September
8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return
A Walk - Grisdale Pike & Crag Hill with Dave Colbert
9½ miles (15km) with 4,130ft (1,260m) Total Ascent
Two steep-sided, parallel ridges extend westward from the Newlands valley to Lorton Vale, Grisedale Pike lying towards the eastern end of the northern and Crag Hill towards the western end of the southern. Joined at the broad col of Coledale Hause, they surround the glacial valley of Coledale Beck to the south-west of Braithwaite, the high level circuit of which is one of the classic hikes in the Lake District. On all previous occasions, we have walked the route clockwise, so just for something completely different, today we will walk it anti-clockwise!
Starting from Braithwaite, a lengthy climb by way of Kinn and Sleet How takes us up to Grisedale Pike (791m/2,595ft), from where we traverse the undulating ridge to Hopegill Head (770m/2,525ft), arguably the finest ‘Wainwright’ on this walk and certainly the sharpest. It´s then down to Coledale Hause over the minor top of Sand Hill and up again to Crag Hill, at 839m/2,753ft our highest fell of the day. A narrow and exposed traverse to Sail precedes a long descent to High Moss, from where we will ascend Outerside (568m/1,863ft) before descending back to Braithwaite from the minor top of Stile End (not a ‘Wainwright’).
Please note that weather conditions (strong winds and/or heavy rain) on the day may necessitate an alternative, lower level hike.
B+ Walk - Cat Bells with Dave Thornton
9½ miles (15.3km) with 1400ft (427m) Total Ascent
Cat Bells has been climbed many times over the years by members of the club. It offers some excellent views of the Lake District.
Starting from Braithwaite we follow Newlands Beck south to Ghyll Bank, then passing Skelgill on to Hawes End from where we start the main climbing of the day. From here we ascend Skelgill Bank (1148ft / 350m), where we level out for a while before ascending Cat Bells at (1476ft / 450m). From here we can see the length of Derwent Water to Keswick and beyond, with Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw in the background.
We descend from Cat Bells down Hause Gate to Manesty Park at the southern end of Derwent Water. Turning North, we join the Allerdale Ramble track (Cumbria Way) which follows Derwent Water back to Hawes End, through Fawe Park to Portinscale. From here we will turn east into Keswick where we will be picked up by the coaches.
B Walk - Cumbria Way & Blease Fell with Dorothy Dobson
8½ miles (13.6km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent
I led this walk a few years ago and I think it merits a return visit as the scenery is slmply breathtaking.
We leave the coach on the A66 road at Threlkeld and walk in a westward direction, passing through the hamlet of Wescoe before heading north through fields to the Blencathra Centre. Here we join a good wide path walking along a valley between Lonsdale Fell And Blease Fell, before reaching the Cumbria Way. We now turn south on yet another good path on its undulating route into Keswick for refreshments before returning to the coach.
C Walk - Braithwaite to Keswick with Sylvia Rymer & Barbara Malloy
6½ miles (10.4km) with 263ft (80m) Total Ascent
Leaving Braithwaite in a SE direction towards Little Braithwaite we join the riverside footpath by Newlands Beck which leads us to Stair. We continue down to Rowling End Farm and cross over the beck towards Ghyll Bank. We follow the footpath to Skelgill and then walk by the side of Cat Bells to join the Cumbria Way.
The Cumbria Way takes us up to Keswick but we will make a detour to Lingholm and Nichol End.
