To anyone starting in the near future don't underestimate the British weather!

The conditions on Nine Standards this morning were appalling. Visibility was 50m at the most. At 10am there was wind-driven sleet coming horizontally at you (from the east) with a temperature well below freezing. Patches of snow are still around and the bogs are starting to return with a vengeance. A few people had decided to go this way, despite the notices, and one, in shorts, was starting to feel the effects of the wind chill.

At 11am I stood on the top of Brownber Head wondering where the world had gone!

As I drove back between Tailbridge and Keld I passed a total of 46 people following the road. There was no snow just constant wind driven rain in their faces.

This is a wake up call for me. I live on a small island in the tropics where a day below 75 is damn cold.

We embark on the C2C June 10. I know you probably don't have a crystal ball but.... can you give me an idea of what to expect in terms of temps? The cold will certainly affect us more than some because our bodies are used to high heat and humidity.

Wow...below freezing? In April? It just adds to the adventure!

You never know it could cool and wet or it could be heatwave in the 80s plus.
Obviosly waterproofs for when it's wet but if you feel cool when it's in the 70s, and theres a good chance it will be around that, a simple lightwieght windproof 'Pertex' top, rather than waterproof jacket will keep the chills off, whereas a waterproof will still probably have you too warm.
Dave.

Since my post last week it has been almost continuous rain over the eastern side of the walk. Yesterday (Wednesday) was pretty dreadful.

I would be interested to know how anyone who has just completed the walk got on in the prevailing conditions.

Let me know when it's dried out.
Dave.

It needs to be well dried out for my route choice along the LWW... not forgot my 1st attempt yet! My heart goes out to those who've booked in advance, though at least they are heading for a warm dry overnight stop.
We said we needed rain...

Daytime temperature can range from 12c to 28c.These are extremes and the average is usually between 15-22c.Its unlikely to drop below zero at night.Past experience has shown that if we get a wet April and May the weather tends to pick up a bit in June.

Above post is in reply to Bigmama's post about weather in June.Quotes went wrong.

Just seen the forecast for tomorrow (Sunday). Heavy rain and strong winds. Fencing will have to wait! Hope someone in a TIC rings in drunk.

Apparently this April is about to be recorded as the wettest April on record.
It's defo blowing and pouring down here in Lancs at the mo.
Yesterday I was watching the annual Yorks 3 Peaks race. It was really really windy even in the dales, but blue skies all around. The air ambulance was called in to someone who came to grief descending Whernside.
Dave.

Just the other side of Skipton, it's like winter all over again cant remember a wet April like this going to last into May as well.

Re: My last, Ive just heard that the air ambulance was for a competitor taking part in the annual 'Fellsman' which coincided this year with the 3 Peaks.
Dave.

Are you coming over here just to do the C2C? If so, I'm impressed. (And also curious as to why)

Anyway I do hope the weather picks up for you. It is such a glorious walk, and so much more enjoyable when you can savour the scenery and take your time, rather than keeping your head down as you pick your way through bogs!

Good luck, and hope to hear how you get on

Hi folks, usually at this time of the year this old gal is in training and all the planning is in place. However, the FourWalkers are off to New Zealand.... for a tour of both islands and some walking - weather permitting; it's winter down there so this wet cold weather may cease here in June while we will be in the middle of winter!!

Perhaps we have been in training after all.
Reading the blogs has made me realise that I shall have to do that blooming walk again, it really gets under your skin.

Best of luck to all those doing the walk this year and keep safe.

Update on the Fellsman that was held last Sturday/Sunday.
This is an annual Ultra Marathon of 60 miles for runners and walkers.
As ive said I was there watching the Yorkshire 3 Peaks and conditions were extremely windy with severe buffeting on the tops, it was also unusually cold. I wore a full goretex mountain jacket that I normally only wear in the winter. Beneath this I wore a good thermal base layer and a Marino Wool second layer, gloves and Goretex cap. I was absolutely freezing, it felt as though the wind just got through the lot, everyone was feeling the cold.
Anyway the lady helicoptered off in the Fellsman had a supsected broken leg. As temperatures dipped further after sunset and the wind continued. The Fellsamn was abandoned due to the number of competitors going down with Hypothermia. The winner however went round that fast that he had finished beforehand in a little over 11 hours, but an hour down on his winning time of last year.
Here in Lancs today the sun is back out after torrential rain yesterday and the wind has lessened.
I can only say that I am glad I put off my attempt from this week.
Dave.

Interesting stuff from Dave.

I met a chap today who is walking LEJoG. This was his 30th day, so he's caught a lot of wet weather, and he's camped all the way.

On Sunday 29th April he was walking up Dovedale (i.e. generally north), going from Thorpe to Youlgreave. At times the wind was so strong that he couldn't move into it.
This is a big strong man with years of experience, 29 days of walking 18 to 20 miles a day (therefore fully fit), and he was struggling on a low-level route where the wind was funnelled down a deep and narrow valley.

Several years ago I fell into conversation with a Scot who had climbed in the Himalayas. He was in the English Lake District, just picking off some 2000-footers for recreation. On three successive days the wind had driven him back when attempting to walk up High Raise (back of the Langdale Pikes) which is not the sort of hill you can easily fall off.

The point of all this recollection is that there are times when we should be smart enough to give in to the weather. There's no shame in running away and turning to fight again, and nature's bigger than any of us.

End of "sermon" lol.

I have a friend who has just finished the Camino "Way of St James".

34 days to finisterre and it's rained or snowed every day. It's not just the British weather.

It can get mighty windy in The Peak District. Last November I swear I was blown onto my backside on Chrome Hill and I'm packing 18 stone and 6 ft 1 inches. As you say I decided to stay just off the top to fight another day!

I was working last Sunday in wind driven rail all day. Visibility was 50m and there was nobody out. After work I collected my wife and we drove over the A66 in sleet and a temperature of 3 degrees.

The next four days in the Lakes were glorious. The hills are in perfect walking condition, the views outstanding, the paths dry and the bogs non existent. Yesterday I went up Ladyside Pike and Grisedale in unbroken sunshine passing people in summer clothing. Temperature at the start was 17 degrees.

Today, when we woke up it was cold, wet and windy. Temp 6 degrees.

The English weather!

Working over the Bank Holiday and the forecast is awful.

Good for you, slowcoach!
I've been waiting ages for someone to mention Ladyside Pike. When you stand on top of Dent Hill on a fairly clear day, you can see a lot of the Lake District peaks. The one off to the left, round about where Skiddaw ought to be if you could see it, is Ladyside Pike. How appropriate that you've posted your weather remarks on the C2C page and mentioned this nice place.

A couple of years ago I did try and scramble down to LP from Hopegill Head but gave up as the conditions were against me and the rocks were far too slippery. Yesterday, however, I walked from Swinside and the scramble up from it to HH was quite pleasant.