Sat 28th/Sun 29th January - Winter Walking Weekend

Summitt Good will be hosting a weekend of walking in the Derwent Fells near Keswick. Following a walk up Hindscarth and Robinson on Saturday we will will be staying overnight at the Gordon Walker chalet in Newlands Valley. On Sunday there will be a walk up the nearby Barrow and Outerside Fells. People are welcome to attend any part of the weekend, whether it be just one day or both.


Saturday 28th - Robinson and Hindscarth

Leader: Mel
Car Parking: Chapel Bridge small car park with honesty box (alternative parking vergeside at Newlands Church)
Start / Finish:  Chapel Bridge car park
Meet Time: 9.15am
Start Time: 9.30am
Route:  From the starting point follow the lane past Newlands Chapel and continue on this lane until a few hundred metres past High Snab. Here you turn sharp right after the wall and follow the path as it heads steeply upwards over grass to gain the top of High Snab Bank.

Having gained the ridge the onward route is obvious and around Blea Crags some easy scrambling is necessary on three or four rock steps. The scenery in this area is particularly rugged. Apart from these small obstacles the route is straightforward and easy to follow all the way the domed summit of Robinson. There are numerous cairns and although the summit itself is not very noteworthy the view is superb.

Continue off the summit following the path in a southerly direction descending to reach a fence line that follows Littledale Edge. Turn left to follow the fence towards Hindscarth. The route involves a descent and re-ascent to gain the latter's summit. However the view down to Gatescarth makes up for the toil.

Leave Hindscarth on the main path descending north. The route is clear and you soon find yourself on the wonderful ridge that terminates in Scope End. This path is delightful, twisting a turning through heather, providing a perfect end to the walk. Descend Scope End and walk through Low Snab Farm to reach your transport.
(currently the route is unreccied, this walk description has been taken from Walk the Lakes)

Distance: 6.5 miles
Time: 5-6 hours
Grade: Hard end of moderate (some easy scrambling required in places, rocks can be slippy when wet) Please let Mel know in advance by 5.00 pm on Friday if you are coming on this walk - text 07584303975 (likely no signal on the Saturday) I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk dependent on weather conditions.

Sunday 29th - Barrow and Outerside

Leader: Mel

Car Parking: Either from Gordon Walker Chalet (for those already staying) or from roadside parking on the minor road above Uzzicar Farm (NY233217) – Please let me know which parking you will be at

Start/Finish: Roadside above Uzzicar Farm (NY233217)

Meet Time: 9.45am

Start Time: 10.00am

Route:  From the meet point, follow the road north and branch off on a path rising gradually up to the right behind a tree plantation.  Look for the first main path to the left which ascends steeply in places to a false summit then on to the top of Barrow.  On a good day there are fabulous views over to Ullock Pike and Skiddaw to the north and the Cat Bells range in the east.

Dropping down traversing an intricate path network to find the deep trodden path through the heather leading to the top of Outerside surrounded by the higher peaks of Causey Pike, Eel Crag and Grisedale Pike.

From here the walk can be extended if the group wants to and time allows to include Causey Pike itself.  Or we will drop down and turn left to pick up the obvious track leading down alongside Stonycroft Gill back to the start.

Distance: 5 miles (6.5 miles with Causey Pike)

Time: 3.5 – 4 hours (5 hours with Causey Pike)

Grade: Moderate

Please let Mel know in advance by 5.00 pm on Friday if you are coming on this walk - text 07584303975 (likely no signal on the Saturday)
I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk dependent on weather conditions

Sun 22nd January - Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell

Description: This route takes us up from the Great Wood to the summit of Walla Crag via the steep path along Cat Gill. This will be a bit of an arduous slog but it doesn't last long and we won't be in any hurry. Upon reaching the summit we will (hopefully) be treated to views of Grisedale Pike, Bassenthwaite and Skiddaw. From here we head south to the summit of Bleaberry Fell. We then double back north but rather than heading back to Walla Crag we divert down toward Falcon Crag and descend back to the base of the fell and follow the path back to the car park.

Grade: Moderate

High Point: Bleaberry Fell summit (590m)
Distance: Approx. 6 miles (10 km)

Meet Time: 9.30 am
Start Time: 9.45 am
Time: Approx. 4.5-5 hours

Start / Finish and Car Parking: Great Wood National Trust car park (NY271214), nearest postcode CA12 5UP.

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.

Leader: Tom

Please let Tom know in advance by 6.00 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (text 07760 660113)

If the conditions are bad I reserve the right to modify the route or cancel the walk. If insufficient interest is shown in the walk it may be cancelled.

Sun 15th January - Thirlmere

This walk forms part of our 'Head for the Hills' January program. This is a series of easy/moderate walks aimed at both new and existing walkers who haven't been out with us before to come and see the fells with us. The walks will be in easily accessible areas with reasonable local facilities and in some of the more scenic and picturesque areas of the Lake District.

