Helm Crag, Gibsons Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell

Another cloudy but dry day, couldn't really predict what the weather had in store for us today.

We ascended Helm Crag from the Greenburn valley. Having taken the path from Easdale many times, a lovely ascent in its own right, our aim today was the 'Greenburn round', so decided on the alternative climb up. At Ghyll Foot take the road up to the gate as though heading for Steel Fell. Through the gate rather than taking the path up Steel Fell (our way down), follow the river a short distance to a footbridge. Crossing the bridge it is then more or less straight up to the col beneath the top. A steep grassy climb but soon over with a welcome rest before turning left up to Helm Crag. We didn't climb the summit rock slab (not wanting to make fools of ourselves with other people around).

The ridge ahead, looking over the col we had just come up from, is text book Lakeland scenery. The sun was out and a gently undulating moorland ridge extended into the distance with the higher fells of Ullscarf and Greenup Edge beyond. Soon back down to the col and then a good path keeping mainly to the Far Easdale side, took us over Gibson Knot and several other nobbles until eventually on to Calf Crag at the end of the ridge. Most folk who were up on the fell left the crag to the west heading for the head of Far Easdale to take the long path down to Grasmere. We left this path a few hundred metres after Calf Crag and headed north across boggy moorland until finding the rusty posts of an old fence which we followed in a north easterly direction all the way up to Steel Fell.

This section requires some nifty navigational skills if in mist, from personal experience. Our previous walk here was in mist and we passed a group of walkers, who we later learnt were form a walking club in Yorkshire but unfortunately descended by mistake into Wythburn and ended up walking along the main road to the Traveller's rest where, by chance, we met back up with them to hear their woes and moans targeted at the leader.

After a while an indistinct path appeared which eventually turned into a good but boggy path to follow. With the Helm Crag Calf Crag ridge now slightly below us on our right the view south was amazing. The appearance was of three or four ridges shooting out from the central higher fells, one behind the other: Gibson Knot, Blea Rigg, Lingmoor Fell, Wetherlam and in the distance Coniston Old Man. Looking north across Thirlmere, Skidaw and Blencathra were dappled with sunlight.

The way down form Steel Fell was straight down the South East ridge directly to Ghyll Foot, the traffic noise from Dumail Raise increasing as the altitude decreased.

The sun stayed out most of the day, incredibly warm for mid November.

Time 4 hr 30mns

Grade Excellent

Memories Walking up to Steel Fell with the extensive views to the right

Completed 21 To Go 193

High Rigg

7th November 2007


Do not be deceived by this excellent ‘mini mountain’. A hill that is often driven by without further thought either on the 591 grom Grasmere to Keswick or taking the short cut from the A591 to the A66 at Thirlspot. So, a short walk across its ridge for an afternoon stroll, was the idea behind today's walk.

Parked at Legburthwaite car park and crossing the river via the bridge carrying the main road, immediately took the stile over the wall on the right. Straight into woodland and heading up the crest of the ridge. The path is easy to follow, quite steep in places but soon at the top seeing the ridge open northwards in front of your eyes. This is why it pays to look at the map properly, not because route finding is difficult – a lovely easy to follow path along the whole ridge, but more to determine where the actual summit is! After several exclamations that ‘we are at the top’ (combined with the now expected kiss as reward completing another Wainwright), I soon realised that this was no short stroll. The final summit is actually at the far end of the ridge after about one and a half miles of undulations. Having said this, the experience was delightful, with the feeling of being on the high fells, whist only at a height of around 300m.
The main path is easy to follow along the traverse and many of the ‘summits’ can be avoided by skirting round (unless you think they are the actual summit and have to climb them all).
All along the ridge there are fine views over to Blencathra, today in and out of mist but glorious colours with the low afternoon sun on its slopes. Looking south the vista extended along Thirlmere to Steel Fell.
The path down to The church of St Johns in the Vale was obvious, a steep grassy descent to the road. We were able to look inside the picturesque little church before descending the road and soon taking the bridleway to the right skirting the western side of High Rigg to enjoy a beautiful lower valley walk back to the car, commencing and finishing in woodland, the latter stages along the banks of St John’s Beck

Time 3 hrs

Grade Excellent

Memories Longer than anticipated
A fine 'mini fell'


Completed 17 To Go 197

Sale Fell and Whinlatter (Two seperate walks)

5th November 2007

Two separate walks today.

Set off from our base in Staveley with low cloud rain and wind. As we headed north up the A591 the showers became heavier and more prolonged. A short walk up Sale Fell seemed ideal then to a cosy tea shop in Kewick.
Parked near the small St Margarets Church on the road between the Pheasant Inn and Wythop Mill. The rain stopped as we got out of the car but we donned full waterproofs in preparation. Left the butties in the car as we weren’t planning being out in the rain for too long. Took the path signposted to Kelswick up to a wall on the fell then turned left to contour round. Best to keep to the lower paths rather than heading up too soon into the disused Quarry. The weather brightened as we turned south by the woods and soon we were stripping off our layers wondering where the rain had gone. On reaching a gate in a wall we headed upwards keeping the wall on out left until noticing a direct grassy path up to the summit. Still sunny but no clear views in the distance. However looking down into Wythop Beck and across to Ling Fell was a peaceful unspoilt valley, an area of the Lake District new to us and probably one we would not have visited but for our decision to walk the Wainwright summits.
Took the obvious grassy track south off the summit back to the wall we had previously left and followed it down to Kelswick farm with the beautiful valley below us. A contour round Dodd crag soon took us back to the car, unbelievably still in fine weather. As soon as we opened our sandwiches in the car, the rain came lashing down again – couldn’t believe our luck.

