Walkweb

“Glaramara is more than a pretty name. It is a mountain of distinction, not amongst the highest or more exciting in Lakeland and lacking a shapely outline, yet having so many features of interest that fellwalkers always look forward to a visit with anticipation. There is never a dull moment on Glaramara.”

Wainwright’s Favourite Lakeland Mountains

There certainly weren’t any dull moments on this walk, the weather gods had decided to produce one of those days that tests the willpower of even the most determined fellwalker, with a strong wind and pelting rain that barely let up for the whole day. Of course you musn’t grumble (too much). I met an older chap coming down the path as I was on my way up; he remarked that it was “a bit damp”.

I started the walk at Seathwaite, parking at the end of the road close to the barns, there being no competition for parking slots on this day. I followed the bridleway south to Stockley Bridge, crossed over and then immediately continued south along the footpath by the side of Grains Gill. This climbs consistently and eventually reaches a bridleway. Turning south-east I continued on the bridleway for a kilometre or so before turning NNE onto the path that traverses the Glaramara ridge, passing over Allen Crags and by High House Tarn before reaching the summit of Glaramara. After a quick tea break at the summit, I continued along the ridge past Thorneythwaite Fell (the initial descent from Glaramara summit requires negotiation of a rather steep rock section) before descending to a farm track just south of Mountain View and turning south west onto this track, which eventually becomes a path (all part of what is called the “Allerdale Ramble”) that leads back to Seathwaite.

My rating: B+
Maps: OL4 – The English Lakes: North Western area (1:25,000); the route as described also requires a very small section of OL6 – The English Lakes: South Western Area (1:25,000)
Wainwright’s guides: Book four, The Southern Fells

“A high mountain ridge leaps like a rainbow from the woods and fields of Brackenthwaite and arcs through the sky for five miles to the east, where the descending curve comes down to the village of Braithwaite. This ridge has three main summits, of which the central one (and the finest, but not the highest) is known locally as Hobcarton Pike and to mapmakers as Hopegill Head”

The Northwestern Fells (Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells)

I started this walk from Braithwaite, parking in the village and then walking up the road (the B5292) to where a well worn vehicular track leaves on the left to begin the journey south-west alongside Coledale Beck. After passing Force Crag Mine on the right, the track ascends steeply to the east to Coledale Hause before turning north for the final pull up to the summit of Hopegill Head (via Sand Hill). Wainwright’s original guide (North Western Fells) describes there being no path on this final section, but thousands of boots since means there is certainly one now. From Hopegill Head I took the path eastwards that skirts the edge of Hobcarton Crag and then proceeds to Grisedale Pike. From here there is a well trodden path along the ridge back to Braithwaite.

The previous day I had climbed Glaramara, and it had rained all day, almost without respite – when I returned to my car at Seathwaite I had to literally pour the water out of my (Goretex lined) boots. Suffice to say that when it started to rain on the morning of this walk to Hopegill Head, I started to get rather grumpy and occupied myself on the haul up to Coledale Hause muttering to myself about the ****** English weather. Indeed I almost gave up on the final ascent when the clouds drew in and an icy wind started to blow, but in the end decided to persevere – and a good job I did. Just as I reached the summit, the rain stopped, and in the space of five minutes I went from a “view” of about 40 metres to a magnificent vista out to the coast, as the cloud dispersed as fast as it had appeared.

My rating: A.
Map: OL4 – The English Lakes: North Western area (1:25,000)
Wainwright’s guides: Book six, The North Western Fells

“Bowfell’s companion at the head of Great Langdale was given the name of crinkle Crags by the dalesfolk of that valley because of the succession of abrupt undulations on its log summit ridge. Seen from a distance these seem minor and of little consequence but on closer acquaintance are found to be not merely crinkly but exceedingly rough…”

Wainwright’s Favourite Lakeland Mountains

Parking by the side of the Wrynose pass just east of Three Shire Stone, I walked briefly along the pass and then turned north, following the well-worn footpath past Red Tarn, and turning left at the crossroad of paths a little further on to follow the trail to the Crinkle Crags. There are five summits (although the track doesn’t traverse them all). A quick lunch was had at the last crag, before rapidly deteriorating weather forced a hasty retreat back to my car.

There were a lot of bike riders on the pass that day, and the weather probably contributed to one of them coming to grief on a steep section of the pass. Air and road ambulances caused quite a traffic jam; I pulled off at the first available pub and let the traffic go by while enjoying a nice pint and savouring the completion of all 20 of the Wainwright’s favourite lakeland mountains. (I’ve posted details of 5 walks, the remaining 15 will be posted over the course of the next few weeks).

The next objective is all 214 Wainwright’s…

My rating: B+
Map: OL6 – The English Lakes: South Western area (1:25,000)
Wainwright’s guides: Book four, The Southern Fells

“Legend and poetry, a lovely name and a lofty altitude combine to encompass Helvellyn in an aura of romance; and thousands of pilgrims, aided by its easy accessibility, are attracted to its summit each year”

The Eastern Fells (Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells)

On both my ascents of Helvellyn, I approached from Glenridding on the eastern side, ultimately ascending via Striding Edge which Wainwright describes as the finest way of all to the top of Helvellyn, a judgment that few would disagree with. After lunch at the top, I descended via Red Tarn and Swirral Edge, making a particularly fine circuit walk. The Pathfinder Guide to Lake District Walks describes a good route that follows this basic idea.

My rating: A+. Justifiably one of the most popular walks in the Lake District.

A beautiful and very warm Saturday for another classic Lakeland walk:

“The most thrilling walk in Lakeland reaches the top of Scafell by way of an ingenious passage that penetrates the rocks of Scafell Crag … A struggle up this unfriendly ladder of rock debris … leads to the foot of Scafell Pinnacle in most impressive surroundings, the Pinnacle soaring above in a tower 500 feet in height. To the right at this point rises a steep narrow channel between rocks, and choked by stones and boulders. This is Lord’s Rake…”

Wainwright’s Favourite Lakeland Mountains

Parking at Wasdale Head we took the public footpath that leads south-east and then south to Lingmell Gill, then following the path as it proceeds upwards through Brown Tongue. Eventually the trail branches into two; following the southerly branch we proceeded to the bottom of Lord’s Rake. At this point it should be noted that there were signs stating that this way was closed. While there were no physical barriers, a large rock slab had dislodged at the top of the Rake, and if this fell down as you were walking up, your walking career would come to a shuddering and rather messy halt. In addition, there was a lot of loose rock and rubble which could easily come tumbling down causing injury. We chose to continue onwards for the traverse up Lord’s Rake and thus straight through Scafell Crag, before eventually (after a couple more up and down sections) reaching the high ground and a gentle stroll to the summit. Nothwithstanding this, a better option would be to continue on the path and then take the gully up to Foxes Tarn. Don’t try going up Broad Stand – this is for roped climbers only!

Following lunch we took the path down through Green How to join a bridleway heading north to return to Wasdale Head and a beer (of course).

My rating: A+. Magnificent, but definitely for experienced walkers only – and note the danger of traversing Lord’s Rake.
Map: OL6 – The English Lakes: South Western area (1:25,000)
Wainwright’s guides: Book four, The Southern Fells

UPDATE: Refer to this page from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team for the current situation with regard to Lord’s Rake.