Cautley Spout Fell Race

Sedbergh, Sunday, February 22, 2009

Geoff Watson

Geoff gets wet feet.

The Kendal Winter league is a series of short fell races of about 3 miles which takes place from January to April each year. The events are friendly and fun but always a challenge with most being a category A fell race. Last weekends event at Cautley Spout was just that and what a magnificent venue. The tiny hamlet of Cautley is situated below Cautley crag and spout at the southern edge of the Howgill fells.

The setting provides a magnificent view up the valley to the waterfall and crag which was one of Wainwright’s favourite places to walk. Indeed he would often stop for ham and eggs at the Cross Keys Inn where the race begins.

The route for all these races are well flagged as some keen indvidual marks the whole route,so there is no way of getting lost. There’s no gun or whistle at the start, just a loud “GO” from the starter and you’re off. A short burst along the valley and across Cautley beck and you are straignt into the climb of approximately 500 metres straight up. A few try to keep running, but it isn’t long before everyone is reduced to a walk or scramble with the gradient. The climb brings you on to the summit of “Great Dummacks”. If you have time to take in the view there are great views of the lakeland fells! A short circuit on the top brings the descent straight back down to the beck with the route back to the start as on the way out.

Results

Pos Name Club Cat Pos Time
1 Alastair Dunn Helm Hill M 29.35
26 Geoff Watson M 39.20

62 finishers.

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