Route: Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head and Whiteside
Area: North West Lake District
Date of walk: 27th February 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.7 miles
Ascent: 2,700 feet
On the way to Millbeck, Gilly dropped me off at the car park just above Braithwaite. I went up via Kinn and kept pausing to look back at the incredible views of Keswick and the northern fells.
After reaching the top of Grisedale Pike (2,593 feet), I went on up to Hopegill Head and along the ridge to Whiteside, my favourite half mile in lakeland. I then descended to Millbeck via Dodd.
The weather was perfect. Blue skies and sun, 10C, which is 30C higher than it had been at the top of Helvellyn less than a week ago! I’ve not included a route map as this was a walk home, but there is a map link to Grisedale Pike below
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Skiddaw and Dodd at the start of the climb
Bassenthwaite
Looking back over the Vale of Keswick
Further along the path
Approaching the summit of Grisedale Pike
Keswick and Derwent Water. The Pennines are in the distance
Coledale
Looking back down Coledale
Hopegill Head is next - the path runs to the right, hugging the edge of Hobcarton Crags
Looking east
Looking back to Grisedale Pike
Hobcarton Crags
Looking back to Grisedale Pike along the Crags
Approaching the summit of Hopegill Head
Ladyside Pike, with the Solway Firth and Scotland in the distance
The start of the ridge from Hopegill Head to Whiteside
A view back along the ridge
Dodd overlooking Lorton Vale
Looking back up to Hopegill Head and Whiteside
Nearly home - what a great way to arrive!
