1st June 2024 - A Coledale Horseshoe
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.8 miles
Total ascent: 4388 ft
OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, Northwestern area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Braithwaite-B5292-Kinn-Sleet How-Grisedale Pike-Hopegill Head-Sand Hill-Coledale Hause-Wandope-Crag Hill-Sail-High Moss-Outerside-Low Moss-Stile End-Barrow Door-Barrow-Braithwaite Lodge-Braithwaite
It's the final day of my holiday in the Lake District, and I'll drive back home when I finish this walk. As if to tease me with what I could have had, I've got the best weather of the whole week for this last walk. Blue skies, sunny spells, and visibility good enough for taking in the views. I decided to do one of the classic rounds today, the Coledale Horseshoe from Braithwaite in the northwestern fells. It's a route that I've done several times, though not since 2011. However, only two of the many Wainwrights visited, Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head, counted towards my second round. I've done walks in the intervening years that had taken the others in.
After parking my car in Braithwaite I walked through the village and up the B5292 towards the Whinlatter Pass. A small disused quarry is soon reached and this was where I left the road for the footpath up Grisedale Pike. I followed this up the hillside of Kinn and the ridge of Sleet How to the summit of Grisedale Pike. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way southwest and west to Grisedale Pike's subsidiary top and along the top of Hobcarton Crag to the top of Hopegill Head. From there I made my way south across the top of Sand Hill and down to Coledale Hause, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I took the path south up between Crag Hill and Grasmoor to Wandope, then made my way along the edge of Addacomb Hole and to the top of Crag Hill. I took the steep descent east from Crag Hill to reach Sail, then from there down to Sail Pass, where I took the path north to High Moss and the top of Outerside. From Outerside I made my way east across Low Moss to Stile End, and then across Barrow Door to Barrow. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way down Barrow's north ridge to pick up the bridleway down to Braithwaite Lodge and Braithwaite, and a walk through the village took me back to where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 4388 ft
OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, Northwestern area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Braithwaite-B5292-Kinn-Sleet How-Grisedale Pike-Hopegill Head-Sand Hill-Coledale Hause-Wandope-Crag Hill-Sail-High Moss-Outerside-Low Moss-Stile End-Barrow Door-Barrow-Braithwaite Lodge-Braithwaite
It's the final day of my holiday in the Lake District, and I'll drive back home when I finish this walk. As if to tease me with what I could have had, I've got the best weather of the whole week for this last walk. Blue skies, sunny spells, and visibility good enough for taking in the views. I decided to do one of the classic rounds today, the Coledale Horseshoe from Braithwaite in the northwestern fells. It's a route that I've done several times, though not since 2011. However, only two of the many Wainwrights visited, Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head, counted towards my second round. I've done walks in the intervening years that had taken the others in.
After parking my car in Braithwaite I walked through the village and up the B5292 towards the Whinlatter Pass. A small disused quarry is soon reached and this was where I left the road for the footpath up Grisedale Pike. I followed this up the hillside of Kinn and the ridge of Sleet How to the summit of Grisedale Pike. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way southwest and west to Grisedale Pike's subsidiary top and along the top of Hobcarton Crag to the top of Hopegill Head. From there I made my way south across the top of Sand Hill and down to Coledale Hause, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I took the path south up between Crag Hill and Grasmoor to Wandope, then made my way along the edge of Addacomb Hole and to the top of Crag Hill. I took the steep descent east from Crag Hill to reach Sail, then from there down to Sail Pass, where I took the path north to High Moss and the top of Outerside. From Outerside I made my way east across Low Moss to Stile End, and then across Barrow Door to Barrow. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way down Barrow's north ridge to pick up the bridleway down to Braithwaite Lodge and Braithwaite, and a walk through the village took me back to where I'd parked my car.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
From Braithwaite I take the footpath up the hillside of Kinn
Looking back down on Braithwaite
Crag Hill at the head of Coledale comes into view as I reach the climb up Sleet How
Looking back down to Kinn from Sleet How
The summit of Grisedale Pike awaits
To my left, Sail, Crag Hill, and the head of Coledale
A look back down to Hospital Plantation and Kinn as I reach the top of Sleet How
Taking in the great all-round view from the summit of Grisedale Pike. Skiddaw and Blencathra to the northeast.
