Staying at the Old Vicarage in Lorton, very much recommended, after a very wet day yesterday the forecast was good and we had a great walk over the ridge connecting Hopegill head to Whiteside. We drove from Lorton through Scales towards Whinlatter and parked at the junction where the road from Swinside joined. The signpost over the wall here indicated a public footpath but did say no through way. nevertheless we took it contoured around to the left for a few hundred yards the when in open access land headed west uphill towards the Swinside ridge. Unfortunately, and the reason, in hindsight, it said no right of way, we reached a wall which was difficult to cross. However continuing by the wall uphill for some distance we eventually found a crossing point and then tracked across the moorland the reach the path going up the east side of Swinside.
From here a g
ood track up to the top of Ladyside Pike with great views of the slabs leading up to Hopegill Head. The way ahead looked quite demanding but getting near to the slabs a route up the notch became obvious and soon the summit was reached without difficulty. Quite e few people on top so we soon headed west towards Whiteside, a super ridge walk, glorious weather with the very full Liza beck cascading down the valley on our left. Soon reached Whiteside with extensive views over to the western fells and down onto Crummock water and the impressive Mellbreak.
We retraced our steps for a while and headed down the ridge towards Dodd, no pat
h initially but soon found one as we descended. Rather than go over Dodd we headed towards Hope Gill which was very full and impossible to cross until we had followed it down to the wall and then with some difficulty. Fighting our way through bracken we eventually arrived at Swinside farm and back along the road to the car.
Time 6 hrs
Grade Excellent
Memories
From here a g
ood track up to the top of Ladyside Pike with great views of the slabs leading up to Hopegill Head. The way ahead looked quite demanding but getting near to the slabs a route up the notch became obvious and soon the summit was reached without difficulty. Quite e few people on top so we soon headed west towards Whiteside, a super ridge walk, glorious weather with the very full Liza beck cascading down the valley on our left. Soon reached Whiteside with extensive views over to the western fells and down onto Crummock water and the impressive Mellbreak.We retraced our steps for a while and headed down the ridge towards Dodd, no pat
h initially but soon found one as we descended. Rather than go over Dodd we headed towards Hope Gill which was very full and impossible to cross until we had followed it down to the wall and then with some difficulty. Fighting our way through bracken we eventually arrived at Swinside farm and back along the road to the car.Time 6 hrs
Grade Excellent
Memories
- Great ridge walk
- Sting in the tail crossing Hope Gill
- Completed 96 To go 118
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