Walk 3
Pooley Bridge -> Roe Head -> The Cockpit -> Arthur's Pike -> Bonscale Pike -> Loadpot Hill -> Wether Hill -> Groove Gill -> Fusedale -> Howtown -> Bonscale -> Cross Dormont -> Pooley Bridge
This was the longest walk of the holiday at 13.5 miles and took us over the rather uninspiring, rounded grassy fells at the lower end of the High Street range. However although the fells were less than inspiring in themselves we were once again presented with some great views across Ullswater and into the central fells. From Wether Hill we dropped down to the ruined stone cottage and sheepfold at the head of Fusedale then down the lovely valley on the well made track to Howtown hoping for a cup of tea. Unfortunately the hotel appeared to be closed so we carried on back along the edge of Ullswater to Pooley Bridge.
Walk 2
Mardale Head carpark -> The Rigg -> Bowderthwaite Bridge -> Kidsty Howes -> Kidsty Pike -> High Raise -> Rampsgill Head -> The Knott -> High Street -> Mardale Ill Bell -> Nan Bield Pass -> Small Water -> Mardale Head carpark
This is a wonderful and more strenuous walk. The path around the southwest edge of Haweswater offers some beautiful views across the reservoir, up wild Riggindale and of the half submerged farm walls that once graced this beautiful valley before it was flooded in the 1950s to provide water for our cities. The climb up to Kidsty Howes is very steep but the view from Kidsty Pike across Riggindale is worth it. And then it's up once again onto the broad ridge that is the High Street range where Romans once raced chariots! We took in a number of nearby summits then walked over the great back of High Street itself, looking down on the forbidding Blea Water before cresting Mardale Ill Bell and dropping down to the windy Nan Bield Pass. From here we took the winding, rocky path to the beautiful Small Water, passing the small rock built refuges and down to the lakeside once more.
Walk 1
Mardale Head carpark -> Gatesgarth Pass -> Branstree -> Selside Pike -> Old Corpse Road -> High Loup and Haweswater lakeside -> Mardale Head carpark
This is a nice little loop offering splendid views of the flooded Mardale valley and Haweswater. The fells themselves are rounded and grassy but the view across to the High Street range and the wonderful range of colours from the dead bracken, reservoir's waters and rocky slopes opposite are wonderful.
THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT - FEBRUARY 2004
Lakes Winter 03/04
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Walk 4
Hartsop Fold -> Gray Crag -> Thornthwaite Beacon -> Threshwaite Mouth -> Stony Cove Pike -> Hartsop Dodd -> Hartsop Fold
This is an excellent walk from the very attractive hamlet of Hartsop that nestles beneath the Hayewater reservoir. After walking up beside Hayeswater Gill the path passes a fern covered ruined hut then turns steeply up the end of Gray Crag. After a long pull one reaches the flatter ground before the summit then after a small drop it's an easy stroll up to the impressive stone beacon at the summit of Thornthwaite Crag. From here there are fabulous views of Windermere which are particularly fetching at sunset. It's then a steep descent to the col at Threshthwaite Mouth which on this occasion was a wind tunnel. At steep scramble then delivers one at the rocky summit of Stony Cove Pike before a pleasant stroll along Hartsop Dodd. Finally there is a very steep (and slippery in the frosty conditions we encountered) descent back to the carpark at Hartsop Fold.
On The Way Home
The Eden Valley
On the way home we drove through the Eden Valley and enjoyed wonderful elevenses at The Village Bakery, Melmerby which has been voted the best bakery in the country (and we won't contradict that!) We also spent time speaking with Christina Mingard who was exhibiting her superb landscape paintings at the bakery - her work is well worth seeking out if you enjoy the scenery around The Pennines and Northumberland where she lives and works.
