A Circuit of Martindale and lots of Red Deer

Circuit Of Martindale

8 miles 2300ft of ascent

The planned walk was a circuit of the fells around Martindale, taking in Beda Fell, Angletarn Pikes, Brock Crags, Rest Dodd, The Knot and then back down the High St ridge to our starting point at Martindale Church. It was quite a gloomy morning with heavy grey skies but it was hoped that the weather might improve, and on the more than average chance of seeing Red Deer i lugged my 500mm lens around just in case. The weather didnt really improve as we set off onto Beda Fell, and by the time we came off Brock crags the rain had really come in. But nevertheless it was a magic walk, the still air was full of the resonating sound of Red Deer stags roaring below in the valley. So we decided to drop down out of the bad weather into bannerdale, stooping raining as we reached the valley floor, and we were really rewarded with large herds of deer in the upper valley, and stags competing with each other for the ladies. And I managed to fulfill an ambition and get some shots of stags fighting, magic!!



from the road bridge over Howegrain Beck, near martindale church looking down Martindale



Zoomed in shot from the road bridge over Howegrain Beck, near martindale church looking down Martindale the Nab to the right



On the same bridge looking across to the left and the bracken covered slopes of Steel Knots



the start of the climb up the bracken covered slopes of Beda Fell



Looking back to martindale church as we start the climb up onto Beda Fell



Ullswater from the climb up onto Beda Fell



Beda Fell summitt with Ullswater in the Background



The head of the Bannerdale valley and The Nab



Looking back up to Beda Fell



The rain is on the way, coming in over Glenridding




its going very gloomy as we approach Angletarn Pikes



Brothers water from Angletarn Pikes



Angle Tarn from Angletarn Pikes



From Angletarn Pikes, are next target was Brock Crags to the right



Brothers Water from Brock Crags



Yours truly on Brock Crags, the rain is starting to come in over Brothers Water



Looking back to Angle Tarn from Brock Crags



A gloomy High Street over Hayeswater




The head of Bannerdale, a stunning remote valley with the sound of Red Deer stags roaring all around. We had descended into the valley at the top left of the picture, it was pouring with rain all the way down, and as we reached the valley floor it cleared up!! From here the big lens came out again and it was deer stalking time, with some great shots if a little grainy in the gloomy light.

Then it was Deer all the way in the upper part of the Bannerdale valley















These two stags squared up to each other, and I fulfilled an ambition to get some shots of two Red Deer Stags fighting at the Rut, crackin!! the following shots record the fight and the loser being chased off