Hogget Gill to the Priesthole Cave, 30th August 2011.

A short walk from Sykeside Farm Campsite, as if heading into Dovedale, leads you to the start of Hogget Gill. This grade 1 scramble is a great way up the fells (in not too wet conditions) for beginners, and  the interest is kept up all the way. 

Myself, Lorna and Lennon made our way up through the jumble of rocks and fallen trees, around various small pools, and up small waterfalls. Getting wet was all part of the fun, although never anything too serious. The gill was fairly dry although some sections need thoughtful footwork to avoid a slip on the wet, slimy rock: even for a grade 1 scramble.     

We did avoid the alternative grade 3 section in the middle, which takes a rising rightwards traverse, up the slabby left wall by a steeper fall. Although not to high, the hardest part looks like the first few moves, with little protection a slip would've been possible especially for a beginner. The rock close to the fall was also damp so we opted to escape left out of the ravine an rejoin the gill about 20m higher.

Between rocky scrambly walking, you get sections of larger boulders to negotiate between and the option to get as wet as you like!

Lorna and Lennon near the top of the gill.

Looking down Hogget Gill onto Sykeside Farm campsite at the bottom of the valley. The short grade 3 section is just where the gill drops down the ravine in the centre of the picture. 

From the top of the gill it is possible to traverse over rough ground below the crags of Dove Crag to join the path rising up from Sykeside. From here you can find the seemingly not so secret Priesthole Cave where we stopped for lunch before heading back down the campsite.    

Pinnacle Ridge - Not this time! 7th May 2011

Stayed in a nice little campsite between Patterdale and the Kirkstone Pass, called Sykeside Farm. Good facilities and a decent pub serving Jennings Smooth Bitter at £2.50 a pint! This was the first time we had used our new Vango Icarus 500 that we bought from Gaynor Sports of Ambleside (online) last year. As usual it was cheaper than Tiso!
The weather was a bit hit and miss with sunny spells and then a bit of rain and strong winds, but the Icarus coped well. In fact not a drop got in! Being a full height tent it does move a wee bit in very strong winds but it stood firm and proved to be very good. Pitching was fairly easy too as it is all in one so to speak.  

From the site we could just make out the Priesthole Cave where myself and Stevie stopped last year. We did see lights later at night up there so someone was obvioulsy in there.

On the Sunday we headed for St Sunday Crag! We left the site and headed up past Dove Crag up towards Fairfield, and then over to Cofa Pike to the saddle before St Sunday itself. We were hoping, a little, optomistically to reach the top of Pinnacle Ridge and descend  to the base and climb the grade 3 scramble back up. However the heavens opened at this point so we bailed out at the saddle and descended the valley to the south of St Sunday and headed back for the main road and the campsite!       

Looking back at the rain and clag above the crags below Fairfield as we tried to beat the rain!

Cave Life, Sunday 30th - Monday 31st May 2010.

I had read and heard about a "secret-ish" Priesthole cave, hidden somewhere amongst the crags and fells of the Lake District where it was possible to spend the night in relative comfort (?). So Stevie and myself set off with rather heavy packs (due to lager and bbq stuff!) up and over Striding Edge from Patterdale, over Dollywagon Pike and down to Grisedale Tarn where we stopped for lunch and to collect some extra water. From the tarn we headed up to the summit of a very busy Fairfield, probably lots of folks doing the "Fairfield Horsehoe" from Ambleside, and then on to Hart Crag.
I'm not going to give much more details from here as it is more rewarding doing a little homework yourself to find the cave, and to avoid too many selfish people finding it and dumping their rubbish there!

The obligatory shot of Striding Edge looking back from the easy scramble up to the plateau.

Looking back at Striding Edge as we headed for Dollywagon Pike.

Stevie in our home for the night!

"Do you think anyone can see us?"
The wall provides a little protection but as the wind was north westerly it was blowing across the mouth of the cave and then in and out again.  A south westerly is the ideal situation!

Everything set up; just need to get the B-B-Q on! Note the ammo box which contains a slightly tatty visitors book, and axe and a dodgy looking bottle of whiskey!

A short video of our luxury accommodation.

The view of the evening sun on the fells, although it was actually a bit nippy!

After a fairly chilly night, the forecast drop in wind took longer to happen than we would've liked, we had a nice sunny morning and less wind and a chance to enjoy breakfast on the terrace!

Chris, the only other cave dweller that night, and myself, just before we left and headed back for Patterdale.

Unfortuneatly, Chris lost his wallet en route from Helvellyn - Dollywgon - Grisedale Tarn and Fairfield. So if by chance you found a blue wallet in that area and you are reading this, he would be grateful if you could pass it on via myself and this blog :)

     

One last view of the cave before it goes out of sight and we head back to the car.

PLEASE - if you do find and use the cave , take all your rubbish with you as there already is a pile of stuff in one corner that could easily have been taken away by whoever left it!