Lake District 27th July 2012

Lakes 27th July 2012-Carrock Fell& High Pike
(Pathfinder Guide: north & West Lakeland, Walk#19)
(6.5 Miles, 4 Hrs, 45 mins)

We left Hunday Manor on Friday morning, and headed for the A66 and near Mugrisdedale passing thorugh Mosedale (next village along from Mungrisedale), parking at the roadside with a few other cars directly opposite Carrock Fell. 

At 11:00 we set off, it looked rather daunting and a very steep ascent.

It was, and took ages to reach anywhere near the top, extremely slow and careful progress. It was very quiet though and we saw only one group of three people on the way up (we let them pass!)

Frequent stops were made to admire the views, and the weather was pretty good, even some sunshine some of the time and no mist.

Once to the top of the steepest part, we still had quite some way to go, and had only travelled 1.2 Miles in well over an hour and a half!)

Through heather and gorse tracks the ascent continued, now more gradually, before getting rockier near to the summit of Carrock Fell.

The path became much less distinct (vanished!), and we just followed the Satmap on the suggested best line up with paths that were on the map.  Eventually we got up onto the top, and reached a false summit. The actual cairn was another half mile further on but over easier ground.

The rather windy Summit of Carrock Fell (2154ft). Good views over to Blencathra.

Coming off Carrock Fell we headed over the other side and followed a grassy and sometimes boggy track with High Pike our next objective in the distance about 1.5 miles away. 

Looking back to Carrock Fell from where we came.

The ascent to High Pike was gradual and easy from here (as we were still at around 2000ft)

The summit cairn of High Pike (2157ft), and there was even a stone bench to sit on and admire the view. Thats another two Wainwrights in the bag, 26 done, only another 188 to go!!

The descent was nice and easy, down old mine tracks and very gradual, before opening out into a lower level valley track.

Even a ford in the road way as we neared the end.

Then the last bit along the B-road to the car.

That ascent to Carrock fell looks pretty steep!!

Finally back, and thorougly enjoyed this walk, though the start was very steep and hard going, once up there its much easier and an absolute joy - worth the slog.

We set off back to sunny Cleethorpes around 16:00, and arrived home in good time around 19:30

Our Walk Score: 7.5/10

Lake District 26th July 2012

We arrived at our next hotel, Hunday Manor, late afternoon on Wednesday.
Hunday Manor is a large manor house located close to Workington and the west coast of Cumbria. It is sat in open countryside, more or less on its own and seems as it is used for weddings and conferences on a regular basis.
 We stayed for two nights on another KGB deal at £99 incl. cold buffet breakfast. Whilst the hotel looked very nice in most aspects, the room was good (though there was no bath, just a shower), there didn't appear to be many guests staying there.

We ate that evening in the restaurant, and the food was very good, but there were no others dining in there, just us, and no ambience at all, no background music, nothing!
Good service though, as there was no one else to serve! We decided not to dine there the following evening, though not a reflection on the food as it was very good, we just couldn't face sitting there in the silence.

Web Link : Hunday Manor Hotel



Lakes 26th July 2012 - Rannerdale Knotts
(North & West Lakeland Pathfinder Guide)
(Walk#4  3 Miles, 2 Hours)

With a potentially rainy forecast we set off after breakfast (we did see some other hotel guests this morning, but not many!), for Honister.

A slate mine tour for 10:30 was the plan, and rain was coming down as we left the hotel.
However, as we neared the Honister area there was no rain and it was dry, so we switched to plan "B", did a fly-past of the mine and carried on to Buttermere for a short walk.

We parked in the National Trust car park just up from the Fish Hotel and the village (free parking for N.T. members).

The walk then started almost immediately opposite this car park with a gap across the road leading onto a narrow grassy track adjacent a dry-stone wall.

This then opened out onto a wider grassy, heather/gorse lined path that slowly ascended.

The view back to Buttermere to the left and Crummock Water to the right.

There appeared to be many paths to choose from after a while, many going through various lines in the heather and gorse.

Eventually after about three-quarters of a mile, we turned off along a track left and towards Rannerdale Knotts.

Here you can see the wide ridge at around 1000ft, leading onto Rannerdale Knotts, with good views down to the lakes.

Nearer to the summit a short scramble up some rocks and then not far to the summit cairn.

Rannerdale Knotts Sumitt Cairn (1164ft)

Before long it was time to come down, and we followed the same route back along mainly easy grassy paths.

Whilst this had been a short walk, it was very enjoyable with good views (though cloud at the tops of higher fells).

We finished back at the car park, changed our boots, and drove the short distance to the Fish Hotel for one of their fabulous (and very filling) salads.

After a late lunch we had an hour or two in Keswick before heading back to the hotel.

Our Walk Score: 7/10