Start point: Braithwaite (NY 227 237)
Braithwaite – Kinn – Grisedale Pike – Hobcarton Head – Hopegill Head – Sand Hill – Coledale Hause – Crag Hill – Sail – Scar Crags – Causey Pike – Outerside – Stile End – Barrow – Braithwaite
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1430 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 35 minutes
Weather: Initially dull and cool turning to blue skies and sunshine. 12oC.
It was certainly a day of two halves today – the ascent to Grisedale Pike was done under dull skies with an increasingly cold wind that lasted until the descent of Sail when the skies ahead suddenly started clearing to reveal blue skies and sunshine. It wasn’t quite what we had last week, but I wasn’t complaining – it could have been much worse.
Skiddaw from the climb up to Kinn.
Looking across Coledale to Barrow and Causey Pike.
The steep ascent to Grisedale Pike.
...and from further up.
Sail and Crag Hill at the head of Coledale, Force Crag mine workings below.
Looking back along the eastern ridge used to climb Grisedale Pike.
Sand Hill and Hopegill Head.
Crag Hill.
Looking back to Grisedale Pike from Hobcarton Head.
Whiteside from Hopegill Head, Crummock Water and Mellbreak in view to the left.
Casper on Hopegill Head.
Looking across Coledale Hause to Crag Hill, the path used in ascent leads off to the right.
Outerside and Causey Pike.
'She'll carry on through it all, she's a waterfall...'
Sunrays over High Snockrigg and Wandope.
The sun lights up Outerside from a misty Crag Hill summit.
Angus shows how windy it was on Crag Hill. It was a cold blast too.
More sunrays on Knott Rigg.
As if by magic...blue sky and sun appear descending from Sail towards Scar Crags. Outerside, Stile End and Barrow are the three peaks in the centre with the bulk of Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond.
Causey Pike from Scar Crags. Blencathra is to the left then Great Mell Fell, Clough Head and Great Dodd.
Looking back along the ridge just descended to Crag Hill, the summit still in cloud.
Skiddaw over Barrow.
'Here's to you (Mrs) Robinson.'!
Clough Head and Great Dodd across Derwent Water from the summit of Outerside.
Clough Head.
Blencathra.
Stile End and Barrow.
Angus and Casper have a drink in the tarn on the way to Stile End.
Barrow from Stile End.
Cat Bells from Barrow.
Looking across Derwent Water to Bleaberry Fell with The Dodds and the Helvellyn ridge beyond, the skies still improving.
Sunburst over Causey Pike.
Bassenthwaite Lake and Braithwaite from the descent of Barrow.
A final view of Skiddaw.