walkhighlands

This board helps you to share your walking route experiences in England and Wales... or overseas.
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


Postby 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).


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


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.
1.jpg
Derwent Water and Helvellyn range

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.
2.jpg
Skiddaw

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.
3.jpg
Causey Pike summit

4.jpg
South to Scafell range in distance


5.jpg
The day ahead

6.jpg
View back to Causey Pike

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.
7.jpg

8.jpg
Grasmoor

The walk up to Grasmoor was so easy and the developing views of Buttermere and the Scafell range were brilliant.
9.jpg
up to Grasmoor summit

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.
10.jpg

Retraced my steps and down to Coledale Hause to begin the ascent of Hopegill Head.
11.jpg
View back to Coledale Hause

12.jpg
View to Whiteside

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.
13.jpg
Grasmoor and Crummock Water

14.jpg
View back to Hopegill Head

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.
15.jpg
Grisedale Pike and Keswick

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.
User avatar
GraemeMac
 
Posts: 78
Munros:32   Corbetts:11
Fionas:8   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:12   Hewitts:28
Wainwrights:37   
Joined: Oct 24, 2010
Location: Newcastle

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby fedupofuserids » Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:24 pm

Great pics :D
fedupofuserids
 
Posts: 835
Joined: Mar 24, 2010

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby susanmyatt » Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:53 pm

Good report and photos, thats knocked some off your to do list :lol:
User avatar
susanmyatt
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 438
Hewitts:94
Wainwrights:141   
Joined: Feb 3, 2009

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby monty » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:50 pm

That looks like an excellent round Graememac. Not a bad time either. :D Love the pictures. Does England really have scenery like that :lol: :wink:
monty
 

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby icemandan » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:58 pm

Does Scotland really have scenery like this?

Scotland.jpg
icemandan
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 451
Munros:282   Corbetts:26
Fionas:13   Donalds:14
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:199
Wainwrights:214   Islands:33
Joined: Jun 30, 2010
Location: Kendal

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby GraemeMac » Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:12 pm

Thanks for the comments.
Monty - Originally being from Scotland, I was skeptical at first too :wink: , but they definitely do have some good scenery down this end 8)
User avatar
GraemeMac
 
Posts: 78
Munros:32   Corbetts:11
Fionas:8   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:12   Hewitts:28
Wainwrights:37   
Joined: Oct 24, 2010
Location: Newcastle

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby 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! :D

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! :D That's just about my favourite area on this post...
mountain coward
 

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby monty » Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:33 pm

:lol: :wink: Great report
monty
 

Re: Coledale Horseshoe

Postby 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.
baileyloo
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Jun 1, 2011

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).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Outside Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests