Monday, 25 January 2016

Pete's Mountain Festival Walks

Cat Bells and Maiden Moor seen across Derwent Water


Below are the walks that Pete's guiding during the Mountain Festival in Keswick which runs from Thursday 19 May until Sunday 22 May.  This year Pete has no connection with the KMF, these walks are independent of the festival and can be booked directly from Pete either through his website or ring 017687 71302. Cost this year remains at £20 per person for the day and you'll need some change to pay for transport by bus, launch or Minibus.

Friday 20 May.

Catbells and Borrowdale.

We meet at the Theatre by the Lake at 10am for a trip across Derwent Water to Hawes end on the Walkers Special Launch. From the landing stage below Cat Bells we take the Quiet Way to the top of the fell, past Skelgill and along the old mine road and up into Yewthwaite Comb to the col of Hawes Gate where a spectacular view of Dewent Water rewards the climb. From here it's an easy progress to the summit of Catbells at 451m. We descend into Borrowdale at Manesty and cross the valley by the boardwalk for tea and cakes in the garden of the Mary Mount Hotel. It's an easy ramble back along the lakeside from here, and even easier if you can take the open top bus back to Keswick. 



Saturday 21 May

Esk Pike and Langstrath.

We meet at the Bus Station at 0900am and take the bus to Stonethwaite in Borrowdale. From the village the route takes us along Stonethwaite Beck towards Eagle Crag where we turn south along the long valley of Langstrath and ascend the valley to its head below Angle Tarn. We climb to the tarn then on to Ore Gap and on to the summit of Esk Pike at 885m and a well earned lunch stop. The return route takes us down to Esk Hause and then by way of Styhead Tarn to Seathwaite from where transport will take us back to Keswick.  



Sunday 22 May

Buttermere to Keswick over the Tops. (6 Wainwright peaks)

Meet at the Bus Station at 0900am for transport to Buttermere. From the village we ascend sharply to our first top of the day, Whiteless Pike 660m. The route then takes us on to Wandope and  Eel Crag which at 840m is the highest top of the day. We follow the ridge over Sail and Scar Crags to Causey Pike our final summit which makes a total of six Wainwright tops in the day. Descent is into Newlands where a drink is waiting at the Swinside Inn and where transport will be arranged back to town.