Lake District 22nd/23rd (Sunday/Monday) June 2014

Lake District 22nd/23rd (Sunday/Monday) June 2014

 

 

Sunday: Grizedale Tarn (4.5 Miles)

 

After another rest day Saturday (Carlisle) and creaking around after the Newlands Adventure Friday , we decided on something shorter and easier. The whole week had been very warm and humid and all thoughts of a long walk up a fell had evaporated.

 

We had never visited Grizedale forest and so thats where we headed Sunday.

A good 50min or so drive from Portinscale we arrived at the Forest visitors centre car park around 10:30.

 

We registered for parking at the machines (pay when you leave) and went to find the visitors centre.

 

 

 

The forest has many walking and cycling trails and after a visit to the centres shop we bought both walking and cycling guides (£1.50 each) consisting of a fold-out map showing the individual trails. The walking routes are all colour coded and most are short and family orientated. All around the forest are various sculptures including wind-up musical trees (well mechanisms inset into trees that play a tinkly tune when wound).

 

The trail we chose to follow took us up to Grizedale Tarn through the forest in a loop back to the visitors centre area. It was just over 4 miles, and pretty easy going most of the way around, though there were some diversions around various forestry works.

 

The cycling routes look pretty good, mainly towards the easier end rather than steep mountain bike trails. Think we will definitely be back to cycle another time.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The paths are all well defined and colour coded signs make way finding easy.

 

 

Another "Sculpture" in the form of a large stile.

 

 

Another thing that was good was the separation between much of the bike and walking trails, they do meet up from time to time but most of our walk we saw few bikes. 

 

 

Grizedale tarn was pleasant and we ate lunch there enjoying the warmth of the day and nice surroundings. It was fairly quiet too for a Sunday, guess most were heading up the fells.

 

The return loop back to the visitors centre was more of the same type of forest tracks, and a slow short descent back down to the main track.

 

 

A framed view back near the visitors centre. There is a visitors shop selling souvenirs, and a cafe selling food and drinks in a courtyard type setting.

 

We had a brief rest there, before heading back to the car, paying for parking and heading back Keswick way (after a brief trip to Coniston for an ice cream).

 

 

Our Walk Score: 6.5/10

 

Monday: Cycle to Thelkeld then home.....

 

 

Another nice fine day, we packed the car and checked out of our accomodation.

We parked just up the road from the hotel in Portinscale, and decided we would cycle into Keswick then join the old railway track for the short cycle up to Threlkeld and back, about 10 miles all in. 

 

Narrow track before joining the main old railway track.....

Lots of old bridges and short tunnels along the way.......

We stopped off at the Horse & Farrier pub in Threlkeld village, had a drink there and headed back the way we came. Actually easier coming back as its a very slight upwards incline going from Keswick (though fair to say it is still flat really and easy going!)

Arriving back at Portinscale after a very short amble into Keswick town centre, we headed off home around early afternoon having had a brilliant week with good weather every day, and not a drop of rain all week..... not bad for the Lake District.

Lake District 20th June (Friday) 2014

Lake District 20th June (Friday) 2014

Newlands Horseshoe (11 Miles) - 10 Hours

 
After a "rest" day on Thursday visiting Ambleside, Hawkshead and Coniston, we planned a longer walk on Friday choosing the Newlands Horseshoe from Hawse End taking in the 5 Wainwright fells Cat Bells (1480ft), Maiden Moor (1890ft), High Spy (2067ft), Dale Head(2470ft) and Hindscarth (2385ft).

 

 

 

 

An early start we woke just after 05:30, leaving Portinscale just after 07:15 for the very short drive a few miles further along Derwent water to Hawse End. The parking is free, but very limited with room for maybe 7 or 8 vehicles. However, that early in the morning, no problem.

Even at the early hour of 07:30, the day began warm and bright, and we set off heading up the popular and well used path up Cat Bells (we were on our own today though!). 

 

The views over the lake were spectacular in the early morning light and the still calm on the leak with no boats this early. The sun piercing through the clouds illuminating the lake with reflections. It really was that beautiful, only a soft graduated filter used to tone down the brighter sky. 

