May Walks

We have three walks on this weekend starting on Friday to Sunday with places still available. Click on May Walks 2015 above to see what is on.

 You can book them using the bookings button on the right. Each walk is £20 per person per walk and you will need extra money for taxis or launch fairs.

Come prepared with a packed lunch and plenty of drinks. If you need to know what to bring see our website for a full kit list.

Catbells in the snow

We went up Catbells on Tuesday and the views were stunning as usual, but even better with the hard packed snow and  contrasting blue sky above.  See what I mean.

 Lots of other people had the same idea and when we arrived at the top it was evident that they had taken the best seats out of the wind, lucky hikers.

 

 

The views from the top were terrific because the air was so clear.

 

Going down the front it was very iced up so it was on with the crampons and away we went. No photos of the descent though because we had to look where we were going.

Some new walks

Monday 15th July Blencathra Grade A Alison and Halle
Monday 22nd July Borrowdale Grade C Alison
Monday 29th July Lord's Seat & Barf Grade B Alison and Halle
Monday 5th Aug Hopegill Head/Grizedale Pike Grade A Alison and Halle
Monday 12th Aug Catbells Terrace & Lakeshore Grade C Alison
Monday 19th Aug Barrow Fell /Stile End Grade B Alison and Halle
Monday 26th Aug Skiddaw Six Wainwrights Grade A Alison and Halle
Monday 2nd Sept Borrowdale Grade C Alison and Halle
Monday 9th Sept Catbells & Lakeshore Grade B Alison and Halle
Monday 23rd Sept Dock Tarn/Watendlath Grade B Alison and Halle
Monday 30th Sept Blencathra Grade A Alison and Halle

Derwentwater today with gently falling snowflakes

 This was the scene down by the lake as we passed by the boat house and you can see that already parts of Derwentwater are frozen, not as badly as last winter but even so it is starting again.  We had planned to go off on a jolly tomorrow until we saw the updated MWIS forcast which gives a bleak outlook. Somehow our day out was not supposed to take in 'upland gales' and hail and snow. So we will sit it out and do some work instead. This next shot shows Pete and Bella strolling along the icy path by the boat landings and gives an idea of conditions in town at the moment. It looks like Keswick is in for more snow tomorrow too.

 Lastly, a shot of distant Catbells from the Launch booking office. What a change from the scene in the summer? Not many ducks and geese to be seen either, I think they have all taken off somewhere out of sight because its probably not a good idea to be a goose in December......

I think the weather might be a little kinder on Sunday if the forecasts are correct, so we may be out on the hills then.  I have plenty to do at home anyway and Pete's new crampons can wait for their first ice trials.

Publishing the October walks programme

I am in the process of putting the finishing touches to the October programme before I post it here and on the website. So it is imminent and I know some of you have been waiting patiently to see it. Remember you can also pick up a printed copy of the programme from the Tourist Information Centre at the Moot Hall when you are in Keswick.  These will be up to date inclusive of the October walks and available from the Moot Hall sometime this weekend.

Because I usually put things on this blog first (it is the quickest method of communicating), I advise looking here if you are in a hurry.  I update the website next and lastly print the programmes. So now you know....

Meanwhile, the sun has been beaming on us for the last few days, and we have had many satisfied customers and returning clients on our walks this week. We also bought a new camera which has been taken out on a couple of walks but has proved to be more difficult to master than the previous one. However, we did manage to take a few shots on a recent Catbells foray and I include a shot or 2 for your amusement.

The idyllic scene as we disembark from the Keswick Launch at Hawse End.

The walk underway and ensuring we go up by the old mine workings so I can give my Beatrix Potter patter about Mrs Tiggy Winkle. (You must have read the tale of the hedgehog.)

A summit shot, all of us being blown to kingdom come by the wind......and just before we descended and saw the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team and the Air Ambulance in action that day 29th August.

Catbells 29th May

Just in are some new photos from Kath who was on this walk. She was an Aussie and had worked at a Vets in the past so was really good at walking dogs. So of course she took control of Bella and had her walking very much to heel. She also introduced Bella to the water at Nichol End Marine by going in with her. Anyway, Kath thanks for the photos and here are some of them as promised on the blog.

