WWW.KARLSWALKS.CO.UK
PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
I had a message a couple of weeks ago from my friend Mark ( who due to Covid and other real world factors I'd not walked with since 2019 ) asking if I fancied a walk up to Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike, I replied that I did and would he mind if added Grey Knotts and Brandreth into the mix to make a nice circular round from Honister.
The most straightforward way to Grey Knotts from Honister is also the one with the steepest start. That's our path today and without any warm up we were soon into the climb.
Looking back over the slate mine and youth hostel to Dale Head.
Although warm in the sun the air felt quite cool so the Helvellyn fells are quite clear.
The steepest part of the path gives way to a slightly easier slope before climbing steeply again just before Grey Knotts is reached.
Grey Knotts ahead with Pillar to the right.
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On to the summit looking down over Haystacks to the High Stile ridge which splits Buttermere on the right from Ennerdale on the left.
From Grey Knotts it's a quick and easy walk to the untidy top of Brandreth. Green and Great Gable are on the left and across the dip of Beck Head is Kirk Fell and in the distance beyond Beck Head are Illgill Head and Whin Rigg above Wastwater.
From Brandreth we turned downhill heading for Haystacks. Our path takes us to the right of Blackbeck Tarn which is the tarn in the centre of the photo.
A sunny Grasmoor seen from the walk down.
The view down to Buttermere and Crummock Water from the outflow of Blackbeck Tarn.
A sunny Innominate Tarn contrasts with a dark looking Great Gable. The skies did start to darken and the breeze was quite chilly at times.
All day we were plagued by these big flies which thankfully didn't seem interested in biting us.
Zooming in to a very moody looking Gable. It did rain for about five minutes.
The lower slopes of Pillar and Ennerdale from Haystacks.
And from the other end of the Haystacks summit rocks are Gamlin End and High Crag.
Retracing our steps now and we get this dramatic view down to Warnscale Bottom and Buttermere.
Dubs Hut Bothy. Mark decided that the lack of hill time in his legs meant that Fleetwith Pike was a fell too far for today so I left him to walk down the old tramway to Honister whilst I climbed up to Fleetwith.
The Helvellyn fells again from the top of the old tramway.
Fleetwith Pike top is seen all the way on the climb.
The classic view from Fleetwith.
As I usually do when coming to Fleetwith I went over to the subsidiary top of Black Star.
The summit cairn is perched right on the edge of the leg wobbling drop to the road nearly 1400 ft below.
Fleetwith Pike from Black Star.
Following the mine road down to Honister. Bessyboot, Combe Head and Glaramara are the sunlit fells in the middle distance.
I'm nearly back now and looking across to our route of ascent. I found Mark in the slate mine cafe having a beer!
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