Saturday - Great Wood car park - Ashness Bridge - Walla Crag
Clare and I left Hampshire at 0645 and headed north on the A34, M40 and on
to the M6 Toll Road. Stopped for breakfast at a service station north of
the toll section, then onwards to Keswick, arriving at 1230. It was a
gentle start to the week with a stroll up to Walla Crag from Great Wood car
park, just into Borrowdale from Keswick. Walla Crag isn't high or demanding
to get to, but it is a pleasant walk to the top. So, we left Great Wood
south along to Ashness Bridge, then left up the Fell and north to Walla
Crag. A coffee stop in the lee of the wind on Walla Crag then returned to
the car via Rakefoot Farm. After settling into our cottage, quite close to
Booths supermarket, we headed back along the A66 for an evening
talk/slideshow by Alan Hinkes. His show recounted his achievement on
Kanchenchunga, and in particular his completion of all 14 8000m plus peaks.
Dist: 4.3 mile
Ascent: 1368 ft
Sunday - Braithwaite - Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Crag Hill, Sail,
Causey Pike
Friends were coming over from North Yorkshire today for lunch, so not waning
to miss out on a day on the fells, I had an early start while Clare stayed
in bed. Up at 0515, I set off for the car park on the Whinlatter road just
outside Braithwaite village. First stop was Grisedale Pike where I had
breakfast at 0700. Bit chilly in the strong wind, but no rain. Next visit
was over to Hopegill Head and hazy views along Whiteside and down to
Crummock Water. A jaunt over Sand Hill down to Coledale Hause, then a
steady plod up between Eel Crag and Grassmoor, turning left up to the summit
of Crag Hill. Causy Pike was my next coffee stop, were I relaxed before
the steep descent down to the road at Stoneygill Farm. Skirting around
Barrow to Braithwaite village, I then followed the road back to the car.
Cracking outing, and looking forward to Sunday lunch in the Dog and Gun,
Keswick.
Dist: 9.85miles
Ascent: 4500ft
Monday - Scales, Scales Force, Foule Crag (east), Bannerdale Crags,
Bannerdale, Mousewaite Comb
A very wet outing, but none the less pleasant. Bit of a steep start around
Scales Fell, but a gentle walk then which took us to the col east of Foule
Crag. A short walk up the slopes brought us to the summit of Bannerdale.
The rain had eased a little by now, so we found a spot for lunch. Didn't
stay long though, inundated with midges .. the nasty beast. Anyway, dark
clouds were looming over Bowscale Fell so it was on our way down into
Bannerdale on the path down the slopes of The Tongue. And the heavy rain
arrived just as we started down the path. Some downpour. At the bottom,
just before Mungrisdale, we joined the path following the course of the
River Glendermackin then up to the top of Mousewaite Comb. Dropping down
into Mousewaite Comb, we were left with a short walk back to the car at
Scales.
Dist: 7.8miles
Ascent: 2400ft
Tues - Aitkin Knot, Ard Crag, Knott Rig, Newland Hause, Robinson, Hindscarth
Edge, Dale Head, Dalehead tarn, High Spy, maiden Moor, Cat Bells
More rain forecast for today, so Clare decided on a rest-day and I was off
alone. She dropped me off below Birkrigg Brow in dry and pleasant
conditions. First it was over Ard Crags and Knott Rigg to Newland Hause,
with a bit of a downpour on the way. Stopped by the time I reached Newland
Hause, so off waterproofs and up the path to Buttermere Moss. Plenty of low
clouds on the High Stile ridges, but the rain was holding off. Lunch on
Robinson, bit windy too, then off over Hindscarth Edge to Dale Head. And
the rain started soon after leaving Robinson (and never stopped again).
Another stop at Dalehead Tarn, then up to High Spy and over Maiden Moor.
Still some views through the rain as I made my way down to Cat Bells, my
final summit. Phoned Clare on the way down to confirm I was leaving the
hills ... and for her to pick up a 'soggy Sandy' from the car park. She
turned up just as I arrived - brilliant timing.
Dist: 11.5 miles
Height: 4600ft
Wed - Derwent Water circuit, Keswick, Nichol End, Ladore, Friars Crag
Although rain was forecast (heavy showers) Clare joined me and we did a
circuit of Derwent Water from our cottage in Keswick. We survived the rain
reasonably well, as most of the heavy showers arrived when we were close to
heavy canopied trees. They provided reasonable shelter. Although a flat,
it is still a great walk ...... and I finished off with a very tasty 'oggie'
(Cornish Pasty) from the shop opposite the Dog & Gun.
Dist: 9 miles
Ascent: 800ft
Thrs - Seatoller to Green Gable via Base Brown
Best weather so far today, plenty of sunshine and little wind. The
downside . as we discovered on our arrival back at Seatoller late afternoon,
was the terrible events in London. Bit subdued after a brilliant walk.
Well, the walk itself was down to Seathwaite Farm, then up the path
alongside Sour Milk Gill. Clare carried on through Gillercomb while I
ascended Base Brown via the direct route, passing below the Hanging Stone,
then to the top. I met up with Clare at the top of Gillercomb. She had a
rest at the path to Brandreth, while I carried on to Green Gable for a
couple of photos. On my return, we had lunch, then back over Brandreth and
down onto Fleetwith. Going right, it was on to the old tramline and down to
Honister Hause. A gentle stroll from Honister and we were back at
Seatoller . and the bad news from the National Trust guy at the car park.
Dist: 7.5 miles
Ascent: 2782ft
Fri - The Dodds from Cockley Moor
The last day fro walking, weather wise, was better than Thursday. Very hot,
no wind and few clouds. Plenty of water to carry too! Leaving the small
parking area near Cockley Moor, we followed the road down to Dockray.
Joining the path that took us around the eastern side of Watermillock
Common, we eventually arrived above Glencoynedale. We had brilliant views
across Ullswater along the way. Passing around Glencoynedale to the col
below Sheffield Pike, we turned right and ascended up to Greenside and along
to Stybarrow Dodd, our first Dodd of the day. After a long lunch break in
the sun, we crossed over to Watson Dodd then up to Great Dodd, our final
summit of the week. A long gentle descent over Matterdale Common brought us
back to the car. A grand end to a brilliant weeks walking.
Dist: 10.3 miles
Ascent: 2602ft
Photo-slideshow for each walk is at the web address below.
--
sandy saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
email: saunders.sandy at ntlworld.com
'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still
brings the same excitement'