Today was a day for easing back into exercise after I had a (planned) medical procedure at the weekend – I needed something not too taxing to test myself out and this seemed like the perfect place to go. It was a beautiful morning by the time I reached Grasmere after a cloudy start to the day and the walk to Grisedale Hause was really quite gentle – just what I wanted! Oddly enough I have never been over most of the route used today and have only ever been up to the summit from Grisedale Hause and then back down. I have never followed the C2C path or been up or down the south ridge but it has been on my mind for a while, in fact every time I pass on the road below I think about doing it. It goes to show there are always new routes to find!
Finlay was excellent again today, in fact I would say he is virtually the finished ‘fell dog’ article with the full walk being off lead and sheep training (on lead) was also excellent. He will be the new King of the Fells soon enough!
The parking place opposite Mill Bridge has No Parking signs on it now, so I managed to find a place further down the road towards Grasmere and then walked back up to the footpath. This is the view looking across the main A591 to Steel Fell with the Travellers Rest Inn on the right.Same fell, different perspective – Steel Fell from the C2C (Coast to Coast) path which is the path I followed for the first half of today’s walk.Looking along the path which is above Tongue Gill to Grisedale Hause with the cascades in view, central. Up to the left is the prominent feature of Gavel Crag.The view back down the valley; all is looking lush and green now with the bracken in full growth. Helm Crag is clearly in view in the centre but the Coniston fells are still under cloud…for now.Climbing higher – this path is a great way of ascent as the climb seems very gentle, hardly discernible in fact. I passed two people along here and they were the only ones I saw all morning, which was a little surprising given the time of year and the number of people around in the Lakes in general.Gavel Crag.Looking back along the valley again, the cloud over Coniston is lifting nicely now and there are lots of long sunny spells.The King of the Valley (but he cannot keep that errant tongue in!).It was beautiful and warm in the sunshine as I climbed the valley.Made it to Grisedale Hause, ahead is the path to climb Seat Sandal.Looking along Grisedale Valley, Grisedale Tarn below and Ullswater in view. St Sunday Crag is central and the path to Fairfield is up to the right.Grisedale Tarn with Dollywaggon Pike above it.After an initial steep pull the ground gets easier, here following the wall to the summit of Seat Sandal ahead.The Coniston fells to Crinkle Crags are completely out of the cloud now.The summit cairn on Seat Sandal.Wainwright #46 for Finlay, he is doing great! I must say he is a great companion – off the lead for the full walk today and he is maturing well.St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike and Fairfield from Seat Sandal.Thirlmere, Skiddaw and Helvellyn – what a trio!There are fabulous views descending the south ridge of Seat Sandal, here with three waters in view – Grasmere, Windermere and Coniston Water.A peek into Easedale and Easedale Tarn.Descending the south ridge and heading for Grasmere.Light and shade, a feature of today’s walk.The fells are looking very green today and the Scafells have finally become cloud free.
