. The road soon begins to take on a more business like nature,

      Its steeper and it's harder, there's loose stones and lumps of wood, that's when the good footwear comes in, if it was raining, you might well think you are walking up a beck bottom! One other small point, this is also a route for kamikaze mountain bikers and I know some who like to take it at full-tilt, not recommended. After the old stone bridge, there is a steep stone track directly up the hill and a more gentle route to the left, I always take the route to the left going up and the other coming down. This leads onto another level patch, where you can rest and take a break at Jenkin's Crag, the views are still reasonable but are being overtaken by the trees.

      You must now back-track a few yards to the rock that bears this sign, the National Trust announce this as being Kelsick Scar Wood, although I like to think of it all as being Skelgyll. I was lucky enough to be brought here with my father about fifty years ago, for a great day out in the Winter's snow. You must follow the path up, through pleasant woodland and bracken, it's nice to see shafts of sunlight breaking through the leafy blanket. A path will join from your right, walk straight on, a path will break to your right, follow it upwards and over the ladder-stile and now you are on the open fell, the trees are left behind.

      Almost immediately you will see this structure, it's one of two in the immediate area, not an old fortification, but part of the Thirlmere-Manchester Water Pipe.       There's now a good hike to the top, it can be hard going but keep looking for those views, as you pass-by the old quarry workings.      The path is clear ahead, it's the one that just keeps going upwards and those views just keep getting better!      There's another ladder-style and the walk levels somewhat, it's there, just ahead of you, in fact just follow the path by the wall, over a few small hills, then I can sit in my favourite seat, on the side of the fell. I'm not telling you where it is, I want to sit there the next time I'm up this way and hopefully for a good many more years yet to come!