Duddondale Meet

A good turn out was promised for this meet despite the appalling weather forecast. Most of the promised attendees made it apart from Christine and Nick who had trouble with their campervan.
The meet was based at Turner Hall farm campsite which was a pleasant basic site in beautiful surroundings. Duddondale in its lower reaches is pleasantly pastoral and with natural woodlands by the campite. There are a number of climbing crags in the valley but heavy rain on Friday night and grey clouds on Saturday morning set our thoughts to walking.
Me, Jago, Colin and Bev decided on a walk up Harter Fell while Dave and Steven set out up the Walna Scar road to Dow Crag.
We approached Harter Fell by the path under Wallowbarrow Crag then on towards Grassguards. Above Grassguards the path is rough and boggy and is not very pleasant to walk until it breaks out of the woods on the flanks of the fell.

The boggy track above Grassguards

A stiff pull up the hillside leads to the summit which can be reached by a nice little slab climb or via a gully round the back. 

Approaching Harter Fell summit

We continued over the summit then dropped down to the valley via forestry tracks and back to the campsite.
Meanwhile Dave and Steven reached Dow Crag summit where they parted company; Dave returning by the approach path while Steven continued to the summit of Coniston Old Man. 
On Sunday rain and grey clouds send everyone scuttling home.