Keswick Week Away February 2019


East Lancs spent a week in Keswick in February 2019. Thanks to Jeanette, Rosie and Kim who have sent some pictures of the week.

 

23/2/2019

 

Leader Roger Jackson - Walk - Borrowdale , High Spy , Cat Bells 11.5 miles  3000ft ascent.

 

On a bright sunny day seventeen  walkers set off from a car park near Skeigill. Initially following Cat Bells terrace, then at the end, of the  lake, continuing on to Grange for our morning coffee ( and  cake ) , stop  at a delightful café , sat outside in the sunshine.  We then  headed down Borrowdale valley passing  Castle Crag and shortly after turning right up the rather steep Tongue Gill .  On route passing through an old mineworks  just before reaching the top near Dale Head Tarn.  Then another steep climb up to the top of High Spy at 2350ft the highest point the day , also our  lunch stop. A little windy but fine views all round. Mostly down hill now dropping onto Maiden Moor at the end of  which we had one  of the great views in the lakes , looking down on Cat Bells and over to the right Derwent Water with Keswick n the  distance.  Continuing downwards then a short climb to the top of Cat Bells. Retracing our steps then turned right  down the valley to the car park.

 

 

24/2/2019

 

Leader Steve Clark - Walk  -  Blencathra via Halls Ridge 13.5 miles 3100ft ascent

 

A party of fourteen walkers set off from Hazelwood House on another fine day , following the old railway line we then headed by forest trail , minor roads and a series of fields.to  the picturesque village of Threlkeld. Here  we enjoyed a coffee break in the village hall. Now for the hard bi,t back up to the fields and the steep climb up Hall's Fell onto the ridge followed by a  pleasant scramble which brought us directly to  Blencathra trig point. After photos we dropped  down out of the wind for our lunch stop. Next we followed the ridge in the direction of Keswick to eventually turn left steeply downhill  towards the Blencathra Centre. From there back towards the  old railway line and retrace our steps back to the house.

 

 

252/2019

 

Iain Connell.- Walk-  Fellbarrow,  Darling Fell & Loweswater  8 miles

 

Loweswater is only two miles from Crummock Water. To its North is an Open Access area topped by Fellbarrow and Darling Fell, two satisfyingly unvisited but relatively low (by Lakes standard) peaks. On the fourth of six impossibly warm and sunny February days, a couple of car-loads took a non-too-strenuous access route via Pants Lane. The Col With No Name took us to the summit of Fellbarrow (416m), from where fences and walls with stiles lead to Sourfoot Hill (too low for a spot height). Some easy yomping and fence-climbing later we crested Darling Fell (319m), so stunned by the views of Crummack and Boromir (see photo) that we forgot what they're called. A very steep but wholly un-eroded descent - what Lakes paths must have once been like - took us back to the lakeside, from where an easy but oddly confusing - for some anyway - circuit did what it said on the tin.

 

26/2/2019

 

Leader Roger Halliwell -  Walk -  Skiddaw 12.5  miles  3000ft ascent

 

Again setting off from the house   leaving Keswick by the old railway line  then over a series of fields to start the climb up 3000ft Skiddaw, via Carl Side.  Around half way up , just after passing Ullock Pike on the left we had a short coffee  and  to get our breath break. Then continued up an extremely steep climb to reach the main ridge, there we turned left for the summit and lunch in the shelter. Onward  down the main ridge for half a mile before heading left down to Skiddaw House Hostel in the  valley. From here initially followed he Cumbria Way then  Glenderaterra Beck down to the Blencathra centre and from there again on to the old Railway line and back to the house..



27/2/2019

 

Leader Roger Jackson - Walk - Grisedale Pike , Hopegill Head , Grasmoor and Crag Hill , 12.5 miles  4300ft ascent.

 

Starting off from a small car park in Brathwaite off the Whinlatter road , with a steady ninety minute climb to the  top of Grisedale  where we had our morning coffee stop with  a grand  view back down the valley and  over to the  tops on the other side. We then followed the ridge to Hopegill Head . A quick team photograph , then headed over Sand Hill and dropped down to Coledale Hause.  From there , passing waterfalls on our right found  a small path up the front of Grasmoor onto  the flat summit then continued round the edge to reach  the trig point at the far end for our lunch stop in the shelter. Continued round the edge and dropped off Grasmoor and up to the top of Grag Hill. Next. down the Scar a steep path including small scrambles , at the bottom  contoured Sail Hill  then down the valley , over Outerside and dropped into back into Braithwaite for a pint in the Coledale Inn.

 

28/2/2019

 

Leader Steve Clark - Walk - Robinson , Hindscarth , Dale Head  , 13.5 miles 3300ft ascent.

 

 

On a cloudy but dry day twelve  walkers set off from the car park near Skeigill. Initially heading over the fields down to Little Town , over the bridge , up the valley , then a sharp right up a short but steep climb onto the main  ridge to Robinson. Nice walk along the top , including two enjoyable scrambles , to eventually reach the summit  of Robinson. Bit misty  on the top but better views when we dropped down before ascending the shoulder of Hindscarth.to reach our lunch stop at the trig point. then continued along the main path and up to Dale Head top marked by a large cairn  ,  great place for photograph. Now  heading down to find a small path  on the left which crossed under Dale Head Crags and then zig zagged  down to the valley floor. Having crossed the stream we remained on the main path down the valley then turned sharp right , just before Little Town , and then left and with Cat Bells high above us on the right  headed back to our parking place at Skeigill.