Cross Fell and Uldale Fells Aug 2026

There was a gap in the newly-returned rainy season, so I headed up north, first to Cross Fell and then "back o'Skiddaw".

Not sure how tough the walk was going to be, I planned a 15km route starting from Kirkland (parking with an honesty box at the church).

Leaving Kirkland

The path climbed steadily until a steep, engineered path across the face of Wildboar Scar.

Above Wildboar Scar

It levelled off with boggy sections higher up.

Great and Little Dun Fells, which I had chosen not to climb

The rise onto the plateau was gentle.

Impressive cairns, or curricks

The shelter is very impressive and was welcome in the strong breeze (not quite the Helm Wind). I hung around the deserted plateau for a while while butterflies and bees buzzed around. The views were limited, partly by topology, partly by haze (the Lakeland fells were just silhouettes).

Cross Fell summit

Descending north, I met the first people of the day, in fact I passed perhaps a dozen other people on this side of the hill.

North edge of the summit plateau

The descent was occasionally steep, occasionally boggy.

On the descent

And before I knew it I was back in Kirkland, feeling I should have planned a longer route.

A last look to the fell as I arrive back at the village

I spent the night at Gill Head Farm campsite (with a meal at the Troutbeck Inn). The skies were clear overnight so both the grass and my tent were soaked with dew in the morning. I stuffed the wet tent in the car and drove round to Lowthwaite, near Over Water. Most of the parking places were taken but I got a decent spot (other cars arriving after me parked less considerately). I set off just ahead of a group, and didn't see them again.

Longlands Fells

Again there were hazy views, and the wind was much stronger. It was lovely walking country though.

Heading over to Brae Fell

I was ticking hills, vaguely thinking of completing a third round of the Wainwrights (I'm halfway there), so headed as far as Knott before coming back to Meal Fell.

Steep descent off Meal Fell

There were a few people around, individuals and couples, but it wasn't a busy place.

Trusmadoor with Skiddaw behind

From Great Cockup I took a pathless, direct line downhill. Funnily enough, despite there being no path, my GPS track shows I followed almost the exact same line when I was last there in 2016.

Looking back on my way out

It was an easy walk out after the steep drop and there were lovely views all round.

Binsey

I might have popped over to Binsey but I hadn't brought a packed lunch and I was hungry, so I drove tot the Coledale Inn at Braithwaite instead.

Alsace 2026

In August I spent a week with a friend at the Sipp Mack winery in Hunawihr in Alsace, France. We had hoped to do some walking but it was extremely hot, so we didn't do a great deal. The scenery was lovely though, as were the food and wine.

Just north of Hunawihr is Ribeauvillé, a pretty town of half-timbered houses and giftshops. Above the town are the famous Trois Chateaux de Ribeauvillé, a walk we would do later in the week.

Trois Chateaux de Ribeauvillé

The towns were full of colourful flowers which attracted the insects.

There were a lot of hummingbird hawk-moths around

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

It was about 2km from Hunawihr to Ribeauvillé, passing through lots of vineyards.

Old vines

Above Hunawihr

In Bergheim

On one day, my friend drove us up to the Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges Mountains at 1424m. You park around 1300m so it's not a hard climb! The cooler air (20 degrees instead of 30) and breeze were most welcome.

The Vosges from the Grand Ballon

Lots of fritillaries (I think), mostly with battered wings

The Grand Ballon was very busy but when we dropped off the summit to the Col du Haag in order to climb the Storkenkopf, it got much quieter.

Cows clanking their bells, Alpine-style, at the Col du Haag

Looking back to the Grand Ballon from the Storkenkopf

For the Three Castles walk, we walked over to Ribeauvillé and then up through the woods, glad of the shade. There were gentle, wide forest rides taking us inexorably upwards. The whole walk was about 13km, completed after an excellent lunch at the Cheval Blanc in Ribeauvillé .

Woodland ride

Hunawihr from the Hinterluetzelbach ridge

Chateau Ribeaupierre

Chateau Girsberg

Another day we walked out of the village straight into the wooded hills behind it and wound our way up more forest rides to the Col de Seelacker. Had we got our timing right we would have continued to the auberge at St Alexis, but it was closed that day, so we cut down to Riquewihr instead to fuel up with superb sea bass and Riesling at l'Ecurie. With the 2km walk back, it was again around 13km for the day.

Fritillary on hemp-agrimony