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 |
A walk today which would tick a couple of things off my to do list. Firstly I wanted to walk up to Hopegill Head on the long ridge rising from Lorton passing over Swinside and Ladyside Pike. ( Which I descended in 2018 ) Secondly I have never walked the path along the eastern side of Crummock Water so a round connecting the two looked feasible with the added bonus of knocking three fells off my fifth round Wainwright total.
The forecast was for showers at first the brightening up later but from around Lancaster I had been driving in fairly heavy constant rain so when I parked up on the gated road above Lorton I sat for well over an hour till the rain slackened and finally stopped. Still plenty of cloud about as I walked back up the road. Lorton Dodd is the pointy hill above the road.
From the road it's a steep pull to the ridgeline.
Kirk Fell ( Lorton ),Graystones, Broom Fell and Lord's Seat across the valley.
Navigation is pretty simple just follow the wall all the way.
The rain returned for a as I neared Swinside but soon stopped and although there was still a fair bit of cloud around the day did get better.
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Looking along the ridge from the indistinct top of Swinside.
Ladyside Pike ahead.
The view back from Ladyside Pike.
I would have preferred the slabs below the summit of Hopegill Head to have been dry but there is a narrow path which keeps well over to the right away from the steep drop into Hobcarton.
That's the drop down into Hobcarton. The camera went away now as I thought I needed both hands free for the climb.
Thankfully the climb was not as dramatic as I'd feared and before I knew it I was at the top looking to Sand Hill and beyond that Crag Hill and on the right Grasmoor where I'm headed next
As forecast the weather was picking up and down in the valley and over to the Lamplugh fells it looks very nice.
Still very cloudy over towards Skiddaw though.
It really is incredible how quickly the weather can change in the Lake District. It's now glorious on Grasmoor.
Looking to Whiteless Edge and Whiteless Pike my route of descent to the valley.
Grisedale Pike seen from the walk down off Grasmoor. The cloud is lifting to the north as well although the top of Skiddaw is still in the covered.
On to Wandope looking down the Addacomb ridge. Addacomb Hole on the left.
Grasmoor from the start of the drop down Whiteless Edge.
Whiteless Pike ahead.
Buttermere village below with Buttermere (the lake ) to the left and Crummock Water to the right. The High Stile ridge above.
I seem to be in the best place for sunshine as the higher fells although mostly clear of cloud look a bit dark.
The lovely valley of Rigg Beck with Causey Pike at its head.
Rannerdale Knotts, Mellbreak and Crummock Water.
Starting the walk down the short valley of Squat Beck which even without bluebells is lovely.
And the view of Whiteless Pike from the other end of the valley.
Rannerdale Knotts.
From the end of the valley I crossed the road and took a path along side Crummock Water. Red Pike is the prominent fell on the skyline.
A look in the other direction towards Loweswater. There are several little shingle beaches from which a few people were kayaking and paddle boarding. I stopped at an unoccupied one and made a brew. The sun was very warm now so it's possible I may have closed my eyes for a minute or two.
Red Pike again from where the path enters the woodland which gave a bit of a relief from the sun.
I was enjoying walking in the shade of the trees so much that I realised that I'd probable gone a little too far along the lake which would mean a short road walk. I wasn't too worried though as I was heading in generally the right direction. Here I've left the road at Beck House and I'm walking across the valley to the path which traverses under Whiteside.
A lovely path it is too, especially in the afternoon sunshine.
View back along the valley from the path.
Crossing Hope Beck. Ladyside Pike and Hopegill Head look a lot clearer than just a few hours ago.
Previous walk -- Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Crag and Alcock Tarn