Scafell Pike with KR Guided Walks

Sunday's forecast was excellent so I was surprised that only four people were waiting for me in Keswick at 9am for the programmed walk up Scafell Pike.  Two I were expecting because they had been in contact by e-mail and the others turned up on the day having seen our programme at the Information Centre in Keswick.

To ensure we didn't end up with a rush to catch the last bus from Seatoller after our walk we took cars down to Seathwaite so we were on the fell by 10am.  Everywhere is very dry at the moment and there was very little water in the streams.  We followed the west bank of Sty Head Gill  with a bit of a scramble above Taylor Force and were able to climb the slabs in the stream for some of the way without getting wet - apart from Mick who slid in at one point but he soon dried off!

after a fun bit of scrambling above Taylor Force - don't look down!

a much more interesting path to Styhead than via Stockley Bridge



wonderful view back to Styhead from Corridor Route


From Sty Head Tarn we joined the throng up to Sty Head and then followed the Corridor Route along the flanks of Great End and Broad Crag, gently ascending all the way.  As we had made good time we diverted to the top of Lingmell for a quiet lunch before climbing to the summit of Scafell Pike. 

view to Great Gable - Skye really wants me to through a stick in the tarn; not much chance up here!

Lingmell is a much nicer and more interesting summit than that of Scafell Pike really with fabulous views in all directions.

to Styhead from Lingmell with superb pinacles above Piers Gill

From the bouldery wilderness that is Scafell Pike we boulder hopped our way towards Great End and down to Calf Cove - look out for the iron ring to tie up your pony next time you are there!  All down hill now over Esk Hause and down by Ruddy Gill and Grains Gill.  I could really have done with a cup of tea when we got down - such a pity that the tea room at Seathwaite Farm is no longer open.

Glorious Saturday on Jack's Rake

Not the fastest ascent of Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark but one of the most satisfying!  I first did this scramble a good many years ago with my three year old son bounding up just in front of me.  This time it was with five mum's who had left their families at home for the week and were keen to get a bit of adrenalin flowing!

pause for reflection half way up but don't look down! ( I didn't get much chance to take phoyos on the steep bits!)

A stroll across to Pike o'Stickle was easy and a time to enjoy the views

Keswick Rambles 30th Birthday

Keswick Rambles has been leading visitors up the fells around Keswick for 30 years and today 20 of us enjoyed a celebratory hike up Helvellyn.  The forecast wasn't brilliant but in fact we managed to avoid the showers and fantastically clear views made up for the chilly wind and temperatures that made it feel more like February!

up the path beside Raise Beck

We took the bus to Dunmail Raise and climbed the path east up beside Raise Beck.  As we climbed we turned round every now and again to see increasing numbers of fells appearing above Steel Fell. Peaks such as Bowfell catching the sun looked no distance away.  As you reach the top of the beck Fairfield comes in to view and in time we could see Grisedale Tarn below us.  Time for coffee and a short break before a level stretch of grass and peat before climbing the path to Dollywagon Pike.  This path used to be a loose scree horror but has now been beautifully constructed in stone and the scree has become grass again -  Well done Fix the Fells!

path to Dollywagon Pike

Two hours to the top of Dollywagon where we enjoyed the extensive views in all directions

on Dollywagon with view down to Ullswater

views in the opposite direction to Great Gable and Scafells

A steady walk across Nethermost Pike to Helvellyn in a strong SW wind. Quite a relief to take shelter for lunch in the cross shelter on Helvellyn before a celebratory glass (only elderflower I'm afraid) and photos by Tom on the summit.  Across to Lower Man, down the ridge and up again to the top of Whiteside Bank.  Here we could see Alison who had been at work this morning and Dusk toiling up Whiteside.  A welcome sight because she was bearing the birthday cake which we enjoyed on the summit.

Downhill for the rest of the way to catch the bus back from Thirlspot to Keswick where we all enjoyed a drink at Bank Tavern.  A great day was had by all - here is to another 30 years of Keswick Rambles or KR Guided Walks

Keswick Mountain Festival 2011

Been too busy!! but at last an update on this years Keswick Mountain Festival.......

All of Keswick Rambles Walks went really well in spite of it being a really windy few days as you will see on the photos.  That led to minor route changes but all walks went ahead and everyone enjoyed themselves and is looking forward with anticipation to next year's Festival.

