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10th September 2015 - The fells south of Coledale plus Wandope & Grasmoor

Walk Details

Distance walked: 11.3 miles

Total ascent: 4735 ft

OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, Northwestern area

Time taken: 8 hrs

Route description: Roadside at Uzzicar-Stonycroft Gill-High Moss-Causey Pike-Scar Crags-Sail-Eel Crag-Grasmoor-Wandope-Eel Crag-Sail-High Moss-Outerside-Stile End-Barrow Door-Barrow-Roadside at Uzzicar

After yesterdays grey skies the sun is back. I wasn't sure about where I'd be walking today up until yesterday evening and after seeing the forecast I decided to do one of the walks that I'd planned to do. A sunny day was forecast but windy high up, though not uncomfortably so. With the warm sunshine it made for a nice day. There are so many Wainwrights in a small area around here that I ended the day with another eight added to the total of my second round. I suppose with hindsight I could have made the walk even longer by going to the north of Coledale Hause but I'd like to do Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head and Whiteside by a route that I haven't done before.

I started the walk from the layby at Uzzicar on the Braithwaite to Buttermere road. From there I took the mine track by Stonycroft Gill towards High Moss and then a path that crosses Causey Pike's northern slopes to reach its summit. I then followed the ridge west over the tops of Scar Crags and Sail to reach Eel Crag. After a brief pause to take in the view I kept going to finally arrive on the summit of Grasmoor. A well earned break was had in the shelter up there. Time to retrace my steps back to Eel Crag but with a detour to Wandope on the way. From Eel Crag I then made my way back down to Sail and then Sail Pass. Here, I turned left onto the path towards High Moss and then onwards to climb Outerside. I then crossed Low Moss to Stile End and Barrow Door to reach the final top of the day, Barrow. To finish the day I descended Barrow's north ridge to pick up the bridleway from Braithwaite to the road I was parked by.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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As I set off along the old mine track, Rowling End ahead..
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..and then Causey Pike. It was at this point that I remembered that I was supposed to be going up Rowling End. Never mind.
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Outerside and lots of heather in bloom
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Stile End and Barrow in front of Skiddaw and Blencathra as I head for the top of Causey Pike
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Views from the summit of Causey Pike. Braithwaite, Barrow, Skiddaw, Blencathra and Keswick.
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Rowling End below, Derwent Water and Catbells, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat with the Helvellyn range in the distance
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Hindscarth, Robinson and the Ard Crags to Knott Rigg ridge
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and finally all the fells around Coledale. Going clockwise, Scar Crags, Sail, Eel Crag, Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike.
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Heading for Scar Crags
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Looking back to Causey Pike from Scar Crags
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Next stop is Sail. I'm not sure if I'll ever like the look of that path.
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The imposing northeast face of Eel Crag from Sail
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Having crossed Sail and Eel Crag I'm on the summit of Grasmoor and it's time for lunch. It's pretty windy up here and Grasmoor has a handy shelter to get out of it. Before I head back to Eel Crag a wander round to take in the view. Blake Fell, Loweswater, Low Fell and Fellbarrow beyond the slope that heads down to Grasmoor End.
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Looking across a hazy Buttermere valley to the Scafells
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Grasmoor's summit is pretty flat and grassy, and it would be quite easy to miss out on seeing the dramatic views from the top of Dove Crags on its northern edge.
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It's worth having a look. Hopegill Head, Grisedale Pike and Coledale Hause.
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Whiteside and Hopegill Head
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I really liked this view of the jagged shadow of Dove Crags in front of Gasgale Crags
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On the summit of Wandope. It was an easy decision to make the short detour on the way back to Eel Crag and it's a Wainwright I needed for the second round. Eel Crag and Sail from the cairn.
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The great view to the east of ridge after ridge after ridge
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Sail from the top of Addacomb Hole
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Back on Eel Crag. Poor trig point. It's fallen off its foundations, at least some kind people have stood it up.
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Whiteside and Hopegill Head
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Grisedale Pike and the dramatic view down Coledale to Skiddaw and Blencathra
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Sail below. It's time I was heading back down to it.
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Dale Head, Robinson and the distant fells in the middle of the photo are Bowfell, Esk Pike and the Scafells
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Grisedale Pike from the modest cairn on the flat top of Sail
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Dale Head and Robinson with the Ard Crags to Knott Rigg ridge just below
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Scar Crags to Causey Pike on the left and I can now see a bit of the Newlands valley around Catbells and Maiden Moor
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At Sail Pass I turned left and took the path to High Moss
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Outerside
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Grisedale Pike from the top of Outerside
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Skiddaw, Braithwaite, Blencathra and Keswick
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I took a few shots from this hillside as I left Outerside and this was my favourite. The sight of Stonycroft Gill surrounded by heathery slopes caught my eye.
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A fantastic display of heather as I cross Low Moss to Stile End
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Barrow as I head for Barrow Door
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On the summit of Barrow, the final Wainwright of the day. I can see five of the Wainwrights I visited today. Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Sail, Eel Crag and Outerside.
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Skiddaw and Blencathra
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Keswick, Derwent Water, Walla Crag & Bleaberry Fell
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Catbells with Maiden Moor, Dale Head and Robinson on the other side of Rowling End
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Bassenthwaite Lake, Braithwaite and Skiddaw
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Starting the descent of Barrow's north ridge
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The final shot of the day is of Catbells on the other side of the Newlands valley. I can see where I'm staying from here.

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  • HOME
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  • Walking Diaries
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  • Lake District Walks
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