Keswick Mountain Festival 2012 Rannerdale Bluebells

Rannerdale is famous for its bluebells in the Spring.  If you are lucky the gorse will be in flower too and even the hawthorn.

Rannerdale in April

Our walk during the Festival in May will include not only the walk up Rannerdale itself but also the stroll along the ridge of Rannerdale Knott and round the lake shore of Crummock Water.  The exact route will depend on the conditions on the day because the way off Rannerdale Knott, though short is quite steep and can be slippery in the wet.

Keswick Mountain Festival 2012 Great End the Wilderness Way

As part of Keswick Mountain Festival 2012 I shall be leading a walk over Seathwaite Fell and up Great End via the Band on Thursday 17th May next year.  This superb walk threads an almost untrod way over an area of fell which many people think they know well.  Loads of you will have walked up to Sty head Tarn and past Sprinkling Tarn to Esk Hause but how many have explored the fell beyond Sprinkling Tarn? You may gave plodded over the boulders above Esk Hause to the top of Great End but how many have realised that the forboding cliffs of the north face of Great End hide a delightful ridge with easy scrambling?

Here are a few photos from an ascent of Great End by this route in 2009.

Route up the grassy rake to the Band from above Sprinkling Tarn


Sprinkling Tarn with Skiddaw in the distance

View back down to Seathwaite Fell and Borrowdale from the ridge



View across to Great Gable with Styhead Tarn below

 I can't promise such glorious weather as there was on this day but why don't you come and join me. Go on the KMF site to book  http://www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk/

Grade C up Castle Crag with KR Guided Walks

Forecast was for showers but I was delighted to have 10 walkers for my walk yesterday.  We all enjoyed a short sharp climb from Rosthwaite into Johnny's Wood which is full of mossy oaks above a carpet of grass and bracken.  Branches overhead sheltered us from the worst of the showers which seemed to have gone by the time we emerged from the shelter of the trees to climb the grassy path through the bracken to the summit of High Doat above Seatoller.  A lowly 283m high this is a superb viewpoint.  Even today there were glimpses of Great Gable and Great End as well as a super view up Coombe Gill to Glaramara.



on top of Castle Crag

 As showers continued to scud across we crossed to the Allerdale Ramble and walked down Borrowdale towards Castle Crag where we lunched in the shelter of a dry stone wall.  Just 6 joined me in the ascent of Castle Crag on rather damp rock.  After enjoying the superb views from the summit we descended to meet the others and return to Rosthwaite in perfect time for the 3pm bus back to Keswick


returning down the waste rock that is Castle Crag!





Back together for the return to Rosthwaite



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

Grasmere to Borrowdale with KR Guided Walks

Wednesday 24th August - Half an hour late into Grasmere by bus we started up the path by Sourmilk Gill in drizzle.  In waterproofs by the time we reached Easedale Tarn and in cloud by the time we got to the top of Blea Crag.  A short stop for lunch and then as we resumed our walk along the ridge ......... as if by magic the steep cliff of Harrison Stickle appeared through the mist.  

This is what makes it all worth while as soon the view down to Stickle Tarn and across to Pavey Ark and Harrisons was sharp and clear before us.

On up to the top of Sergeant Man for 2nd lunch and the opportunity to enjoy the view.

Gentle stroll to our highest point of High Raise before downhill all the way over Lining Crag and down to Stonethwaite.  Even a shower as we descended was only a slight dampner though I am now sporting a colourful bruise having not followed my own advise on taking care on the wet stone steps beside Lining Crag!


Just got home in time to go over to Braithwaite and earn a chocolate bar by doning a pint of blood.

Bessyboot to Glaramara

One of my favourite LakeDistrict walks across a grassy wilderness between rocky outcrops.  A group of seven walkers aged from 9 to well on in their 70s joined me for this KR Guided Walk yesterday.

climbing beside Stanger Gill

A steep but well graded stone path leads up beside Stanger Gill with wonderful views back down to Stonethwaite and the Borrowdale Valley.  Then a tiny grassy path threads its way to the source of the stream and a final scramble to the top of Bessyboot.



looking down to Stonethwaite



time for a drink and lunch



Down to Tarn at Leaves and up to Rosthwaite Cam. Young Joe was leading the way so it wasn't quite my usual route!  After a scramble to the summit cairn it was time for first lunch before going around the Great Hollow to Coombe Door and thence up to Coombe Head.  By now the sun was shining and the views were superb - just Great Gable had its head in the cloud.



By the time we reached the top of the scramble up to Glaramara the wind was rising and the weather was on the turn so after second lunch in a sheltered corner it was on down Thorneythwaite Fell.  The rain started as we waited for the bus but everyone agreed that it had been an excellent day







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the Team



Skye resisting temptation!