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Given the current, not so great, weather this walk seems ages ago. It was a really warm October day and not the best time to start to wear in my new three season Alt-Berg Tetheras. I wore them regardless and, although they were not bad at all for the first time on for quite a stiff boot, my feet were boiling!
Anyway, these two fells needed clearing up to leave a couple of bigger walks to finish off the Northern half of the of the Eastern fells also given the fairly easy nature of the walk it suited our limited time for the day.
It's always good when you get a nice day to walk from Glenridding as it means the parking fees are easier to stomach, although the new system of cameras to charge you exactly by the hour rather than the £7.50 all day, is a big improvement.
We headed up towards lonely Kepple Cove with its ruined Dam before making our way up the zig -zags. The views of Catstycam are excellent with the North West ridge looking like a tempting future expedition.
Following a bit of a slog on an unseasonably warm day we reached the summit of Whiteside to be greeted by some wonderful views for our lunch break.
Birkhouse Moor by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Catstycam by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
The ruined Dam by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Moody light over Catstycam and Hellvelyn by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Raise by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Skiddaw from Whiteside by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Raise from Whiteside by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Views from Whiteside by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Thirlmere by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Browncove Crags by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Grace on Whiteside by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
The walk to Raise from here must be one of the simplest routes between fells in the district as you amble towards the pleasingly rocky top. We lingered a short while as it was too nice not to before making our way towards the Sticks pass. The route down from here is nice and easy but takes you through some of the most bleak post industrial landscape to found in these parts. A desolate flood plain of quarry spoil and other detritus that is as far removed from the chocolate box image as you can get.
Looking back towards Hellvelyn Lower Man by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Grace on Raise by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Ullswater by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Descending via the Sticks Pass by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
A nice treat is in store when you get to Stang End as you get a lovely view of the South end of Ulswater and Glenridding before a zig-zag downwards back to Glenridding. Both these tops are pleasant places on a day like this but I personally would, if time allowed, include Helvellyn in this route.
Glenridding by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr