We've done a few Wainwrights in recent weeks, but it's been busy, with not many opportunities for nudity where we've been, given that we're not very brave about encounters with textiles and the Lake District has been very popular with Covid-staycationers. Having said that, I often get to the end of a walk and look back thinking I should have been braver.
I had hopes for a walk last week from Braithwaite near Keswick, taking in 5 peaks, but there were always people in view and not quite distant enough for comfort, except for one stretch before we got to the first one, Causey Pike. We went up a steep path from Newlands valley, over a minor peak called Rowling End. I could have been nude for a fair bit of that, but wasn't, then I stripped off from there along the ridge until we were about to meet the "main drag" up from the old mine road - only about 20 minutes but very pleasant. The rest of the walk was in effect part of the popular Coledale Horseshoe.
Yesterday, a Monday and the last sunny day in the forecast, we did a circuit of Mellbreak (above Crummock Water) from Lanthwaite Woods, over the top, then down towards Buttermere and back round the shore path of Crummock. Having seen no-one for the first mile or more, apart from a single female walker before we started the climb, I was all set to shed the shorts after the climb through scree (didn't fancy a naked bum-slide if I slipped) when wife noticed another couple climbing above us. Not knowing when we might catch them up I kept the shorts on, and we found them eating their lunch at the top. In retrospect I could have been nude ever since the last houses, but having to brazen it out with the female walker. We left the other couple to their butties, and I stripped when a good few minutes ahead of them, managing to get to the second summit before dressing. I could see at times that they were behind us, but a good distance away. After that south summit (Mellbreak has two peaks almost the same height) it was too cool in the breeze, then we started to see just enough other folk on the way down to inhibit more nudity. I reckon on the right day and time it would be possible to get most of the way round naked if you're brave.
What an awfully long time since the last one!
Today we did Beda Fell, one of the smaller Far Eastern Fells. Boat from Glenridding to Howtown, and walk back to Patterdale over Beda Fell, an easy and little-walked ridge about 1600ft max. The disadvantage of using the boat is there can be others starting the same route at the same time, and today there was a group of five, but they were slower than us so I could be nude once we had got a fair distance ahead. Only one walker came the other way, and he was visible far enough ahead for me to use the Kiniki wrap for a few minutes with no fuss - much better than struggling with the shorts.
I used the wrap again to descend from Boredale Hause nearly to Patterdale.
A bit of a classic yesterday, which I'd been plotting for 2 years. Parked in Troutbeck, took bus over Kirkstone Pass to Hartsop, and walked back via Hayeswater and 5 Wainwright peaks. I didn't quite arrive nude at every summit, because some were populated by other walkers having their sandwiches etc, but I did more than enough of the walk (5 hours out of 7, plus about 1 in only the Kiniki wrap) to claim them all as Naked Wainwrights by my standards. (Well, nobody else has set any so it's my rules!) That takes my tally to 16.
More detail in next post.
Last post continued: all fells in Wainwright's Far Eastern Fells book.
From the small (and full) carpark in Hartsop we walked about a mile up the track to Hayeswater, which looks a perfect spot for a skinnydip if you did this route in reverse and needed to cool off. I just had a quick splash. A party of 4 had been just ahead of us on the track, so I stayed clothed until this point, but it should be possible to be nude from just after the Hartsop sheep pens on another day (or if you're just brave). The other party headed in the opposite direction towards Pooley Bridge (another possible nude route) so I was nude from here apart from a few shortish stretches at some of the summits, or where approaching walkers could be seen from a distance and I used the Kiniki wrap, since the path is narrow and I felt it was good manners.
From Hayeswater we climbed Gray Crag, then walked the whole ridge over Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke, down the Garburn Pass track to Limefitt caravan park. After about 3pm for the last 2 hours we saw only about 4 people, as it seemed everyone had gone indoors to watch England v Germany! The afternoon was hot (25C) when we returned to the car, but the temperature on the ridge had been perfect.
I can really recommend the Kiniki wrap. It's very light, much easier to put on and remove than shorts, and makes a great fly-swish when not being worn. Nobody turned a hair to see me wearing it, even when they had probably seen me putting it on from 200-300 yards away.
I should have joined you. Instead, I am on ‘holiday’, spent mostly decorating - interspersed with shorter naked walks and swims.
I might get out today. I did Ill Bell at Mardale Ill Bell separately at New Year, not naked, just naked feet. It was a little chilly in the snow and I got some blisters from it....
Tread lightly upon the earth
I should have joined you. Instead, I am on ‘holiday’, spent mostly decorating - interspersed with shorter naked walks and swims.
I might get out today. I did Ill Bell at Mardale Ill Bell separately at New Year, not naked, just naked feet. It was a little chilly in the snow and I got some blisters from it....
Blimey - hardcore!
We did the Fairfield Horseshoe on Monday, which was plenty hot enough for nudity but rather populated with Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award students for the first half, and a few awkwardly spaced couples and groups for much of the second half. We both managed a naked lunch break near the top, 100 yards or so off the path and partially visible to walkers from a short section, so a few probably saw us and hopefully thought "wish we had the guts to do that"!