We took the launch across to Low Brandlehow as the jetty at Hawes End is in need of a repair job so this first shot is of a tranquil Derwent Water.



Oh what a shot Kath, that really makes you want to drool for the Lakes.....

Next up is a view on the way around the back of Catbells; this is the way that Beatrix Potter used to come when she walked from Fawe Park where she stayed with her super rich parents.

But do you know which two mountains it shows?

Next up we have our fair Aussie herself.

Of course no set of photos is complete without the doggy element. Did you know that one of the pubs in Keswick has set up doggy dating? Well it has, and it is the Dog and Gun Pub of course, where else would any self respecting terrier go to meet a mate? But shh - don't tell Bella, I don't want her to get ideas.......



She is too young yet for boyfriends and beer...

Changing the subject, we have all the group together towards the end of the walk on the little swing bridge just outside Portinscale, it really does move as you walk across it and its the only place where I have ever seen a Kingfisher over the parapet flying low along the side of the river, a fabulous bright blue.



So a fun day was had by all and we walked back to Keswick in good time. Mark in the foreground was keen to enjoy a pint in the local hostelry that night which turned into a couple more...... You can always rely on Pete to want to extend the walk to the pub afterwards, which is what happened on our last excursion up Scafell Pike on Thursday. We ended up drinking lager etc and eating crisps and olives in Bar 26, but that is another story and one that I shall ask Pete to blog about ha ha...

Christmas Walks Programme 2008

There seems to be a demand for Christmas walks so in response we've devised a short programme between Christmas and New Year, Pete and Lyn will be leading them together. Our accompanying view of Blencathra shows part of the walk planned for Monday 29 Dec. Lyn and Bella have walked up Mousethwaite Comb from the bus stop at Scales, they're at 345279 and are about to disappear down into the valley of the Glenderatera in front of them. That's the steep grassy flank of Bannerdale Crags on the right; beyond is Blencathra with the bare rock of Sharp Edge leading upwards to the top of snow clad Foule Crag. The route follows the Glenderamakin to the col between Bannerdale Crags and Blencathra at 328292. From there it's a stiff climb to the top of Foule Crag followed by an easy stroll to the summit of Blencathra 868m/2847ft. From there we make a fine airy traverse of the summit ridge to Blease Fell top, then descend to the Blencathra Centre and back to Keswick along the old Railway Track.

Grade A, 9 miles, meet 10am Keswick Moot Hall, £12 each, bus fare extra.



Saturday 29 December's walk starts as usual from outside the Moot Hall in the centre of Keswick; we'll take the launch across Derwentwater to Hawes End then ascend the steep north ridge; there are some surprising rocky outcrops towards the top that need to be negotiated with care, especially in the wet; the views from the ridge are wonderful so we hope for clear weather over the Christmas week. It's about a mile from the summit of Catbells 14181ft to Maiden Moor 1887ft, our second Wainwright peak of the day, then on along the broad ridge between Borrowdale and Newlands Valley to High Spy, highest of the day's tops at 2143ft. We descend steeply from this point south towards Rigg Head then follow Tongue Gill down through the old quarry workings to the valley floor and the village of Rosthwaite for the bus back to Keswick.
Photo: Catbells from Latrigg above Spooney Green Lane last winter.

Grade B, 6 miles, meet 10am Keswick Moot Hall, £12 each, transport extra.


On Wednesday 31December the walk is a circuit of Derwentwater, there's no transport involved, we start and finish walking from the Moot Hall. It's a varied and interesting walk with fine open views. It's just over 10 miles but there are no serious ascents, only the short pull up to Walla Crag at 1234ft the highest point of the outing, then it's easy going down to Ashness Bridge and along the track towards Watendlath, though we turn down through the woods to High Lodore Farm well before the hamlet is reached. We cross the marshy head of Derwentwater by the newly refurbished boardwalk and turn north along the west shoreline of the lake. The path wends its way through fine woodland with ever changing vistas across the lake, it leads past Peter Rabbit's garden to Nichol End and from there it is a short walk through Portinscale back to the bright lights of Keswick on New Year's Eve.

Grade B, 10miles, meet Keswick Moot Hall 10am, £12 each

Photo: Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake from Walla Crag last winter.