Why I Do This

If anything can epitomise why I walk for hours, often bored, often wet, either due to sweat or rain (or both), more often knackered, thirsty and hungry… this is the walk that defines it.  This is the reason why “walking” elevates itself above the status of what old people and weirdy-beardys do in large groups on Sundays, but to something else, something almost intangible, yet other-worldly beyond what most would class as a “ramble” (hawk, spit), this, my friends, is The Walk (note the capitals) that very much defines this esoteric hobby of mine…

Let me try and explain…..

It’s been a while since we’ve (“we”, being the usual, “N" and me) have been to the Lake District, and I remembered why I like the Lakes, like them a lot in fact …. it’s the beer, the weather, the peace, the views , the atmosphere, oh and the beer of course (did I mention that already?)….

Kit laid out ready to go

I fancied a break this time, been working for two weeks straight (i.e. no weekend off inbetween), so a night away was in order.  The original plan was for the Kentmere Horseshoe , but being as this is easily accessible in the South Lakes, we can save that one for a day trip.

So Keswick it was.  Why Keswick?  Well, been a few times before and like it, not done a lot of fells in that area, plus it’s the perfect base for the acclaimed Coledale Horseshoe, one of the best walks in the Lakes (it was, but more of that later!).

Booking a bed was another story, “full up” everywhere, and it was only a speculative call to a  private hostel that it transpired there was jazz festival on.  Anyway, the private hostel….  What a place!  Complete dude who runs it, Marcus, laid back attitude unlike the Gestapo type rules you get in a YHA (by that, I probably just mean they dont allow your own alcohol!).  Plus me and N had a room to ourselves – result!

There was no real plan as such, but I had the vague notion of spending a pleasant Saturday afternoon in the pubs of Keswick listening to some live jaaaaz (nice).  Unfortunately, not to be, the jazz festival was just in a tent by the lake, it cost £35.00 for a ticket and sounded rubbish anyway.  Sod that.  Besides, the jaaaaaz go-ers (easily spotted by their lanyards around Keswick), had an average age of about 70 and frankly, just looked a bit odd.

Plan B it was then (not that there was even really a Plan A)…  back to the tradition of bagging a minor Wainwright.  The obvious choice was Latrigg, which looms above Keswick and is only a short walk from the road…..

A bird on a bush is worth two in the hand (or something)

Keswick from Latrigg

Coledale Horseshoe in the distance

And very pleasant it was too, kept us out of the pubs for at least 2 hours, which I'm not sure is a good thing, but never mind...

Keswick and the famous George Fishers

Skiddaw

Derwent Water with Catbells in distance

After bagging Latrigg, we dumped the car back at the hostel and “did” Keswick.  Again, the Pub Avoidance Technique (grump) was working well, with a pleasant wander around the market, a meander down to the lake and a drooling session over all the fancy outdoor gear in George Fishers.  Here's a coat that caught my eye, cheap huh?!

After that shock, it definitely was time to hit the pubs and discuss that evenings food arrangements.  We were given a leaflet for a curry house that did a 30% discount off a 4 course meal, including drinks.  Bargain! (unlike that jacket).  We duly partaked, and the bill, including drinks?  £12.50 each.  Yay!

That evening in the hostel, we got chatting to a chap who was waiting for a couple of mates to complete the Bob Graham  round.  The Bob Graham is a challenge up there at the pinnacle of human endeavour.  Look it up, its impressive.

So up next morning for the walk proper, the Coledale Horseshoe.  After parking up near Braithwaite, the slog begins up the flanks of Grisedale Pike…

Grisedale Pike

Hail!  (Click for larger view)

Setting off with us at roughly the same time, were ‘Crazy Lady’ and ‘Father and Son’, we were to see them many times on and off, along the route.

As we got higher the weather took an unexpected turn, snow.  Yes, it was in the forecast, but not until much later.   In a perverse kind of way, it was exciting, this walk had now taken on a whole new dimension...

What time of year is it again?



Thoughts turn to full white out conditions

...but not quite

Half jokingly, we had written the bearings off each summit on the map in the pub the previous day, not thinking for a minute that we’d need them in this fine spring weather.  Wrong!  The cloud was down and it was once again, winter all around us.

On the descent to Coledale Hause, we were surprised to see Crazy Lady walking towards us, she was miles behind a few minutes ago and so why is she walking in the opposite direction?!  A quick guess on the map as to our position and a confirmation on the GPS, phew, its not us (for once!), we’re still doing good!  Crazy Lady had shortcut us and got turned in the clag, hence the wrong direction (easily done, just like we did in the Wales recently I suppose). 

Crazy Lady was heading for Grasmoor, so once re-orientated in the right direction we went our separate ways.  That was the last we saw of her.  It was  bit of a slog to get up to Crag Hill (839m), but once here the snow dissipated, the views opened up and lunch (pasty and an Ibuprofen!) was taken perched on the ridge (‘Scar’)  to Sail.

Once at Sail we had caught up with ‘Father and Son’, they too had [delibrately] missed the summit of Hopegill Head, hence the leapfrog.  We had a quick chat and it turned out they were doing the hardcore route and including Causey Pike.  “Right that’s it, if they can do it, then so can we”.  So off we trotted!

Sail Summit (I think)

Man made zigzags off Sail - ugly but clever

N on quite possibly the most pathetic summit cairn ever

Last Wainwright (Barrow) and nearly home

Causey Pike had great views over Derwent Water, so am glad we did it, the final two Wainwrights of Outerside and Barrow were fairly uneventful, and finished tired but not as bad as previous walks of similar difficulty (maybe it was the Ibuprofen?).

Quick pint at the Middle Ruddings Hotel and home for about 6pm.

So that’s it , that’s why I do it, the beer, the weather, the peace, the views , the atmosphere, oh, and the beer of course (did I mention that already?)……

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Stats:

Miles:  11

Time Taken:  7 Hours

Wainwrights: 9 (1 on Saturday)

Real Ale Pubs:  2
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Postscript:

Some of you keener readers may remember me annoucing that Id have these Wainwright thingies knocked off by the time I'm 50.  So, how am I doing?....

53 done.  162 to do.  98 Months until I'm 50.....

1.65 per month. 

hmmm.