Keswick to Grasmere backpack. 23rd and 24th July.
I had been waiting for a favourable Lakeland weekend weather forecast for what had seemed like an age. It finally arrived last week, so I set off on the long drive to Keswick early on Saturday morning with a plan to bag a few Wainwrights from AW's Book 3, The Central Fells.
Parked the car close to Castlerigg campsite and ambled up to Walla Crag, small in stature it may be, but the views from the top are grand. A nice start to the day.
 |
| Keswick from Walla Crag |
Next on the agenda was Bleaberry Fell which is a lovely viewpoint for Skiddaw and Blencathra.
 |
| Looking North from Bleaberry Fell |
The next section is a bit of a boggy affair but the top of High Seat brought the reward of great views in all directions. All four of Lakelands 3000 footers are in view from here. A fine place to linger awhile.
 |
| Looking towards Borrowdale from High Seat |
 |
| Helvellyn from High Seat |
The less said about the following few miles, the better. Quagmire all the way to High Tove, then more bogs and heather bashing out to Armboth Fell and back. The going underfoot improves slightly from Blea Tarn towards Standing Crag but this is not a walk that I would want to repeat in a hurry.
 |
| Standing Crag |
It's a long pull up to Ullscarf but the hard work was now done for today and I pitched the tent close to a tarn on Greenup Edge at about 5pm.
 |
| Wild camp on Greenup Edge |
I spent the following few hours reading, cooking and generally lounging about waiting for the sunset.
 |
| Looking over to Great End and the Scafells |
 |
| Distant Skiddaw |
 |
| Rewarding sunset |
 |
| View from the tent as night falls |
 |
| Almost time to turn in for the night |
A decent night's sleep was interrupted by a call of nature at 05.00. Unzipped the tent to find that the cloud had moved in overnight.
Packed up and walking by 06.30,
I was soon below the cloud and on the way downhill to the first Wainwright of the day, Calf Crag.
A beautiful mornings walk followed.
 |
| Cloud on Greenup Edge from Calf Crag |
From here I nipped out along a ridge to Steel Fell, a lovely Fell with great views of Lakes and Mountains all around.
 |
| Thirlmere from Steel Fell |
Backtracked to a tarn on the ridge to pick up the pack. The cloud had now burnt away from the high tops.
 |
| Cloud free on Greenup Edge |
Being out so early was an absolute joy, it felt as though I had this marvellous place entirely to myself. I lounged around for a while on Gibson Knott just soaking it all up.
 |
| Nosey Lamb on Gibson Knott |
Eventually I moved on to the last fell of the weekend, Helm Crag.
 |
| The Lion Couchant.Helm Crag |
 |
| The Lion and the Lamb |
 |
Descent to Grasmere
|
As I made the steep descent down to Grasmere I met day walkers heading in the opposite direction.
It would soon be teeming with people in the hills around, but the wild camp had given me an experience of having the hills to myself for a few memorable hours.
Two very contrasting day's walking, with the added bonus of 10 Wainwrights to add to the list, and a smashing high camp had made the long wait for a good weather weekend worthwhile.
