A Coledale Round
DATE 18.11.2012 | DISTANCE 18.3KM | HIGHEST POINT 852M
Posted by Matt | Filed under lake district
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WITH TWELVE OF US TOGETHER TODAY COVERING DIFFERENT WALKING ABILITIES AND a FEW WITH LIMITED VISITS TO THE LAKES, I WANTED TO CHOOSE A ROUTE THAT WASN'T TECHNICAL, COULD BE EXTENDED AND PACK A PUNCH WITH THE VIEWS. THE COLEDALE ROUND DOES ALL OF THOSE, OR AS I ALL IT, 'A COLEDALE ROUND' BECAUSE YOU CAN MOULD IT ANY WAY YOU LIKE. I WAS ALSO KEEN TO MAKE IT SLIGHLY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO WHEN I DID IT LAST, BACK IN 2009 and add a new summit visit. ANOTHER GOOD THING ABOUT THIS ROUTE IS THERE IS A COUPLE OF ESCAPE ROUTES FOR THOSE FEELING TIRED.
I WARNED EVERYONE THAT THE INITIAL PART OF THE WALK IS A FAIRLY LONG TRUDGE UP TO GRISEDALE PIKE. THE GOOD THING THOUGH IS THAT THE VIEWS ALL THE WAY UP ARE FANTASTIC AND IT KNOCKS OUT A LOT OF THE DAY'S ASCENT IN ONE HIT.
FORTUNATELY WE WOKE UP TO SUNSHINE AND IT STAYED WITH US MOST OF THE DAY. WE STOPPED FOR SOMETHING TO EAT ON THE SUMMIT OF GRISEDALE PIKE AND FOR MUCH NEEDED HOT DRINKS. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A COUPLE OF FATHER/SON'S AMONGST US AND I ENJOYED WATCHING THEM MUNCHING AWAY TOGETHER AND TAKING IN THE SCENERY.
THE INITIAL PLAN HAD ALSO INVOLVED A VISIT HOPEGILL HEAD AND TICK THAT OFF MY LIST OF SUMMITS. IN THE END WE CHOSE NOT TO BUT TO MAKE OUR WAY UP BETWEEN CRAG HILL AND GRASSMOOR WITH THE OPTION TO EITHER TACKLE GRASSMOOR AND THEN RETURN VIA CRAG HILL OR TO MISS OUT GRASSMOOR. THE SECOND OPTION WOULD MAKE FOR A SHORTER WALK FOR THOSE FEELING TIRED.
I WENT WITH THE GROUP HEADING FOR GRASSMOOR. IT WAS ONLY A 2KM DETOUR SO WE KNOCKED IT OUT QUITE QUICKLY SO WE COULD CATCH UP WITH THE OTHERS. THE VIEWS FROM BOTH SUMMITS WERE SUPERB! VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT, ALTHOUGH LOOKING OVER TO THE SCAFELLS TOPPED WITH CLOUD, IT LOOKED LIKE ANYONE UP THERE WAS HAVING A VERY DIFFERENT DAY.
WE DESCENDED SAIL AND TOOK A DIRECT ROUTE OUT OF THE FELLS BY FOLLOWING STONYCROFT GILL DOWN TO NEWLANDS. WE HAD TIMED THE DAY JUST RIGHT. WE ARRIVED BACK IN BRAITHWAITE AS DARKNESS FELL.
TALKING TO EVRYONE AFTERWARDS REVEALED THEY ALL HAD A GREAT DAY. I THINK I'VE JUST INCREASED THE LIST OF REGULAR WALKERS IN MY GROUP.
THIS IS CERTAINLY A ROUTE I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A VIEW PACKED DAY. I JUST HOPE YOU GET THE CLARITY WE HAD.