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So much for my theory that yesterday's excursion to the Uldale Fells was a nice gentle start to the week - everyone woke up exhausted and demanding a rest day, so I was left to walk alone. A perfect opportunity for a one-way ridge walk. The weather was forecast to deteriorate in the afternoon so I set off as early as I could.
We drove from Braithwaite over Whinlatter Pass and round to Lanthwaite Green, at the top of Crummock Water. Lorraine then drove back to Braithwaite (via Newlands Valley and the shops in Keswick), and I set off to walk back via Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike.
Leaving Lanthwaite GreenWhiteside didn't appear to have any easy ascents from this direction, but Wainwright claimed that Whin Ben provided a good ascent.
Whiteside from Lanthwaite Green
Approach to WhitesideI was relieved to see that the footbridge across Liza Beck had survived the flood damages
Footbridge over Liza Beck
View from the BridgeProgress up to Whin Ben was slow but steady.
Looking up Gasgale Gill
View from Whin BenOne point on the ascent involved a slightly exposed scramble, and I was glad I had not brought the dogs. I suspect there may have been an easier route a little to the left...
Whiteside and Coldeale Hause
The ascent to Whiteside
Gasgale Gill and Coledale HauseAbove Whin Ben it started to get very windy - difficult to stand at some points, especially as I approached the summit of Whiteside itself.
Checking Wainwright for instructions, I saw the description of the ridge to Hopegill Head, and saw the words "exhilarating" and "narrow" and thought "is this going to work in this wind?". I'm not too good with exhilarating narrow ridges these days, even without the wind. But a glance at the map showed there wasn't really much other option unless I wanted to return to Lanthwaite Green and try to hitch home, so I pressed on.
Heading towards Hopegill HeadFortunately the wind dropped to a much calmer level, and the ridge was pleasant enough and not at all as narrow as I had feared, and Hopegill Head was soon reached.
Hopegill Head from the Whiteside ridge
Looking back towards Whiteside
Hopegill Head summitThe summit was in the clouds, which probably was a good thing for my vertigo - when I got a view of it looking back from Grisedale Pike it was clear that the summit cairn is very close to the edge of a very large cliff!
Looking back at Whiteside
Hopegill HeadThe path to Grisedale Pike from Hopegill Head follows the line of these cliffs - close but not too close, as Wainwright puts it. The cloud cleared from time to time to give glimpses of views.
From the top of Grisedale Pike, the instructions were to find a pair of fence posts that serve as a marker for the start of the path down to Sleet How.
Pair of fence postsQuite a steep descent to Sleet How - I was glad I was not coming up, though it wasn;t especially fun to go down either, with the stones quite loose.
Sleet How from Grisedale Pike
Grisedale from Sleet HowThe ridge of Sleet How provided a rest from the descent for a while.
Sleet HowBut only for a while - dropping down from the ridge towards Braithwaite was also slippery - this time mud rather than loose stones was the problem.
Looking down at BraithwaiteI couldn't quite see our car from here.
Then down to the car park on the Whinlatter Pass road, then along the road a couple of hundred yards back into Braithwaite and home.
Twisted Tree
Twisted Tree 2The rain threatened by the weather forecast never appeared. An enjoyable day, shorter and quicker than I expected it to be, and leaving me just one short of completing the North-Western Fells. Maybe I'll climb Castle Crag later this week...
