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Warning
Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.
Coledale Horseshoe
Coledale Horseshoe
by GraemeMac » Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:21 pm
Wainwrights included on this walk: Barrow, Causey Pike, Eel Crag, Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Sail, Scar Crags, Wandope, Whiteside
Hewitts included on this walk: Causey Pike, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Sail, Scar Crags, Wandope, Whiteside
Date walked: 10/11/2010
Time taken: 7.5
Distance: 24 km
Ascent: 1719m
1 person thinks this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).This week I had wednesday and thursday off from work and luck was on my side as Wednesday was supposed to be almost perfect conditions (as far as I’m concerned anyway), clear skies with little wind and a nice chill to the air. The rest of the week practically everywhere in the UK was forecast to be bad weather so I thought I’d get a big walk in and start around sunrise time. After very much enjoying 37lumleyst’s Coledale Round report I decided to do an almost identical route.
Left the house at 4.30am and was walking by 6.15am. I ended up taking my ice axe as it was completely dark when I started walking and I had no idea what the conditions were like on top. The only problem with starting so early for me is that I always want to be as high as possible for the sunrise so I end up legging it up the hill and being exhausted after 5 minutes. Got on to Barrow in pretty quick time.
Decided to give Outerside a miss even though it was originally my plan to go up it. I didn’t think it would offer me too much more in terms of views so I pushed on up to Causey Pike. Skiddaw demanding your attention all the time on the way up.
The view was brilliant in all directions from Causey Pike. Skiddaw and Blencathra were lit up orange by the morning light and the hills looked great to the south with a fine covering of snow.
A few ascents and descents later and I was on the other side of Crag Hill with Grasmoor in view. The soft snow was great to run down, apparently I was doing 15km/h according to the my GPS, If I’d kept that up through the whole route I would have finished in about 1hour 45.
The walk up to Grasmoor was so easy and the developing views of Buttermere and the Scafell range were brilliant.
The view from Grasmoor summit may be my favourite Lakeland view so far. Buttermere lake in the middle, Haystacks providing the backdrop to it, Great Gable towering above both of them and the Scafell range poking up behind them all. Had difficulty photographing it with the sun directly behind it.
Retraced my steps and down to Coledale Hause to begin the ascent of Hopegill Head.
Up until this point I hadn’t seen a single person all day until 4 tiny yapping dogs come running up the western path of Whiteside and start harassing me for my ham sandwich with a very apologetic owner. The bulk of Grasmoor providing a good view down towards Crummock Water.
Again retraced my steps, and along to Grisedale Pike where it was getting quite busy so decided to push on and finish the walk. Nice views down towards Keswick and Derwent water.
Overall I just about hit my comfortable limit in terms of walk length for the day, so very pleased with how it turned out.
Last edited by GraemeMac on Fri May 06, 2011 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by susanmyatt » Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:53 pm
Good report and photos, thats knocked some off your to do list 

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Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by monty » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:50 pm
That looks like an excellent round Graememac. Not a bad time either.
Love the pictures. Does England really have scenery like that




- monty
Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by icemandan » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:58 pm
Does Scotland really have scenery like this?
Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by GraemeMac » Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:12 pm
Thanks for the comments.
Monty - Originally being from Scotland, I was skeptical at first too
, but they definitely do have some good scenery down this end 
Monty - Originally being from Scotland, I was skeptical at first too


Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by mountain coward » Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:28 pm
Good pics there! Wow! snow already in the Lakes? Best take my ice axe and crampons when I go in a couple of weeks - wasn't expecting it yet really.
You added quite a fair few peaks onto the basic round there!
And Monty - our scenery may not be as strung out as yours and needing such a long walk to get to, but it's equally beautiful... so there!
That's just about my favourite area on this post...
You added quite a fair few peaks onto the basic round there!

And Monty - our scenery may not be as strung out as yours and needing such a long walk to get to, but it's equally beautiful... so there!

- mountain coward
Re: Coledale Horseshoe
by baileyloo » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:13 pm
Fab pics. This a deffinate one I.l be trying. Been up Grisedale Pike and followed Coledale beck. Back to Braithwaite where I was camping.[march -6 on nite nice] Some many choices.
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