Car Parking: At Swirls Car Park NY316 139

Meet Time: 9.30am

Walk Start: 9.45am

Description: This walk follows a mixture of forestry tracks, footpaths and some road walking. The tracks and paths are all good, although in wet weather they will be muddy in places. It is a circular route.

Route: From the carpark we will use the subway under the A591 to take us to the eastern side of Thirlmere. We will then head north picking up the Blue Walking Trail. Once we reach the northern tip of the lake we will then walk on the minor road heading east, taking us over the dam. Once we reach the western side of the lake we shall head south along the shores. If the shore path is closed due to storm damage in 2015, we will walk along the minor road to Dobgill where we can re-join the shore side path. Once at the southern tip of the lake we will re-join the minor road leading us to the A591 where we will cross over and continue following the route along forestry tracks passing Wythburn Church and Straining Well as we go leading us back to where we started.

Thirlmere is a reservoir providing water to the Manchester area and was formed by the construction of the dam in the 1890's. Prior to this, Leathes Water and Wythburn Water were located here. The water is carried to Manchester via a 96 mile long aqueduct which relies on gravity rather than pumping stations.

Leader: Katie

Distance: Approximately 10 miles

Highest Point: It’s a fairly flat route, no real height gain to speak of

Grade: Easy end of moderate

Time: Approximately 5 hours

Notes: If the conditions are bad the leader reserves the right to modify the route or cancel the walk. If insufficient interest is shown in the walk, it may be cancelled.

Contact: Please let Katie know by 6 pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk (mobile 07709 318 941)

Sat 14th January - High Rigg

This walk forms part of our 'Head for the Hills' January program. This is a series of easy/moderate walks aimed at both new and existing walkers who haven't been out with us before to come and see the fells with us. The walks will be in easily accessible areas with reasonable local facilities and in some of the more scenic and picturesque areas of the Lake District.

Starting Point: Legburthwaite Car Park

Car Parking: Legburthwaite Car Park, NY318194

Description: High Rigg sits in the shadow of the Helvellyn ridge and is often overlooked as a spot to ascend. This walk will be a circular route taking us to the summit of the fell before looping through Smaithwaite woods.

Route: TBC

Grade: Moderate

High Point: High Rigg summit (357m)

Distance: Approximately 6 miles

Meet time: 9.45

Start time: 10.00

Time: Approx 3.5/4 hours

Leader: Tom

Please let Tom know by 6.00pm on Friday if you plan on coming on this walk. Text 07760 660113

Sun 8th January - Loughrigg Fell From Ambleside

This walk forms part of our 'Head for the Hills' January program. This is a series of easy/moderate walks aimed at both new and existing walkers who haven't been out with us before to come and see the fells with us. The walks will be in easily accessible areas with reasonable local facilities and in some of the more scenic and picturesque areas of the Lake District.

Starting Point: Ambleside (final location within the town TBC)

Description: This will be Summitt Good's first walk of 2017 and as such will be a good chance to blow away the cobwebs after the Christmas festivities. This will be a easy going circular loop of Loughrigg going at a steady pace. There will be no rush and when we get back to Ambleside we will go in search of tea and cake!

Route: TBC

Grade: Moderate

High Point: Loughrigg Fell summit (355m)

Distance: Approximately 6.5 miles

Meet time: 9.45

Start time: 10.00

Time: Approx 3-3.5 hours

Leader: Tom

Please let Tom know by 6.00pm on Saturday if you plan on coming on this walk. Text 07760 660113

Sun 8th January - Loughrigg Fell

This walk forms part of our 'Head for the Hills' January program. This is a series of easy/moderate walks aimed at both new and existing walkers who haven't been out with us before to come and see the fells with us. The walks will be in easily accessible areas with reasonable local facilities and in some of the more scenic and picturesque areas of the Lake District.

Starting Point: Outside the tourist information centre in Ambleside LA22 9BS, NY376045.

Description: This will be Summitt Good's first walk of 2017 and as such will be a good chance to blow away the cobwebs after the Christmas festivities. This will be a easy going circular loop of Loughrigg going at a steady pace. There will be no rush and when we get back to Ambleside we will go in search of tea and cake!

Route: From the start point we make our way from the centre of town toward Under Loughrigg. We follow a private road for our first ascent of the day before transferring to a well made footpath that will take us along the side of the fell toward Loughrigg tarn. Once on the western side of the fell we begin our short ascent to the summit. After admiring the view we take another path north west from the summit that drops us down to the path at the foot of the fell. We follow this past Rydal water before heading up to Rydal caves. We will double back along the path before following it back toward Peltor bridge and rejoining the Under Loughrigg road that will take us back to Ambleside.

Grade: Moderate (easy end)

High Point: Loughrigg Fell summit (355m)

Distance: Approximately 6.5 miles

Meet time: 9.45

Start time: 10.00

Time: Approx 4-4.5 hours

Leader: Tom

Please let Tom know by 6.00pm on Saturday if you plan on coming on this walk. Text 07760 660113