The accolade of ‘Best Mile in the Lake District’ was given originally by Lakeland Walker magazine but I’m in total agreement with their choice and often do this walk in the evening I arrive in the Lakes. The ‘best mile’ ridge can be nicely incorporated into the following round with the advantage that you get to walk the best mile twice...
Set off up Grisedale Pike via the Sleet How route – there are lots of starting points for this depending on how lazy you’re feeling. The lowest start point is just out of Braithwaite village (near Keswick)on the start to the Whinlatter Pass – there is a small carpark on the left where the vehicle track comes out of the Coledale Valley from the mines.
The next hardest but very pleasant sets off just below what I call ‘Bassenthwaite View’ – a viewpoint roadside parking spot halfway up the pass. From here you drop back down the road round the bend and you will find a little track on the right setting off into the forest. This joins a forest track (keeping left) which eventually leads you out onto Kinn, the foothill of Grisedale Pike.
The easiest route starts off from Revelin Moss carpark near the visitor centre at the top of the pass (ask at the visitor centre for a forest map £2-ish). Whichever way, you end up on the ridge at the foot of Sleet How ‘arete’ and ascend that in 20 minutes or so to the dainty summit of Grisedale Pike (my favourite Lakes mountain).
The way from here is straight on across Grisedale Pike’s mini-pike, or as I call it, Grisedale Pikelet;-)
- Grisedale Pike from the 'pikelet'
A slight left keeps you along the escarpment which descends for about 100 yards at a gentle angle then suddenly steepens down a narrowing rocky nose. You descend to another col while getting great views into Gasgale Gill and across to Grasmoor.
- Dove Crags, Grasmoor
Whiteside is a long grassy ridge with 2 main summits and the views are towards Crummock Water – in my mind the nicest looking Lake District lake. There are great views down the crags now to Gasgale Gill on your left.
At the end of the ridge and after you’ve had a good look down more or less straight onto Crummock Water you turn and go back along the ridge to Hopegill Head. It may sound boring to cover the same ground twice but it really isn’t in this case.
On reaching the summit of Hopegill Head again, look over the edge of the drop on your left and you’ll see a little path heading off down the slabs on the side of the arête leading to the col before Ladyside Pike (this fell is opposite Lord’s Seat and used to therefore be called Lady’s Seat but the puritanical obviously thought bums to that name!)
- From the other side...
- looking back up...
The slabs lead down to a nick before a slabby platform which Wainwright suggested is a great spot for sunbathing – it is! The view down the nick is pretty good and shows Hobcarton Crags and various gullies – not recommended for climbing on as they are apparently way too friable!
After your sunbathe in the setting light, head off past what I call ‘The Horn’ (a cute little peak with fun scrambles on)
- Looking back up...
- Looking back...
From the corner of the forest a steep path goes down beside the fence to the beck. Cross the beck and clamber up the far banking on some tufa which is usually pretty wet. You will then reach a forest track which you follow left until you meet a junction. You need to continue straight on at the junction and in a couple of miles you reach Revelin Moss carpark (one of the start points mentioned earlier). If you didn’t set off from there you have a not unpleasant walk back down the pass to your start (pretty quiet in an evening).
The best pub by the way is the Coledale – off to your (first) right immediately at the bottom of the pass before you reach the village proper. They do real ale and great puds!;-)
