The day began with a lovely cool start, the sun being behind Grasmoor as I headed from the car park at NY158208 over the grassy moor to the bridge beneath Whin Ben. From here I took the thin path up through the heather to Whin Ben and then onto Whiteside, which had a small tricky scramble up a small crag at NY168215. Looking back, I could have gone to the left and made my way through the heather to avoid this climb which was right on the edge of a steep drop, however, it was not too difficult and I was able to continue safely. Upon reaching the summit it was then an easy pleasant walk along a grassy summit with fantastic crags to my right and superb views to Crummock Water behind. There was a moderate wind blowing, not so strong to blow you around but strong enough to try to whip the hat off my head! I continued to Hopegill Head which was reached via a small easy scramble up some crags then a nice wide path to the top. It was too windy to lunch here so I continued down to Sand Hill then to Coledale Hause. From here I enjoyed viewing the babbling brook alongside the main path as I headed South, then I took the junction West at NY186202 and climbed the steep path to the summit of Grasmoor, where I had lunch in the shelter out of the wind. It was quite busy on here, I had hardly seen a soul when crossing the ridge above Gasgale Crags! Lots of people told me it was cold but I was not cold at all. After lunch I had a choice of descending via Lad Hows or Gasgale Gill. As my legs were starting to feel a little tired I decided to opt for the gentler route off Grasmoor at NY180204 and headed NE back to Coledale Hause, where I joined the now badly eroded path beside Liza Beck to Gasgale Gill. Care was needed as several parts of the path have been washed away completely leaving steep drops into the beck and loose rocks to negotiate. This path is a stunning mix of heather, waterfalls and amazing crags on both sides as you descend the valley. I climbed down the 'bad step' which is a large rock approximately 12 feet high at the entrance to the valley near the bridge, then I walked back over the grass moorland where I had started in the morning. It was a splendid day out!
Area :North Western Fells
Essentially this area is encompassed by Lakes of Bassenthwaite, Derwent Water, Buttermere and Crummock Water with the southern boundary being the Honister Pass
The day began with a lovely cool start, the sun being behind Grasmoor as I headed from the car park at NY158208 over the grassy moor to the bridge beneath Whin Ben. From here I took the thin path up through the heather to Whin Ben and then onto Whiteside, which had a small tricky scramble up a small crag at NY168215. Looking back, I could have gone to the left and made my way through the heather to avoid this climb which was right on the edge of a steep drop, however, it was not too difficult and I was able to continue safely. Upon reaching the summit it was then an easy pleasant walk along a grassy summit with fantastic crags to my right and superb views to Crummock Water behind. There was a moderate wind blowing, not so strong to blow you around but strong enough to try to whip the hat off my head! I continued to Hopegill Head which was reached via a small easy scramble up some crags then a nice wide path to the top. It was too windy to lunch here so I continued down to Sand Hill then to Coledale Hause. From here I enjoyed viewing the babbling brook alongside the main path as I headed South, then I took the junction West at NY186202 and climbed the steep path to the summit of Grasmoor, where I had lunch in the shelter out of the wind. It was quite busy on here, I had hardly seen a soul when crossing the ridge above Gasgale Crags! Lots of people told me it was cold but I was not cold at all. After lunch I had a choice of descending via Lad Hows or Gasgale Gill. As my legs were starting to feel a little tired I decided to opt for the gentler route off Grasmoor at NY180204 and headed NE back to Coledale Hause, where I joined the now badly eroded path beside Liza Beck to Gasgale Gill. Care was needed as several parts of the path have been washed away completely leaving steep drops into the beck and loose rocks to negotiate. This path is a stunning mix of heather, waterfalls and amazing crags on both sides as you descend the valley. I climbed down the 'bad step' which is a large rock approximately 12 feet high at the entrance to the valley near the bridge, then I walked back over the grass moorland where I had started in the morning. It was a splendid day out!