The weather improved again as we started to head south back to Keswick. A decision to be made; either another walk in the afternoon to Whinlatter, or a visit to Keswick to browse more ‘crap shops’. Here I have to explain the terminology ‘crap shop’. This is a name we have given to all the shops around the tourist centres of the Lakes and elsewhere, bulging with items labelled as' crafts', which are of absolutely no use to anyone and are obviously mass produced as they appear time and time again. They are sold in shops which also sell soaps, candles etc the smell of which overpower anyone who enters the shop.
Fortunately, the former option won the day and we drove up to the top of Whinlatter pass and followed Wainwrght’s route, very well illustrated, through the forest taking the second turning on the left from the initial forest path to the forest boundary. Then over a stile and steeply right up the hill then left along the top to the summit. Walking up the forest road we were fortunate to see a Roe deer bound across the track a few yards in front of us.
Wonderful views across to Grisedale Pike, the distinctive Causey Pike and the peaks extending from it. The weather now fine with most of the tops out of the mist.
Returned by the same route and treated ourselves to tea at the Whinlatter centre.

Time Sale Fell One hour 15 minutes
Whinlatter One hour 30 minutes

Grade Excellent for both short walks

Memories Extremely lucky with the weather

Completed 16 To Go 198

Pike O’Blisco and Cold Pike

3rd November 2007


Sheep on Wrynose pass






Parked half way up the Wrynose Pass at Wrynose Beck. The path up Pike O’Blisco is clearly shown on the OS map but in practice is very indistinct and in places, nonexistent. Starting off up the L hand bank of Wrynose beck, the ‘path’ rises high above the beck and continues to the keeping to the left bank of the gills running down from the fell. (i.e not crossing any stream). If the path is lost, just head up across the heather and bracken in a north westerly direction. Very tiring walking but then a path, or sheep track, will appear and all is well again until this fades away and back to the slog through bracken. Eventually the summit is in view with the crags of Black Crag away to the left. A very quiet ascent, met nobody until the summit (which was quite busy!).
It really goes without saying, that the views from the summit were awesome, across the Langdale valley to the Pikes and over to the Crinkles and Bowfell at the head of the valley.
Our next peak for the day, Cold Pike, could be seen across the col with Red Tarn sitting at it's base. A good path down to the tarn and straight across, following the main path up towards Crinkle Crags until it crossed a stream when we took a sharp left turn and found a path up to Cold Pike. Cold by name but for the time of year it was very mild. By mid afternoon the weak sun was beginning to set, silhouetting the smaller fells and valleys in the south west with an autumnal misty haze. Beautiful.
The way down took us over a couple of rocky nodules on the summit rige of cold pike and then found a small but easy to follow path down the south east ridge. This didn't seem to accurately follow the route of the path on the OS map, keeping on the ridge longer before descending left to the valley. Eventually we joined the main path from red tarn just before reaching the road at the top of the Wrynose Pass.

Time 3hrs 45minutes

Grade Excellent

Memories Lack of path despite being clearly shown on OS map
Autumnal views from Cold Pike across to Harter Fell and beyond


Completed 14 To Go 200

Loughrigg Fell

2nd November 2007

What can I say about Loughrigg! A delightful short hill walk with extensive views all around. We have climbed this hill on many occasions, never tiring of the experience. Today we were accompanied by my brother, sister in law and nephew. We took our usual tried and tested route.
Park at White Moss car park (on the right heading towards Grassmere). Immediately across the main road a path descends toward the river and White Moss wood. The river is crossed by a substantial, but narrow, wooden bridge and the path meanders up through the wood up to a kissing gate. Unfortunately this part of the walk is usually far to busy with other folk to take full advantage of gate's description.
Through the gate a path leads left down to Rydal Water and one to the right to Loughrigg terrace (our route back). Straight on, however is our route contouring round the lower slopes of the fell to the large cave, the entrance recently fenced off because of the dangers of falling rocks. A path heads upwards to the left of the cave ascending the right hand side of the gully. Height is soon gained and the views over Rydal water and the valley to the Fairfield range become more and more impressive. It is better to take a right and fork in the path at one point to avoid boggy ground higher up. After the initial steepish ascent the path levels for a few hundred yards across wet ground but the way ahead is seen ascending steeply up to the summit plateau. This is soon reached and after a short stroll round the corner, the summit cairn is visible with the vista over the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and Crinckle Crags opening up before your eyes. (Assuming they are not all in mist!).
The way down is north west down the steep main path which leads to Loughrigg Terrace. I prefer to descend this way as the view across Grasmere Lake to the village and the fells beyond, constantly holds the gaze.
Once down to the terrace turn right for a delightful walk back to the kissing gate encountered on the ascent. Take care on the terrace as there is a danger of being mown down by mountain bikers or runners running with full packs!





Autumn in White Moss Wood

Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Memories Autumnal colours looking down on White Moss Wood

Grading Excellent


Completed 12 To Go 202