Start point: Surprise View (NY 268 189)
Surprise View – Ashness Bridge – Falcon Crag – Walla Crag – Cat Gill – Calfclose Bay – Barrow Bay – Ashness Bridge – Surprise View
Distance: 4.3 miles Total Ascent: 392 metres Time Taken: 2 hours
Weather: Sunny spells. 14C.
Today’s quest was to get Dougal out on the fells for a bit longer, not do a walk that was too tough and begin to get his stamina up a little. The walk to Walla Crag from Surprise View offered this plus plenty of different options depending on how we got on. I had intended going up onto High Seat but it seemed further than I remembered so I decided to drop down to Derwent Water and walk along the shore for a change.
Walla Crag route map.
Sunrise over Derwent Water from Surprise View.
Ashness Bridge.
An alternative view.
Barrow Beck and Ashness Bridge from below the road.
Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake from the climb towards Falcon Crag.
Looking back towards Borrowdale.
Autumn at Manesty Park beneath Maiden Moor, Robinson in the distance.
A zoom into Borrowdale looking at King's How and Castle Crag.
The islands of Derwent Water - St Herbert's Island, Lord's Island and Derwent Isle. Beyond Portinscale is Bassenthwaite Lake.
Walla Crag gets some sunshine ahead.
The view down Cat Gill.
Bleaberry Fell in a sunburst from the summit of Walla Crag.
Keswick and the Skiddaw massif.
It looks like the 'lake' on the top of Walla Crag is joined to Derwent Water here!
The Newlands Valley and the north western fells.
Dougal looks a bit lost on Walla Crag.
That's better - Dougal and Casper on Walla Crag. What a good lad that Doogs is.
Derwent Bay - Eel Crag and Grisedale Pike are the two highest fells in view.
Sunshine over Catbells.
The descent into autumn at Cat Gill.
There is a steep descent through the woods, not that Dougal seems bothered.
Catbells reflections from Calfclose Bay.
Looking along Derwent Water.
Roots.
Looking into Borrowdale.
Landing stage, Barrow Bay.
Skiddaw.
More reflections.
Skiddaw in the opposite direction.
Last one before the climb back up past Ashness Bridge.