Honister Pass to Gatesgarth (Buttermere)

via Great Gable 9miles 2500ft

I parked the car next to the Honister slate quarry and set off past these impressive slate sculptures 

     I was following the path direct to Green Gable which afforded views down to Buttermere & Crummock water

Ennerdale could just be seen to the far left

Buttermere & Crummock water again

Zooming in on Pillar Rock below Pillar fell summit, a favourite with rock climbers

The small dark fell in the foreground is Haystacks, Wainwright's favourite fell, his ashes are scattered in 'Innominate Tarn' which can just be seen beneath its summit to the left of the picture.

Soon Great Gable came into view from Green Gable summit, the path ahead can be seen to the left

Sty Head tarn from Windy Gap with Great End to the right

Looking down Aaron Slack from the path to Great Gable summit

 Reaching the summit plateau I felt the full force of the bitter cold north wind   

On the summit rocks 2949ft is this memorial plaque to the members of the 'rock & fell climbing club' who lost their lives in WWII

To the south west of the summit the fell drops almost vertically down through 'Great Hells Gate' ....

....and 'Westmorland Cairn' stands guard over Wasdale

After descending the fell my route took me past Warnscale Bothy....

....very basic inside but a potential life saver if caught out in severe weather

....and again

However it does have a 'Room with a View'

Fleetwith Pike behind Warnscale beck....

....crossing the beck on the last mile to Gatesgarth

Finally ice cream time at the little cabin cafe

Another exhilarating day's walking in the ever enjoyable Lakeland fells

Castlerigg Stone Circle to Thirlmere Dam 

via 

Derwentwater, High Seat & High Tove

13miles 2400ft

A deserted stone circle for once as the early sunlight bathes it in warm light

My route then continued west towards Keswick....

....with a view to St John's church spire

I then joined the path heading south along the side of Derwentwater....

.....and again....

Now heading towards Stable Hills

A paddle boarder sets out across the lake, with the Newlands fells behind

A short climb from the lakeside took me to Cat Gill from where my route continued along the higher path above the lake...

....and again

The lake had overfowed its southern tip after all the heavy rain recently

I soon arrived at Ashness bridge on the road to Watendlath...the most photographed bridge in lakeland!

Now for the serious climbing as I started up 

Ashness Gill

A hazy view to Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite in the distance

Arriving at today's highest point, High Seat trig point 1995ft.   Helvellyn in cloud behind

The path across the summit plateau to High Tove has always been notoriously boggy. More recently this flagged path has been laid for most of the route. This was to prevent further damage by walkers to the rare flora and fauna here

High Tove summit was in cloud so I quickly began the descent down Fisher Gill to Thirlmere....

.....and again

Two fell runners came past at what seemed like a dangerous pace to be running downhill!

I came out at the path heading north along the side of the reservoir and finished the walk....

....crossing the Thirlmere Dam looking back at Raven Crag as I walked to the main road between Grasmere & Keswick for my lift back

After waiting all week for a dry day I was eventually rewarded with a great walk. It was just a shame that the low cloud and haziness lingered all day

Day 9, the Last Day 

Carnforth to  Carlisle Walk

Wetheral to Carlisle, like last week's walk today's walk was completed in reverse ie Carlisle to Wetheral 10.5miles 600ft

Setting off to walk back to Wetheral from Carlisle station having just caught the train there.

Carlisle citadel stands just outside the station from where I continued to....

.....the Market Square

The tourist information centre hadn't yet opened

Next came the Cathedral. The old archway here is all that remains of the Augustinian Priory cloisters which preceded the cathedral on this site

Another view of the cathedral

Just beyond the cathedral I joined the Hadrian's Wall path for a few miles....

The path took me past Carlisle castle ramparts....

....into Bitt park....

.....and onto the banks of the river Eden.....

.....where I crossed the Memorial suspension bridge

The suspension in the bridge could be felt underfoot as I crossed

A

A few miles further along the river bank the path departed the riverside and crossed the M6 motorway....

....and continued to the village of Scotby where I found a comfortable bench in the village churchyard for morning coffee

Several miles of muddy paths later I arrived back on the banks of the river Eden looking up to Corby castle on the outskirts of Wetheral

The Corby viaduct connects trains and pedestrians between the villages of Corby and Wetheral....

....which is all the more impressive when standing beneath it....

....and looking up as a train crosses....

.....also when looking down as I walked across....

....to Wetheral station where I'd left my car early this morning.

My Carnforth to Carlisle walk was now completed. It had been 9 days, 116 miles and total of 14,750ft ascent.

Overall a very enjoyable walk offering an alternative to the high fells when the weather forecast wasn't looking good. I'd also visited some interesting places where I'd never been before.