16th July 2015 - Torver for Walna Scar

It had been dry all day, with a reasonable forecast but the wind was picking up, never-the-less Jamie M & B, Andrew and CT met up along Hummer Lane at the forest entrance, splash some midge de toilette on and off we go. Down the fire road and tee off right straight into some mud, climb through thick undergrowth along the forest floor, out at the next fire road and straight down the forest again, out to the next fire road after passing under a large fallen tree suspended on it's side with just enough room to ride under (too big for a hand saw!), onward to the next forest section, climb, descend and ..... puncture, Jamie M front tyre lost its gunk, so we stopped to add a tube, unfortunately so did a load of horse flies, so now we know what it's like to be a cow but without the swishy tail! New tube in and off we go down to the bottom fire road and here we usually head right and the steady climb up, but no lets go over the track and down through the woods, out onto the tarmac and climb up to take the track on the other side of the stream for an alternative route up. This is a bit more interesting way up and meets just past the bridge, there is a section of prepared path before the boggy section.
Here we chose different routes Jamie M and Andrew went left, less bog, JB and CT went right for more climb and headed towards the quarry, and we all met up at the old slate shacks for a rest before the ascent!

It was also windy so no midges but it did not help the climb up (head wind I am sure;), the first section goes from the larger quarry buildings to the next disused and we were blown off course, no one cleaned even that section, but we did manage to get into some kind of groove and make it up about half-way (I blame the wind) in my dreams sometime in the future I will make the whole hill...maybe. It was quite windy at the top so we paused a little way over the shoulder and looked the the view, see photos:)

180 deg panorama

Then downhill to enjoy, a little windy at the top but fine as we went down, watch out for the drainage ditches, rocky and technical but fun, or take the path;), also be warned about the large drainage ditch half way down, tricky so keep your eyes open! Then tee off to the right for the descent past the quarries, look out for sheep and sheep dog, then down the lanes back to the road and ride back up to the cars, OK there is a hill but at least you are warmed up.

Next ride is from Ings, park near The Watermill Inn

Seathwaite side

Still on the approach road

Heading to the disused quarry shacks

Hope!

Where we had come from

and going up!

Sea glimpses and Coniston:)