Hobcarton End

Start point: Revelin Moss Car Park (NY 249 242)

Comb Bridge – Grisedale Pike – Hobcarton End (537) – Comb Bridge

Distance: 1.2 miles Total Ascent: 485 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 10 minutes

Weather: Sunny, warming nicely. 14ºC.

Second walk of the day was up to Grisedale Pike but the real reason for the walk was to pick up a straggling Birkett, Hobcarton End. It was a steep ascent from the car park in Whinlatter Forest but at least it was starting from 300m which made it a bit easier to bear. The cloud seemed to gather on this walk and the clear skies of earlier were gone.

Starting the steep climb from Hospital Plantation up the north eastern ridge of Grisedale Pike.

Come on, says Casper - but it is steep!

Relentlessly onwards and upwards.

Finally, at the summit of Grisedale Pike.

Grasmoor and Hopegill Head from Grisedale Pike.

Grasmoor beyond Hobcarton Head.

Crag Hill with Eel Crag to the right.

Bowfell and Esk Pike, the Scafells covered with cloud to the right.

The route of descent to Hobcarton End.

Casper wears his tongue at a jaunty angle.

Hopegill Head - that descent to Ladyside Pike looks steep from here and brought back memories of when I did it in the snow earlier this year. That was in January - it feels like only yesterday!

The first cairn on Hobcarton End, the hump to the right is the Birkett summit. Criffel is beneath the cloud in Scotland across then Solway Firth.

Hobcarton End.

Criffel and the bog cotton. There are two more walks to come from today yet;