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Sunday 21 August 2016

Sun 21 Aug - High Raise via Tarn Crag

Leader: Mel
Car Parking: Several pay and display car parks in Grasmere (£8 a day maximum)
Start / Finish: Beginning of Easedale Road in Grasmere Village, opposite the Sam Read book shop. (GR:NY337076)
Meet Time: 9.15am
Start Time: 9.30am

Route: From the village, walk NW along Easdale road for about 0.5 mile. Turn left to cross a couple of small footbridges before following a clear track alongside Easedale Beck. The path then climbs beside the waterfalls of Sourmilk Gill (can be quite spectacular if there has been rain recently). Upon reaching Easedale Tarn, cross the outlet stream and follow the path descending slightly alongside Sourmilk Gill and rounding Cockly Crag. Look for a little used path on the left heading upwards through the bracken. This path ascends with some steep sections to reach Tarn Crag (highest point is on the right for the Wainwright baggers) with excellent views SE to Windemere and NE to Helvellyn. From Tarn Crag a faint trail continues roughly west with a view down to Codale Tarn on the left before entering boggy territory where the path disappears and some negotiating to cross to the bottom of the next stage of ascent. Here the route steepens following a tiny beck through the rocks before the gradient eases and the more obvious path appears following a line of fenceposts to Codale Head. Dropping down, the path skirts the edge of a boggy depression and leads straight to Sergeant Man. Following the main path the route continues up to the trig point at the summit of High Raise and the highest point on the route at 762m. Views out to Bow Fell, Esk Pike and Glaramara are rewarding as the path drops down via Low White Stones, becoming eroded and quite steep as it descends to Greenup Edge (5 miles from start). Here the route joins the Coast to Coast path all the way back to Grasmere. Upon reaching a cairn next to two redundant fence posts take the stonier of the two left hand paths which winds its way to the top of Calf Crag from which the rest of the route is reasonably clear keeping to the southern edge of the ridge. The ridge (the ground plunging away to the right into Far Easedale) undulates for 1.6miles across Gibson Knott before descending into the grassy saddle of Bracken Hause then the final significant climb up to Helm Crag. Passing the Lion and the Lamb the path bears right descending a steep loose section before a stonier path zigzags down the fell to a wall, head right for a few yards then left along a walled path turning left signposted to Grasmere.

Ascent: ~915m
Distance: ~10.5miles
Time: 7-8 hours
Grade: Strenuous (but ascents can be taken at own pace as there are no time constraints)

Please let Mel know in advance by 5.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk - text 07584303975 email meggleton9@hotmail.com.

I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk dependent on weather conditions.



Sunday 14 August 2016

Sun 14 August - A Derwent Water Lakeshore Loop

Car Parking: There are many places to park in and around Keswick, these include pay and display car parks as well as some on-street parking.

Public transport is available to Keswick. From Lancaster & Kendal it is the Stagecoach 555, from Carlisle the 73, and from Workington & Penrith the X4 & X5 buses.

Start / Finish: Outside the main entrance of the Moot Hall, Market Place, Keswick, CA12 5JR. (This is the tourist information office.)

Start Time: 10.30 am

Description: Derwent Water is one of the prettiest lakes in the national park. With impressive views on all sides of fells, mountains and crags, a walk around this lake is a very pleasant way to spend a day.

The walk is a complete circuit of Derwent Water, although if people wish to they are welcome to come along for the first bit of the walk and then get a boat back to Keswick later on.

Route: Starting at Moot Hall in Keswick, we will head west towards Portinscale and then south through Fawe Park. Soon we arrive near the base of Cat Bells, and take a left down to the lakeshore where we can have a splash in the water.

Continuing our journey, we pass through Brandlehow and Manesty Woods before reaching the marshy flood planes at the southern end of Derwent Water. Here we get great views of Castle Crag and the rest of the Borrowdale Fells and walk over the boardwalks (which is quite fun!) After crossing the “Chinese Bridge” we meet the B5289 and turn northwards back to Keswick.

Our route now goes alongside the B5289 on a rough pavement and then on the road side for a few hundred yards (road walking: care required). (In this area the B5289 has a 20 mph speed limit.) From here we wander through Ashness Wood before re-crossing the B5289 (road crossing: care required) and then follow the lakeside path back towards Keswick.

As we head back, we are treated to some great scenery before arriving in Keswick and finding a café for a mug of tea and a slice of cake!

Distance: Approx. 9.6 miles (15.5 km)
Time: Approx. 5 hours
Height Gain: Hardly any
Grade: Leisurely



Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk (please keep them under close control, and clean up any mess).

Welcome! This is an ideal walk for people who would like to sample Summitt Good Ramblers for the first time – come along and say hi! (Any new members please remember to bring a packed lunch and waterproofs.)

Leader: Wayne

Please let Wayne know in advance by 6.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (text 07753 121 168).

If weather conditions are bad I may alter the route or cancel the walk for safety reasons.

Sunday 7 August 2016

Sun 7 Aug - Kirk Fell from Wasdale Head

Car Parking: Car parking is available at the village green at Wasdale Head (grid reference NY 186084), although if this is full there is a National Trust car park at Brackenclose (grid reference NY 182074 – this car park also has port-a-loos).
Start / Finish: At the village green, just outside of Wasdale Head village. Grid reference NY 186084.

Meet Time: 09.45 am
Start Time: 10.00 am

Description: Although a very bulky hill, Kirk Fell is often overlooked – figuratively and literally – by its near neighbours Yewbarrow and Great Gable. Despite this, Kirk Fell offers a nice walk with some great views and is one not to be missed.

Route: From the car parking area at Wasdale Head village green, our route goes through the village itself and follows a bridleway that takes us along the eastern side of Mosedale Beck. After passing Ritson’s Force (waterfall) and then another one, we continue deeper into the secluded valley of Mosedale itself.

Our route now begins to climb and after crossing Gatherstone Beck it is a steep stroll to the top of Blacksail Pass, where the view of the wild and untamed end of the Ennerdale Valley comes into view.

From here the path goes to the south and we have a short – but rocky – amble over Kirkfell Crags. After this we will soon be at Kirk Fell summit (802 m).

After taking in the view, we continue, past the Kirkfell Tarns, to Kirk Fell’s other but slightly lower summit (787 m). The views from here are excellent, and include the dominant Great Gable, as well as seeing the jagged side-profile of Lingmell.

Beckhead Tarn is arrived at after descending Rib Head, and from here we follow the path down Gavel Nase, alongside Gable Beck and its series of waterfalls.

Once back on the valley floor, our route follows the Moses Trod path back via Wasdale Head, where we can stop for a drink before returning to the start point a few hundred yards away.

Distance:
Approx. 6 miles (9.5 km)
Height Gain: 800 m (2600 ft)
Time: Approx. 5 ½ to 6 hours
High Point: Kirk Fell summit (802 m)

Grade: Moderate

Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk (please keep them under close control).
Leader: Wayne

Please let Wayne know in advance by 6.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (text 07753 121 168).

If weather conditions are bad I may alter the route or cancel the walk for safety reasons.

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Wed 3 Aug - The River Esk and Stanley Force

A stroll along the beautiful River Esk before visiting the mighty Stanley Force.

Meet time: 18.00 hrs
Walk start: 18.15 hrs
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 170 m
Car parking: Trough Bridge Car Park (a free Lake District National Park car park), near Dalegarth in Eskdale. Grid reference NY 170 002
Walk start: At car parking
Grade: Moderate

Please text Wayne (07753 121 168) by 9 pm the day before to let him know you are coming.