Striding Edge with KR Guided Walks

Though I've taken private clients along Striding Edge quite frequently this was a first for me with KR Guided Walks. The main difference is that with private clients there is some scope for choosing the day whereas with the KR programme you just hope for good conditions on the day fixed in the programme.

well made path up by Myers Beck

view back to Ullswater

Anyway, the forecast for last Monday was pretty reasonable and six of us plus Skye took the bus over to Glenridding. Fairly low cloud and a bit of a shower as we climbed by Myers Beck and no sign of the summit of Helvellyn as we reached Birkhouse Moor and approached the Hole in the Wall.

But as we left the footpath to follow the grassy first part of the ridge we could see views down into Grisedale and the cloud was swirling around Striding Edge giving tantalising glimpses of the rocky ridge to come.

still misty as we started along the ridge

Once we reached the ridge proper the cloud was lifting, the rock was drying and we were able to enjoy the scrambling. Some of the group were faster and more confident than others so I coaxed the tail enders while others went at their own speed waiting for the rest of us at convenient places. Congratulations are due to all - no one 'cheated' and walked along the path on the side of the ridge!!

it's like a pavement!

Skye is waiting

Bit chilly and breezy on the summit, a photo by the cairn and then a well earned lunch in the shelter- this is Skye's favourite time of the day especially on Helvellyn where he can disappear to other sides of the shelter and scrounge tit bits without me seeing and telling him off!

There we were views in all directions too though brightest and clearest down to Ullswater in the north east. After feasting our stomachs and our eyes we followed the clear path down to the west reaching the valley at Wythburn Church and catching the bus back to Keswick.

Weather in the Lake District!!!

Gill in spate at Glenridding - fortunately there was a bridge!

compare this with a sunny Watendlath

a bedraggled Skye on Catstycam

this view of Skiddaw is hard to beat

What weather we've been having - it keeps switching from glorious sunny days with fabulous views of distant hills to soaking wet days with swollen rivers and sodden feet! Throughout it all KR Guided Walk's clients have enjoyed memorable walks smiling through the rain or exhilarating in the sunshine.  Here are a few photos from this last weeks walks as illustration.

Rex crossed easily but what about us?

sunshine on Causey Pike and fantastic views

wet but still smiling returning from Catstycam

can you see Scafell in the distance?

Newlands Round with KR Guided Walks

Seems hard to imagine the heat we had on this day and it was only two weeks ago!

view down to High Snab Bank and Newlands Valley

We started by climbing the steep grass slope onto High Snab Bank. This leads to an almost horizontal ridge followed by short scrambles and a steady climb to the summit plateau of Robinson.

Skye in tarn at top of Robinson with Scafells clear in the distance

 At last a breeze and water for Skye!

Our planned route was to descend to Newlands Hause and return over the ridge of Ard Crags. Delightful though this route is we were making good time and wanted to stay high to get the best of the breeze so we headed east rather than west to enjoy the ridge to Hindscarth and Dale Head.

on the top of Dale Head

another dip for Skye

Steeply down the grass to Dale Head Tarn and it was decision time again - down to Borrowdale or up some more to take in High Spy. On such a good day the choice was clear and High Spy it was ..... and Maiden Moor.......and Catbells.

Catbells - the final summit!

 THE WHOLE NEWLANDS ROUND 16KM AND NEARLY 1200m ASCENT

Glorious Crinkles with KR Guided Walks

view across to Langdale Pikes

Many thanks to Pete and Lyn for choosing to go to Scotland to bag some more Munroes in this glorious weather.  It gave me the chance to go over to Langdale and climb the Crinkles and Bowfell on one of those days when the breeze on the tops made it far pleasanter to be up high rather than in the valley..

We took the steep but well made path up beside Browney Gill towards Red Tarn. A well earned rest gave us the opportunity to turn round and enjoy the view of Langdale Pikes with little figures climbing the crags above the Old DG.



Above the tarn the path curves west and a slight diversion to the top of Great Knott was the chance for a sit down and look at where we would be going across the Crinkles.

The route across the Crinkles ridge was super with a pleasant breeze and lovely dry rock.  Skye earned his scrambling colours by managing the Difficult Step which was more than some of the humans did! Dillbert and the rest of us took the short diversion to the right of the crag and soon joined Skye on the top. No photo of his amazing feat I'm afraid - I was too busy being poised to catch him if he fell off!

superb view of the Scafell Range

Skye enjoying the view down Langdale!

The views in all directions were fantastic particularly those across Eskdale to the Scafells and right across to the Penines and south to Morecombe Bay.

The dogs were relieved when at last we came across water and they both plunged into the tarn.

Bowfell from Crinkles

At the Three Tarns some of the group chose to sit in the sun (or shade) while Joan, Skye and I made a pack free dash up Bowfell where we could see how close we really were to Borrowdale and home turf!

Then it was a gentle descent down The Band for a well earned beer at the Old DG and a lie down under the table for the dogs.

If you haven't yet walked with KR Guided Walks have a look at our programme and come and join us

Icy Walking on High Seat

At last some better weather!  Last Sunday I had a superb walk along the ridge to the east of Derwentwater.  In summer it's a very wet and boggy place so I only come here when it is frozen.

view across Keswick from Bleabury Fell

Five Wainrights - Walla Crag, Bleabury Fell, High Seat, High Tove and Armboth Fell which even Wainright wondered why he went there. The views were excellent and with the longer daylight we could drop down to Thirlmere by Harrop Tarn though we nearly missed the bus when Skye disappeared on the descent.



This shows why I choose an icy day!

Skye on High Tove with view to Helvellyn

From Whiteside Pike along the ridge to Grisedale Pike

Old friends and new joined me for my KR Guided Walk up Whiteside yesterday.  With a good forecast the 77 bus over Whinlatter and round to our starting point at Lanthwaite Green was standing roon only.

A steep climb up through glorious heather over Whin Rigg and up to the Whiteside West top was rewarded by a superb view all the way along the ridge.

I love the feeling up here of being on the edge of the mountains. The coastal plain stretches out in one direction to the Solway Firth whilst in the other Grassmoor and Crag Hill are just the closest of many Lakeland Peaks.  



view along the ridge to Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike

A bit hazy today but you could still see line upon line of ridges with Helvellyn cloud free to the east.





Lunch in a sheltered hoolow on the ridge was followed by Hopegill Head, Sand Hill and Grisedale Pike before carefully descending the ridge over Sleet How to Braithwaite



all the group on Grisedale Pike



Haystacks with KR Guided Walks on August Bank Holiday Saturday

Skye enjoying the view down Buttermere

The forecast was poor for last Saturday but I expected more than one for my Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks Guided Walk.  But wasn't I glad that Merritt turned up!   The weather exceeded all expectations and we had a glorious day. 



Merritt & Skye as we climbed Fleetwith Pike

 A slight shower as we went up Fleetwith Pike ridge and then sunshine with dappled shadows for the rest of the walk and superbly clear distant views. 

So don't assume that a Bank Holiday will mean we have large groups!  Why not give us a ring or email beforehand to check and tell us to expect you

Skye enjoying Innominate Tarn