Blea Rigg from Langdale

A party of 10 set off from New Dungeon Gill on the 26^th April to climb slowly up the heavily engineered steep path to Stickle Tarn on an ideal walking day – dry, clear , partially cloudy with a light breeze.  Just a touch of cloud early on covering  the highest of the Coniston hills but everything else completely free of cloud all day. After a couple of short stops we had excellent views of both Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark from around Stickle Tarn.  Then a much more gentle climb around the little rocks and bogs to the top of Blea Rigg with excellent views across to Helvellyn and Fairfield behind Easdale Tarn. Still pleasant on the top for lunch. We decided to make our way down by going off-path around the lumps and bumps straight for Langdale keeping west of the awkward gills that drop into Langdale. Where the ground got  steeper we then made for a path that drops down to arrive at the New Dungeon Gill Hotel without re-traversing any of our outward route. Throughout the day the bogs were exceptionally benign and, even if a few knees protested, it was a fine descent to round off a superb day on the hills with refreshments before the drive back.

 John Ellison with additional photos by Jane Moreton and Jim Newton