The shots were taken from fairly low level about half-way up the first path up Cat Bells.

Cat Bells is often described as an easy "family fell", but there are easier to be honest. Its not difficult but has an initial ascending path, followed by a level stretch before ascending more steeply to the summit with a small scramble in the middle (OK an easy scramble, but its there!)
The name Catbells originates from "bell-shaped hill frequented by wild cats".

We had been up Cat Bells on a previous trip a couple of years ago, setting off later and sharing the summit with many others. Today we were alone, and enjoyed the solitude and the views. The shot above from the summit (1480ft) looks back over the path we had walked (the level section) and Derwentwater and other fells in the distance. (Skiddaw/Blencathra ranges)

After a short rest we headed over Cat Bells, descending slightly and following the wide ridge line across to Maiden Moor, ascending slowly to 1890ft.  The main path diverts away from the actual summit, so a short diversion right is required near to the edge looking down into the valley.

 

Joining back with the main path at narrow moor, the ridge line narrows leading up to a long, steady ascent up to High Spy (2142ft). The final ascent up to the cairn is steeper after a final dip down..... it did seem that the actual cairn was never going to appear! 

 

 

 

 

The very distinct cairn of High Spy (2142ft) with good views all around.

Though the day looks cloudy, it was very still with virtually no wind at all, even above 2000ft.  Very warm on the hillier ascents!

 



The view down the Newlands valley was spectacular, particularly when the sun pierced through the cloud, illuminating the valley floor.

From High Spy there followed a considerable drop down (though fairly steady, we dropped the best part of 700ft to Dale Head Tarn). By now we were meeting plenty of other walkers, most coming from the opposite direction. Not sure if we were doing the round the "wrong" way or whether the other walkers were on a different walk from us! Eventually we arrived at the tarn, rested, tested the water temperature (quite cold), and looked up ahead to the steep path to Dale Head! (Sorry no picture, we were too deep in thought contemplating what looked like an horrendous ascent up a very steep and rocky path).

It turned out, it was not that bad, tiring and slow progress, but not as bad as it looked. I went on ahead and took a few shots just below Dale Head (the path flattened after the main ascent, then there was still more to go to the summit, but less steep).

 

 

The 2 shots above and below show the view back across to High Spy and the ridge line we had walked. The shot below shows Sue nearly at the top and then a well earned rest before the final pull to the summit cairn.

Once we finally reached the summit of Dale Head (2470ft), we rested again, and enjoyed the views down to the valley and in the other direction to Buttermere.

 

 

The view coming down from Dale Head, looking over Buttermere. 

The view looking back to the path coming off Dale Head approaching Hindscarth Edge

 

An easy path off, before turning towards Keswick to follow the other side of the horseshoe back and a short ascent up and over Hindscarth (2385ft).

 

 

Susan celebrating completing the 5 Wainwrights, but we still had much to do to get down and back having only completed around 7 miles at this point.

Up and over Hindscarth, and the view ahead of the ridge line we had to follow. The path was rocky, narrow and near the edge in many places. In several places large rocks had to be negotiated in the line of the path, and even ducking and sliding beneath a rocky slab.

Thr path then descended.... fairly steeply, and was very rocky making progress very slow.
By now we were both getting tired, and the heat of the day seemed even warmer and more humid. The path appeared to go on forever and did not let up in its snaking, torturous, rocky, assault down. The pictures do not really show this. We have completed over 50 Wainwrights now, and this is the worst path down we have encountered so far, not particularly the steepness but its relentless rocky, tedious manner. This part was not enjoyable, and I cannot see how anyone could possibly procure any enjoyment from such a tedious path.

 

Eventually an end to it was in sight, and we finally arrived down at near Sea Level again.



The final 2.5 miles was mainly along narrow lanes and was virtually flat. The shot above shows the ridge we had descended down to the white farm buildings. We were hot, tired, and by now just wanted to finish to be honest. Even though the going was now easy the car park was a very welcome sight, and we arrived back at Hawse End around 17:15. (A long day, for us!).
A well earned Beer, Bath and food followed.

Our Walk Score: 8/10
(The score would be higher as the views were tremendous, but the descent spoilt the experience, as it was very tedious indeed)