Day (Wednesday) started as normal for a Lakes day with a
quick run up the
M6. The views from the Kirkstone clear and sharp. Arrived in
Glenridding at
8.45am and set off at 9.00am.
Walked back along the road towards Patterdale and turned up
the road at Grisedale Bridge and started looking for the
footpath towards Arnison Crag. Found the first part but
lost it and ended up with a lost 15 minutes round Home Farm
before finally picking the path up again. The path lead
ever upwards with better and better views of Ullswater as I
got higher. The summit was reached quite quickly and after
a brief rest set off for Trough Head. Picked up the wall
there and followed it onto the ridge of Birks quite close
to the top. Very steep hereabouts. The ridge to St Sunday
Crag stretched away to the summit. Very pleasant walking
with good views across Grisedale. From the summit of St
Sunday Crag descended the ridge towards Fairfield bur
dropped of the ridge down towards Grisedale Tarn. Steep at
the top but quickly flattening out. A really good path all
the way to the tarn, round the tarn and low gear again to
get up Seat Sandal.
So far the walk had been good, weather was sunny and getting
warmer and there were not too many people around. The path
up to Dollywagon however was another matter, lots of people
going up and down.. Dropped down off Seat Sandal (almost due
North) and then straight up the steep southern face of
Dollywagon. No real path here just a wall to guide in the
right direction. Came of the slope at the metal post on the
path (? anyone any idea what the post is about). Crossed the
path and headed for the summit of dollywagon followed by
High Crag and Nethermost Pike and finally Helvellyn. This
bit of the walk was quite different crowds of people about.
Didn't stop on Helvellyn summit cause there was nowhere to
sit. Went round to Lower Man and then Whiteside. Stopped
here for a late lunch and peace again. The walk down to
Raise was hard as I stiffened up and the climb to the summit
was not good, fortunately the walk down to Sticks Pass was
easier as I loosened up. The climb up to Stybarrow Dodd
seemed long and I realised I was getting quite tired. The
original plan was to trot along to Watson's Dodd and Great
Dodd and then return to Stybarrow but after due
consideration I gave it a miss.
Dropped down towards White Stones (Greenside) and followed
the path round to Hartside. Lovely walking here, no path to
speak of and no people. In fact the last person I had seen
was at the Sticks Pass and I didn't meet anyone else until I
got back into Glenridding.. Another rest at Hart Side and
then the long gradual climb to the summit of White Stones.
Noticed here the batteries on my GPS had flattened so
changed them for the spares. Looking at the screen I had
lost about a hundred metres. Started off down the path
towards Sheffield Pike and was surprised to find myself very
close to the edge of the disused quarries. Not a place I
like to be in cloud. Crossed Nick Head and wondered about
abandoning the rest of the route and escape by dropping down
to the mines but didn't in the end. Very tired now with knee
lateral ligament starting to play up. Top of Sheffield Pike
arrived and went past. The descant to Glenridding Dodd was
painful and slow but finally I was on the top of Glenridding
Dodd. Last of water used up here (cannot recall passing
running water in the whole of the day) together with last of
food. The final walk down into Glenridding was taken slowly
but eventually arrived back at the car at 7.40pm very
knackered but very pleased with the day.
All in all a great day, good views and much of the walk done
without too many people around.
Walk summary
9.77 miles Height Ascended 2061 metres Time 10 hours 40
minutes 13 Wainrights (10 of which were new to me)
Oh well just done the Naismith calc which gives 9.27 hours
for the walk. I am unfit.
Mike Mason