Day 8 Clapham to Cockermouth Walk

Patterdale to Swirls, Thirlmere

11.5miles 2750ft

Leaving Patterdale on a drizzly but mild morning

Grisedale beck in full flow with all the recent rain

I would now be following the coast to coast path as far as Grisedale tarn

Starting to climb into Grisedale

Looking back down the valley

More becks in full flow

Arriving at Ruthwaite Lodge outward bound hut

The stepping stones across the outflow from Grisedale tarn. In better weather I'd have been taking the high level route over Helvellyn from this point

Grisedale tarn with the outflow in the distance...

....and again

Descending Raise beck....

....with Dunmail Raise pass below

I'd just sat down here on Dunmail Raise when the rain fell heavier and interrupted my lunch!

Looking across Steel End

Entering the forest trail on the east side of  Thirlmere

Continuing north along the trail with some lovely views along the way.....  

Finally arriving at Swirls car park for my lift back to Patterdale. The Swirls route from Helvellyn finishes here

In more pleasant weather this would have been an excellent route with the option of taking in Helvellyn along the way. 

Nevertheless it was still a very enjoyable walk even though my sandwiches were rather soggy!!

 Day 7 Clapham to Cockermouth Walk

Mardale Head to Patterdale

8 miles 3350ft

Looking back to Mardale Head 

Haweswater as I started up the Riggindale ridge

Kidsty Pike across Riggindale, the coast to coast path comes along that ridge 

Arriving at Blea Water

Haweswater again

The rest of the ridge still to be climbed

Two of the stags in herd of deer on the fellside

Passsing by a very hard-frozen pool.... 

....with some great patterns in the ice!

Now looking down on Blea Water

Arriving at Riggindale ridge summit cairn....

....with High Street trig point (2717ft) a short walk away

Looking south to Windermere & the Kentmere fells

....and north to the Straits of Riggindale

Looking down into Hartsop with the central fells behind 

Brotherswater at the bottom of Kirkstone pass

Sat having my rather late lunch at Angle tarn, the Fairfield and Helvellyn ranges behind

Brotherswater again below.... 

....and Hayeswater to the south

The Ullswater lake ferry

Patterdale & Glenridding

Finally crossing Goldrill beck into Patterdale      This was as fine a day's winter walking as I've had for a long time. The weather and variety of scenery made for stunning day out in our magnificent lakeland!

 

 Shap Summit to Mardale Head

via 

Great Yarlside, Grey Crag, & Tarn Crag

9.5miles 2100ft

Setting off from the A6 Shap summit 

Zooming in on Mabbin crag of last week's walk

Now heading due west to Great Yarlside

Not much chance of seeing the sun with all this cloud around

Still quite misty in the deeper valleys

Arriving at Grey Crag summit cairn 2093ft

Looking over Longsleddale to Goat Crags and Shipman Knotts before continuing to....

Tarn Crag with its survey tower used in the construction of the Haweswater dam. Today's highest point at 2178ft

Descending to Mosedale Head....

....just as this RAF plane passed low overhead

Looking down into Longsleddale as I climbed Gatesgarth pass

Gatesgarth pass summit

Starting the descent to Haweswater

Riggindale crags with Kidsty pike on the horizon....

....and again

Haweswater comes into view for the first time

Arriving at Mardale Head car park for my lift back....

....however with a little time to spare I walked along the side of Haweswater for some photos....

....and again....

....one last one and then my lift arrived!

A fabulous day's walking 80% of which was in totally new terrain for me. Very cold but very manageable as there was little or no wind. 

The scenery from now on has changed from the rolling fells of the Dales to the high mountains and lakes.