Here are a few photos to give you a taste of this years walks

On Wednesday and Sunday I took groups up Catbells.  Most people were new to walking in the Lake District and enjoyed the challenge of scrambling up the north ridge which was rather breezy although the wind didn't really hit us until we reached the summit.  On Wednesday Derwentwater was rather choppy giving us somewhat damp rides across the Lake but on Sunday the waves were too big for the boats to go out and we had to use a taxi at the start of the walk and return to Keswick by bus. (gave us time for tea & cakes at Shepherd's Caf!)


hold on to your hat

On Sunday we had every sort of weather - rain, wind, hail and sunshine - a wonderful introduction to Lake district walking


Sundays group on the summit of Catbells





view up the lake as we crossed the boardwalk









Thursday was my biggest walk of the Festival with a group of 12 up Great Gable and it was the day with the best weather. We started up beside Sour Milk Gill into Gillercombe and then took off up the grass towards the Hanging Rock and up onto the ridge of Base Brown. The glorious views back down Borrowdale from Base Brown gave us every reason to stop and turn around but soon we were looking forward to Green Gable and Great Gable as well as across to Great End.  There are so many superb views on this walk, the peaks we could see are too many to list. From the top of Gable we dropped down to Westmoreland Cairn to marvel at the view down Wasdale and onto the top Napes Ridge at our feet.



View north from Base Brown



some of the group

Friday was my day for Ullock Pike - windy again but a late start meant we missed the worst of the early rain. By the afternoon the cloud had lifted and the sun came out giving us lovely views across Newlands and Derwentwater as we descended from Carlside.  Up Dodd for more super views and a gentle stroll across the fields to Keswick - minor excitement when Skye disappeared for 10minutes in Dodd Wood!

up a windy ridge - rain has already stopped

Super view from Whitestones on the way down Carlside

On Saturday I went up Bessyboot, Rosthwaite Fell and Glaramara - one of my favourite walks, especialyy on a clear day.  Luckily we were sheltered from the wind for most of the way up and had it on our backs
as we came down Thornythwaite Fell.  A great day was had by all and we just beat the rain as we reached our cars!

Keswick Mountain Festival - Ullock Pike

Next week is the 5th Keswick Mountain Festival with lots of walks for you to join.

On Friday 20th May I have a walk along the ridge to the south west of Skiddaw - Ullock Pike, Longside Edge and Carlside. A delightful steady ascent from the toe of the ridge gives superb views down to Bassenthwaite Lake in one direction and across to Skiddaw in the other.  From Carlside, rather than turning left and slogging up the scree to Skiddaw we'll turn right and go down towards Dodd whilst enjoying the views over Newlands and Keswick.  From Dodd it's a zig zag down through the woods followed by a stroll across the fields back to Keswick. Rather less climbing than going all the way up Skiddaw (800m rather than 1000m) this walk gives you all the best bits of climbing Skiddaw without the scree!

Here are some photos from earlier trips on this walk to give you a feel for it.  If you would like to go to the top of Skiddaw by this route Alison and Halle are taking a group up for Keswick Rambles onWednesday 18th May, also as part of KMF.







View across to Newlands on a rather wild day in October 2010

 


On the same day in October looking down to Derwentwater

 





On Longside Edge in March this year, view to Ullock Pike





Catbells at Easter

Oh why did I volunteer to lead a Keswick Rambles walk up Catbells on Easter Sunday?  I love Catbells on a summer evening - but it will be busy, busy, busy at Easter, especially in this fantastic weather!

A small group joined me to cross Derwentwater in the launch.  We got off at High Brundelhow rather than Hawes End which is the usual starting point for Catbells with extra boats laid on for Easter. This meant we could enjoy a quiet start to our walk through Brundelhow Woods with the bluebells just coming out.  At the foot of Catbells we started to meet more people.  However, much to my surprise, the climb up the Catbells ridge was a delight with so many families enjoying their adventure.  Children love the scrambly route up and with everyone in holiday mood it was great to share their first real mountain.

Catbells from Maiden Moor

We paused only briefly on the summit as about 100 people must have been picnicing there!  Down to the col and on up to Maiden Moor was far quieter and we enjoyed our lunch with a super view into Borrowdale.  From the top of Maiden Moor we returned to Bull Crag and down steep grass into Yewthwaite Combe - not another soul here.  This way down is my favourite route off Maiden Moor except in summer when the bracken hides the path.

A rapid descent was made to Little Town where the Farm was serving tea and cakes - homemade corgette cake was scrummy.  Strolled back across the fields and just made it to Hause End in time for the launch.

Whiteside Ridge on a glorious day

One of my favourite walks in the Lake District especially in such glorious weather.  We took the 77 Honister Rambler bus round to Lanthwaite Green before climbing the rocky path up Whin Ben and on up to the beginning of Whiteside ridge.  The views back down over Crummock Water were stunning and as we climbed we could see more and more summits peeping out over the neighbouring ridges.

You can see from the picture how Whiteside got its name - the rocky outcrops on the eastern slopes of the ridge glistened in the sunshine. There is a mile of undulating, twisting ridge (and a stop for lunch and enjoying the view) to enjoy before you reach the summit of Hopegill Head.  Superb views to the east right across to Helvellyn, Langdale Pikes and Scafells as well as to the west across the Cumbrian coast to the Solway Firth, Scotland and, just visible, the Isle of Man.

From the summit of Hopegill Head another mile or so of ridge walking brought us to Grisedale Pike and a descent down the ridge to Braithwaite nad ice creams before catching the bus back to Keswick.

On Whiteside Edge with Hopegill Head behind