Brotherswater to Patterdale via Dovedale,

Brotherswater to Patterdale via Dovedale, Dove Crag, Cofa Pike & St Sunday Crag - 10miles 3300ft                                 

 

Early morning reflections in Brotherswater

Looking back towards Hartsop before walking up Dovedale

Walking up Dovedale with Dove Crag now prominent on the horizon

Just below the summit of Dove Crag is the Priest's Hole cave

(circled in red)

Zooming in on the cave which can be reached with great care in good

weather and dry underfoot (not today)

Looking back down Dovedale before.... 

....ascending the well named Gully Staircase

Hartsop in the valley from the hause between Dove Crag 

and Hart Crag

The clouds were rising out of the valley as I arrived at the summit

Next the view south to Windermere from the summit of Hart Crag

After two previous visits during the winter to this ridge walk over

Cofa Pike and St Sunday Crag had been prevented as too risky with snow and ice cover, I finally had the perfect conditions!  

Grisdale Tarn from the ridge to Cofa Pike

Looking back to Fairfield from Cofa Pike....

 ....and now looking back to Cofa Pike from the climb up 

St Sunday Crag 

The Striding Edge exit on to Helvellyn summit

A panoramic view of the Helvellyn range from St Sunday Crag

Finally the view down Ullswater as I descended to Patterdale  

There's no better way to spend a spring day than a perfect walk over the Lakeland fells!!!! 

 

Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head.....

Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, & the 'Notch' path  to 

Ladyeside Pike, from Braithwaite. 9.5miles 3400ft

Climbing out of Braithwaite with a view to Bassenthwaite

The early morning low sun silhouetting the trees

The way ahead to Grisedale Pike having reached Sleet How 

Meet Mark, a kindred walking spirit and Wainwright aficionado as he reaches Grisedale Pike Summit. 

Mark was setting off at the same time and we walked together for

some of the climb. Thanks to Mark for his enjoyable company today.

Hobgarton Crag and Hopegill Head from Grisedale Pike

The superb ridge walk ahead finishing at Ladyside Pike 

Looking east into the sun over the still mist filled valleys

Looking down Hobgarton Gill from the Crag

Hopegill Head with the 'Notch' visible on the ridge to 

Ladyside Pike.... 

 ....Now looking down the same ridge from Hopegill Head summit

The view back to Grisedale Pike

Looking through the 'Notch' 

Now on Ladyside Pike summit looking back to Hopegill Head

I then retraced my steps and could see part of Crummock Water from

the path to Coledale Hause

Lunch time before descending into Coledale on the return to

Braithwaite

Braithwaite below and Keswick in the distance after another perfect day on the fells  

Green Road Station to Silecroft Station

....and now for something completely different - 

Green Road Station to Silecroft Station on the Furness Peninsular 13.5 miles 350ft                         

My route this week was to follow a newly opened stretch of the England Coast Path between to two coastal railway stations on the Cumbria coast.

Joining the path on the coast in the direction of the town of

Millom 

Looking back to the Coniston and Dunnerdale fells  

Passing the town of Millom

The path then goes right up to the water's edge around the river

Duddon estuary with Kirkby in Furness on the other side 

The Coniston and Dunnerdale fells again across the estuary

It was only a very watery sun but with some interesting cloud

formations

ditto

The trig point on today's highest climb Hodbarrow point 66ft!

 On the other side of the sea defences is Hodbarrow nature reserve

created after the iron ore mining ceased

 The path then continues to the village of Haverigg with it's own

little harbour

 It's also the site of Haverigg prison, where I spent some time many

years ago! (working of course - well what else were you thinking?)

The path then heads north to the seafront parking area at

Silecroft. When the tide is out there is a beautiful sandy beach here, which can be seen with galloping horses in the opening sequences of the BBC's Countryfile programme.

Silecroft station is just a half mile inland

Vale of St John to Keswick

Vale of St John to Keswick via High Rigg, Castlerigg stone circle, Keswick rail trail & Castlehead  

Climbing out of the vale along the southern ridge of High Rigg,

looking back towards Thirlmere 

 Tewet Tarn, Lonscale Pike and the cone shaped Great Calva on the

horizon

Bleaberry fell and High Seat from the summit

Reflections from the sun above the Helvellyn range 

 Looking back at High Rigg after descending back into the vale

A cheeky chaffinch taking a good look at me

Passing Castlerigg stone circle

Joining the new rail trail by one of the bridges 

over the River Greta

Followed by one of the two tunnels

After leaving the trail I climbed Castlehead for lunch with a view

of Keswick

The view across Derwentwater to Nicol End marina

Zooming in on St John's church, Keswick.

The view down Derwentwater from Castlehead  

Looking back to Castlehead on the path to the lakeside

Finally enjoying a stroll into Keswick along the lakeside

ditto