I eventually jettisoned the shorts for a half-hour section near the end, so I can probably claim Low Pike as a Naked Wainwright. I used the Kiniki wrap when a few other walkers were near, but by then it was very hot and few were coming the other way (up-hill). On another day it might be socially acceptable to do much more of the walk naked, or perhaps I just need to do it alone so Mrs F isn't fretting about what people might think!
I’ve never got into ‘tick’ lists and go very much more just by what I think would be a good walk on the day. Yesterday was promising to another hit one, so I got away early and headed to the Duddon valley, knowing this would provide a few opportunities for dips one it got hot. Parking at Seathwaite, I set off just after 8 am towards the Walna Scar quarries, picking up the track that heads up to the Walna Scar road. There was a couple (father and daughter) on the track after the quarry who I had to overtake, so I donned kiniki wrap for about 10 mins until I reached the minor summit above the (unmade) road (Brown Pike).
After that, I saw a couple of young lads ahead of me on Dow Crag, but only briefly covered up at the Goat Hause, the col between Dow Crag and the Old Man of Coniston, as several people ascendind and descending, but I then turned north to Swirl how and, meeting no-one further. After a bit for lunch, I headed to west to Greyfriars and, not paying particular attention, at the col betwwn the two, met a Geordie chap who remarked that it must be nice and cool dressed as I was, before continuing in a language I couldn’t understand!
From Greyfriars I headed down Tarn Head Beck to Seathwaite Tarn, taking a couple of dips in pools on the way and then, walking the norther bank of the tarn, swam across and back mid-way along. I only saw one couple on the other side.
I then headed down to the Duddon river and walked the path and dipped in pools back to Seathwaite, only meeting a number of people in the best pools just before the bridge which led me back to Seathwaite.
A wonderful day, not too hot naked by getting an early start and I can only presume it was so quiet because of the heat, although that doesn’t explain the Duddon river. 14.5 miles total in 8 hours, naked for 7.5 hours of it. Not sure how many naked Wainwrights..... but all the ones I passed over.
Tread lightly upon the earth
That's impressive, Martin! Barefoot too, I guess?
If the forecast holds for tomorrow we're having a go at Kirk Fell, from Honister rather than from Wasdale.
We did Kirk Fell today, from Honister by the slate mine. A fine 7-hour walk including leisurely refreshment stops. Weather was fine and sunny until we got to near the top, then the cloud blew in as it tends to on the higher western fells. It was surprisingly quiet today, so I was nude for most of the way up, but then needed a tee-shirt for warmth in the cloud. I also used the Kiniki wrap on occasions when people were about. Overall I did about 3 hours nude, but it could have been 5 or more without the cloud (or would there have been more folk up there then?).
I am looking at purchasing the Wainwrights book collection. Would you recommend the original books or will the newer editions suffice?
Thanks.
We still use the original ones we bought 30+ years ago, together with the OS 1:25,000 maps, and have no real problems. The landscape hasn't changed, but clearly roads, parking, trees and some rights of way have. I haven't looked at the updates to be honest, but I guess they're pretty good. I think you can get the originals as a set, possibly cheaper? There are probably strong opinions either way in Amazon reviews!
Tuesday 24th Aug. We did three smaller peaks in the West: Lank Rigg, Crag Fell and Grike. 8 miles, 5 hours, of which I was naked for about 3 hours and 5 miles. The weather wasn't as good as the forecast, and there was a lot of cloud, so I was dressed for warmth for a while around lunchtime, just as well because that was when we met the most people - 6 of the 11 we saw all day! The other encounters had enough warning for me to use the wrap for a while. I was just (too) cautious for the first and last miles. The Lake District is very busy at the moment but not on the remote fells.
Saturday 28th August. We drove through Shap and Bampton, parking on some open ground near Hullockhowe by stacks of sileage bales. Walked the Cawdale Horseshoe, up The Hause, eventually meeting the "main" High Street ridge path near Wether Hill, over that and Loadpot Hill (both Wainwrights) and back down to the car. About 8 miles, 4.5 hours including leisurely breaks. I was nude except for about an hour in total, on the road at start and finish, and for a few minutes around the summits where there were walkers eating and resting. A bank holiday Saturday in the Lake District, but very few people - they were all in the honeypot places.
First this year - on Monday we repeated the circuit of Sallows and Sour Howes (between Troutbeck and Kentmere) from behind High Borrans outdoor education centre. I was nude, Mrs F not except for our lunch stop.
Wednesday late afternoon we aimed to do Carrock Fell and High Pike, which we have walked before but not nude. When we parked there was a stiff cool breeze, and a big bank of cloud threatening to move in, so we walked downhill instead and did a 5 mile circuit of fields and paths towards Hesket Newmarket. Saw no-one and I was nude for nearly all of it (except when crossing roads and passing houses). I recommend the area.