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

Keswick Rambles on Grisedale Pike

My first Keswick Rambles Guided walk of the new season.  We had a delightful day walking the western Lake District Fells with glorious views across to the coast and into the heart of the Lake District. 

scrambling to the top of Hobcarton Crag

The 77 Stagecoach bus (Honister Rambler) gives super access so that we could be dropped off a mile beyond the Whinlatter Visitor Centre in a perfect place to begin our walk. A grassy trail through the trees above Hobcarton Beck was followed by a steady grassy climb onto Ladyside Pike - otherwise known as Lady's Seat to match Lord'Seat on the opposite side of Whinlatter. Along the ridge and a short scramble later brought us to the top of Hopegill Head (Hobcarton Crag) and lunch.  After meeting no one all morning the Hobcarton Cafe - bring your own food - was busy with at least a dozen others enjoying this lovely view point for their lunch.

After strolling the long ridge along to Grisedale Pike we descended the grassy ridge to Hobcarton End completing our circuit of Hobcarton Gill. After tea and cake at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre it was a pleasant walk down through the woods to catch the bus back to Keswick from Braithwaite.

This walk is on offer again during the Keswick Mountain Festival in May and can be booked on http://www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk/

Coast to Coast day 3

heavy sacks the penance for good weather

Yesterday Skye and I had a wonderful day out joining friends walking the Coast to Coast path.  We joined them for their 3rd day walking some of the Lake District section of the route.  The weather has been very kind with wall to wall sunshine ever since they started and yesterday was just as good; the only disadvantage being heavy sacks when there is no need to wear fleeces and waterproofs!

I met them from their B&B in Stonethwaite and off we went up by Greenup Gill, past Lining Crag to Greenup Edge. We made good time and were soon descending into Far Easedale. I had suggested Helm Crag but Chris was happier with the easier route; Patterdale still seemed a long way away. It was OK for me with my light day sack but Chris and Pat were more heavily laden.



gentle ascent by Tongue Beck



Rather than going through Grasmere we followed a path through delightful woodland past Lancrigg Vegetarian Hotel (resisting tea on the terrace with difficulty!) and took the back lane to Mill Bridge. Having climbed to 600m and then descended back down to 100m we now faced climbing back up to 600m at Grisedale Hause.  However we needn't have worried, the path up the eastern side of Tongue Gill was a delight.  Good underfoot with extensive stretches stonelaid it was easy to walk and wasn't too steep.  Adding to this the delightful sounds of the beck that accompanied us I found this a much better way up to the Hause than the way up Little Tongue which I had used in the past. 

good stonelaid path up to Grisedale Hause

At Grisedale Hause we parted and I desended to Dunmail Raise to get the bus back to Keswick and Chris and Pat went down to Grisedale Tarn and from there to Patterdale where they were staying the night. It is a great pity that there is no direct bus service from Patterdale to Keswick.  Until 2009 there was an excellent summer service but unfortunately there was no funding for 2010 ands there is no service this year either.

I had a super view back towards Fairfield which I should have enjoyed again today with my Keswick Rambles walk today.  Sadly no one turned up outside the Moot Hall at 10am (I suppose it was trying to rain and horrid compared with yesterday!) so Skye and I walked back home again. The forecast was for a much better afternoon and as I write this at 1 o'clock the sun has come out and the clouds are lifting.  Don't forget that Keswick Rambles leaders will always be their at the adverised time to give you a good walk whatever the weather!

Fairfield and Grisedale Tarn