An Indian summer of lovely sunny weather for the week we stayed up here. First part of the week was spent at Whitbarrow Village and the second part of the week at CMC site at Troutbeck Head looking out towards the beautiful Blencathra.
Arriving on Saturday we drove straight to Keswick to complete a walk around Friars Crag and Castlerigg Stone circle. A lovely varied walk with fabulous views across Derwentwater as well as the surrounding fells. We completed the walk with a run up to the top of Castlehead Crag with a fabulous panoramic view
Sunday brought a longer trek from the Great Wood car park across the fell to Ashness bridge, on up to Watendlath for a quick lunch stop by the river and tarn. Heading up the fell then and over the top at Resting Stone we headed back via very pretty Grange and the Bowder Stone
With Adrian back at work on Monday I headed out with Geoff and Jane for a trek up Catbells and the along the ridge into Maiden Moor. The weather was beautiful that morning and Catbells was well populated with hikers but thinned out the further we went on.
After reaching the summit of Maiden Moor we retraced our steps back to the hause and began our descent towards the shores of Derwentwater. To describe the views as stunning doesn’t really do them justice – this has to be one of the most picturesque views of any lakeshore and woodland walk. A great spot for a bit of shinrin yoku (forest bathing).
Once at the car Jane and I headed into Keswick, with Geoff taking a more energetic route back on the bike.
Tuesday was another warm day, if a bit cloudier. The trek for today was Ullock Pike and Carlside, just under Skiddaw. Very often shrouded in cloud, the summit of Skiddaw today was clear and looked huge as it towered above the clear path up towards Ullock Pike. One drawback for us was that we seemed to have picked the one day this year that the flying ants decided to appear + so we were plagued with them irritating us until we got to the summit.
From the summit of Ullock Pike we headed straight along the ridge to Carlside where just over the summit we stopped for lunch.
The route down was steep at the start, rapidly losing height until we descended to white stones and then we meandered through bracken to reach the forest tracks around Dodd Wood
Wednesday brought some cloudier weather, Geoff had already planned one of his epic bike rides up and over the Kirkstone Pass, Jane and I stayed local and trekked off to Eyecott Hill. Quite an unassuming little green mound but it’s certainly worth a visit for its stunning views, particularly of Blencathra.
Thursday dawned with stunningly beautiful skies and warm sunshine and Geoff and I had planned a route up the front ridge of Robinson coming down to Newlands Hause before ascending the fells of Knott Rigg and Ard Crags opposite.
The route up Robinson was an inspired choice it was a superb route with stunning views, great scrambling and some cute Herdwick sheep (Herdys namesakes)
The views from the summit of Robinson were truly spectacular of Crummock water, Rannerdale Knotts and Mellbreak.
Lunch at the Hause was followed by the short but steep ascent of Knott Rigg and then along the ridge to Ard Crags. The descent straight off the end of Ard Crags was really steep until we were back at the road. We were back in time to get refreshments at the Littletown cafe.
Adrian and Herdy arrived back on Thursday evening and we checked into Troutbeck Head Caravan &Motorhome site in a great spot by the river.
Friday we were joined by sister Judy (& Nick) and we made our anniversary visit to mum & dads resting place taking in a walk around Ashness Bridge and the surrounding woods
Saturday was Geoff & Jane’s final day and we’d picked a trek up Great Mell Fell. We walked and met them both at the car park up the road and set off to the foot of the hill. The route was steep up through the trees before opening out at the summit with some glorious views. The route down was really steep and a bit tricky at one point but we made it down with a long way round the fenced off woodland around the bottom of the fell. Back in time for lunch..
Our final day on Sunday. Adrian and I had been planning a hike up Blencathra by a route we hadn’t done – up Halls Fell ridge direct to the summit. We were up really early and moved Herdy to the lay-by at the start of the route and got ourselves ready for action when there – the beauty of having a motorhome 🚐 The route up Halls Fell was as amazing as we imagined it would have been having read Wainwright’s words on the route. It’s very steep from the start but once up at the scramble on the ridge it’s absolutely spectacular – you can’t beat a bit of rock to scramble on!!
The scramble pops out at the summit which had plenty of hikers up there. We had decided on the lovely route down via Scales Tarn and then around the fell back to Scales where we began the walk. And all in back in time for lunch in Herdy!!
What an amazing week!! Can’t wait for our next adventure 🚐🥾🧗♀️⛰
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