Coledale, Tower Ridge and Eel Crag

[simon-b]

2014-06-27_1410 130km.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

With a Friday afternoon to spend in Lakeland and June daylight hours, there was plenty of time for this nice little round. All familiar hills, but there were one or two new route variations for me along the way.

Walking along Coledale with all targets in view

Force Crag Mine

Force Crag

Tower Ridge is a name given by Wainwright. This was my first experience of this route, and my first direct ascent of Eel Crag (Crag Hill).

Approaching Tower Ridge

Wainwright wrote that the pinnacles on this ridge could be dodged. I went over them: this included a bit of involved scrambling and just a certain level of exposure.

On Tower Ridge

Looking back down Tower Ridge

There was a great sense of exhilaration on completing the ridge!

Grisedale Pike and Skiddaw from the top of Tower Ridge

Eel Crag's trig column has gone the way many seem to be going these days.

Eel Crag (Crag Hill) summit

Scafell range from Eel Crag

Moving towards Sail

Helvellyn range from Sail

The GPS track on the attached map illustrates the regular pattern of bends on the 'artificial' path (hidden from the photos!) on Sail's eastern flank.

The view south from the descent of Sail

Moving from Sail Pass to High Moss, en route to Outerside, was another new section of route for me (after the familiar descent along the ridge from Eel Crag to Sail and down to the pass - nice to do again!)

En route from Sail Pass towards Outerside

Grisedale Pike from Outerside

Looking towards Stile End and Barrow from Outerside

Returning to Braithwaite over Stile End and Barrow from Outerside is something I've done before, and was a pleasure to repeat.

Causey Pike form Stile End

Causey Pike - Eel Crag ridge (and Outerside) from Barrow

Barrow is a little fell with beautiful views.

Derwent Water from Barrow

The final descent along Barrow's NE ridge was delightful.

Descending from Barrow towards Braithwaite

This walk was done soon after I'd had two glorious weeks in the Highlands. It was nice to come back to the Lake District, and be reminded that Lakeland is up there with the best of British.

[willywalker247]

Great report. Did you have a cold one in the Royal Oak.

[simon-b]

Cheers, Willy. I think you'll agree that Barrow's a little beauty.

Did you have a cold one in the Royal Oak.

It was an alcohol-free journey, as I was driving home to Yorkshire afterwards. I did stop at The Bridge in Kirkby Thore on the A66 for an excellent meal and a pot of tea.

[L-Hiking]

Nice report and pics Simon. The route you took looks an interesting variation and avoids that awful man made scar on Sail

[simon-b]

The route you took looks an interesting variation and avoids that awful man made scar on Sail

Cheers, LH. Tower Ridge was an interesting variation (if you can call a route from the Wainwright books a variation). As for the scar on Sail, it was my camera that avoided it, not my feet. It was a route I'd highly recommend as an alternative to the ascent via Coledale Hause, whether you follow the crest of the ridge or dodge the more scrambly bits.