Although Ambleside is packed with visitors in August, it only takes a few minutes walking to leave the crowds behind. The track leads along Scandale Beck, past a long series of steep waterfalls which struck me as the kind of location in which a hydro-electric plant might be sited in a more sustainably-minded country. Oddly enough, it turns out there is already planning permission for exactly that, in the form of a 900KW high head plant. I'll be interested to see how the valley looks in a couple of years time when (I imagine) the scheme will be up and running.
The views from the path, of the Eastern side of the Fairfield Horseshoe to the left, and of Red Screes itself to the right, were tremendous. (This picture is looking backwards, so reverse those descriptions!).
The total absence of other people seemed astonishing, but not unwelcome. A lone sheep seemed to claim its territory:
The path turns right at Scandale Pass to head up the screes, taking in a slanted slab of stone reminiscent of Great Slab on Bow Fell.
The last few hundred metres were across rough boggy grass and scree (not red, oddly), but the views opening up gave ample excuse to pause, admire and catch my breath.
St Sunday Crag underwent a remarkable change in the space of just a few minutes as clouds passed overhead, turning it from black to sunlit:
Wainwright eulogises about the views from Red Screes, and I can't disagree.
This one is looking down Windermere towards the sea and (I think) the North Wales coast.
It was a very fitting end to this hugely rewarding week, nicely rounded off with a pint in The Golden Rule on the return to Ambleside. Already planning the next trip...
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