Start point: Braithwaite (NY 227 237)
Braithwaite – Kinn – Grisedale Pike – Hobcarton Head – Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Coledale Hause – Coledale – Braithwaite
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 843 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 10:15
Weather: Cold with a strong wind. 3°C
With a break in the weather and a bit of sunshine around, Grisedale Pike looked very tempting from Keswick today wearing its best winter coat. The predicted weather as for high winds with a wind chill of -18C and so it turned out in the end – I didn’t fancy the full Coledale round once I had been up high for a while so took the valley route from Coledale Hause. As the old saying goes “Half a Coledale is better than no Coledale at all”! Once again it was just me and young Dougal whilst Casper stayed at home in the warm – sensible boy!
Before the walk...a wintry view along Windermere from Bowness Bay.
Skiddaw from Braithwaite.
A panoramic view of Skiddaw.
Causey Pike beyond Barrow from the climb to Kinn.
Cold Coledale.
Grisedale Pike.
Dougal checks out the climb.
Sail in mono.
Sunshine and cloud.
Eel Crag and the Coledale Valley.
The climb to Grisedale Pike up Sleet How...spot the Dougal?!
Kinn, Skiddaw and the Vale of Keswick.
Climbers ahead on Sleet How.
Looking back down from Sleet How.
The summit of Grisedale Pike - with a bitter, strong wind, it really was as cold as it looks.
A winter panorama.
The view across Outerside and Causey Pike.
Grasmoor beyond Hobcarton Head.
Dougal surveys the head of Coledale.
On the descent, first heading for Hobcarton Head then Hopegill Head up to the right.
Lovely winter scenery but oh-so cold.
Walkers on Hobcarton Head give some scale to the scene.
Looking back to Grisedale Pike, Skiddaw beyond from Hobcarton Head.
Grasmoor.
Hopegill Head and Ladyside Pike.
Grisedale Pike from the climb to Hopegill Head.
Whiteside and a glimpse of Crummock Water from Hopegill Head summit.
Wandope.
The cloud is starting to cover the fells to the south and east now.
Eel Crag from Sand Hill.
Skiddaw and Blencathra along the Coledale Valley.
Force Crag mine.