Looking across Coledale to Barrow and Outerside, with Derwent Water, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat, and then the Helvellyn range in the distance
Causey Pike, Outerside, Scar Crags, and Sail; with High Spy and Dale Head behind, and then Ullscarf, High Raise, and the Scafell range in the distance
Sail and Crag Hill at the head of Coledale, with Grasmoor in shadow on the right
Hobcarton Crag, Sand Hill, Hopegill Head, and Ladyside Pike..
Finally, looking north along Grisedale Pike's north ridge and across the Whinlatter Pass to the Lorton Fells, Whinlatter Top, Broom Fell, and Lord's Seat
Leaving Grisedale Pike I'm going to follow the top of Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head
Looking back to Grisedale Pike from its subsidiary top
Hopegill Head and Ladyside Pike
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Views from the edge of Hobcarton Crag....
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Taking in the view from the summit of Hopegill Head. Looking across the head of Hobcarton Gill to Grisedale Pike, with Skiddaw behind on the left.
Ladyside Pike below, with the Lorton Fells, Whinlatter Top, Broom Fell, and Lord's Seat beyond
Looking west along the ridge to Whiteside
Finally, Grisedale Pike and Hobcarton Crag, with the Helvellyn range in the distance
Crag Hill ahead as I cross Sand Hill and make my way down to Coledale Hause
Liza Beck and Gasgale Crags from Coledale Hause
From Coledale Hause I take the path up between Crag Hill and Grasmoor
Looking back to Coledale Hause with Hopegill Head and Sand Hill on the left, and Grisedale Pike on the right
At the small cairn that marks the top of Wandope
The steep southern slopes of Crag Hill and Sail
To the east, it's ridge after ridge after ridge, with the Helvellyn range in the distance
To the southeast; Knott Rigg below, then Hindscarth, Dale Head, and Robinson, with the Scafell range in the distance
Looking south across Buttermere to High Stile and Red Pike
Finally, looking southwest to the Loweswater Fells
The bowl of Addacomb Hole below as I walk along its edge towards Crag Hill
Looking back across Addacomb Hole to Wandope on the right
At the trig point on the summit of Crag Hill
Looking down Coledale to Skiddaw and Blencathra
Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike to the north
Whiteside and Hopegill Head
The fantastic view looking east from the top of the descent to Sail. Beyond Cat Bells and Maiden Moor, there's Bleaberry Fell and High Seat, then the Helvellyn range in the distance.
To the southeast; Knott Rigg below, then Dale Head and Robinson, and the Scafell range and Pillar in the distance
Looking across the head of Coledale to Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike as I make my way down from Crag Hill
Crag Hill's eastern face from the col between it and Sail
Crag Hill from the top of Sail
From Sail I follow the footpath east towards Scar Crags
Looking across the top of Ard Crags and the Newlands Valley to Cat Bells and Maiden Moor
Dale Head and Robinson with the Ard Crags to Knott Rigg ridge just below
At Sail Pass I turn left and take the path to High Moss and Outerside
Skiddaw, Braithwaite, Blencathra and Keswick from the top of Outerside
Stile End, Barrow, Derwent Water, Walla Crag, a bit of the Newlands Valley, and Clough Head and the Dodds in the distance
Looking back to Sail, Crag Hill, and the head of Coledale
Leaving Outerside for Stile End
Braithwaite and Skiddaw from the top of Stile End
Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Sail, Crag Hill, and Outerside
A short time later and I'm taking in the view from the summit of Barrow. Starting with Skiddaw, Lonscale Fell, and Blencathra to the northeast.
There's a great view across the Newlands Valley to Derwent Water and Cat Bells
Looking around the head of Coledale to Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Sail, Crag Hill, Outerside, Stile End, and Grisedale Pike..
Leaving Barrow for Braithwaite
Looking across the Newlands Valley to Cat Bells
The final descent to Braithwaite Lodge and Braithwaite
A last shot of Skiddaw above the roofs of Braithwaite