Another Variant of the Coledale Round

[dav2930]

If there's one walk I never tire of, it's the Coledale Horseshoe. One of the reasons for this, undoubtedly, is the number of different versions of it there are for the choosing. For example, include/omit Hopegill Head; include/omit Grasmoor; if omitting Grasmoor, take the direct scramble from Coledale Hause to Eel Crag, or not; finish by Outerside and Barrow; finish by Causey Pike.. etc. etc.

On this occasion Karl and myself were curious about linking Causey Pike with Barrow by a traverse of the former's northern slopes to Stonycroft Gill and Barrow Door. Somehow I got the idea that I'd seen a path marked on a map (but not the map we were using), starting well above the col of Sleet Hause on Causey Pike's west ridge and joining the path on the north side of Stonycroft Gill near Low Moss. In the event, no such path was visible on the ground, so we just followed a sheep-trod and improvised a pathless route to the point we wanted to be at. It was a bit rough going but soon done, and worth it for the delights of Barrow to conclude the walk. After the event, I haven't been able to find the path I thought I saw on any map I have access to, so I think I must have imagined it!

Braithwaite from the first level bit

Coledale and Causey Pike

Path to Grisedale Pike

Sleet Hause, Grisedale Pike

Skiddaw in the clag from Sleet Hause

Outerside and Causey Pike

Summit of Grisedale Pike

Karl and another chap on Grisedale Pike

Approaching Hopegill Head

Whiteside from Hopegill Head

Ladyside Pike

Hope Gill

Sand Hill from Hopegill Head

The edge of Hobcarton Crag leading towards Ladyside Pike

The edge of Hobcarton Crag leading towards Hobcarton Crag (the Hewitt).

Crag Hill above Coledale Hause

Looking down the scrambly bit up Eel Crag

Karl showing off his new Rab windproof on summit of Eel Crag

Ridge from Eel Crag towards Sail

From Sail looking back to Eel Crag

Summit of Sail

Rigg Beck and Catbells

Ahead to Scar Crags

Clearer conditions

Outerside, Barrow and Vale of Keswick

Ard Crags and Newlands

Rigg Beck and Catbells from Scar Crags

The ridge to Causey Pike from Scar Crags

Looking back to Sail and Eel Crag from Scar Crags

Ard Crags, Knot Rigg and Robinson

Derwentwater from Causey Pike

Newlands from Causey Pike

Scar Crags and Eel Crag from Causey Pike

Barrow, Derwentwater and Keswick from Causey Pike

Barrow, Bassenthwaite and Skiddaw, from Causey Pike

Derwentwater from Causey Pike

Newlands

Causey Pike from Barrow

Descending to Braithwaite from Barrow

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Naturally, we finished the day off by calling in at the Coledale Inn. Real fire, bowl of chips, pint of Parson's Pledge . Grand as 'owt!

[johnkaysleftleg]

You might not have had the weather I had but you certainly got plenty drama, really like the shot along to Whiteside from Hopegill Head.

[trailmasher]

Another fine day out dav well documented with some fine photos of a winters day on the fells BTW, there are two paths leading to Barrow Door one of which is shown on the OS Map although rather difficult to find in reality from the Stonycroft side but quite obvious from the Barrow Door end Again a nice report and just a shame about the clag on the ridge

[Alteknacker]

Looks like not a bad day at all, notwithstanding the clag right at the top. As you say, many variants, but always a great place to walk.

Karl looks as if he's praying to Mecca on one pic.... (I assume that he's facing back the way you came, so East....)

[dav2930]

You might not have had the weather I had but you certainly got plenty drama, really like the shot along to Whiteside from Hopegill Head.

Thanks JK. Yes, I must say, I do enjoy days of varied weather and contrasting light. But I'm kicking myself that we did this walk on the Saturday instead of the following day which, as your report on Raven Crag from that Sunday shows so well, was magical.

Another fine day out dav well documented with some fine photos of a winters day on the fells BTW, there are two paths leading to Barrow Door one of which is shown on the OS Map although rather difficult to find in reality from the Stonycroft side but quite obvious from the Barrow Door end Again a nice report and just a shame about the clag on the ridge

Thanks TM. I suppose it might have helped to have had a map which shows at least one of those two paths. We only had the BMC Harvey's map which doesn't show either! That'll teach us

Looks like not a bad day at all, notwithstanding the clag right at the top. As you say, many variants, but always a great place to walk.

Karl looks as if he's praying to Mecca on one pic.... (I assume that he's facing back the way you came, so East....)

Thanks AK. Yeah it was a pretty good day really; don't mind a bit of clag if there are also some views.

If that's the picture I think it is ("From Sail looking back to Eel Crag"?), then the figure who looks as if he's praying to Mecca isn't Karl, but a random chap who we passed going the other way