Lake District
PEAK-BAGGING HORSESHOE
1 NY227237 From the small car park, take the wooden steps heading north-west, marked ‘Public Footpath Grisedale Pike’ at a fingerpost sign. Climb on the good, clear path before looping sharply south over bracken-covered slopes. Go through a gate and continue on a grassy path that climbs west and then south-west to Kinn. Continue south-west on a wide grassy track, remembering to turn around to feast on the excellent views over Keswick and the Skiddaw Massif. Veer west as the ascent steepens, passing the Lanty Well spring to gain the Sleet How ridge. The final push southwest and west for the top is along a rocky, narrowing arête, but there are no technical difficulties. Pass old metal fence posts and arrive at Grisedale Pike’s summit.
2 NY198225 Descend south-west following an old, derelict drystone wall. The path briefly bends left and right before arriving at a col. Climb over rocky terrain – including a short section of easy scrambling – to reach the 739m top of Hobcarton Crag. Descend briefly west and, at a cairn, fork right to follow a wall to a col. Climb the path ahead, sticking close to but safely away from the edge of the crags to the north, to reach Hopegill Head’s 770m summit. Retrace your steps down south-east briefly, fork right, descend to a mini col, and ascend easily ahead to the summit of Sand Hill. Descend south over loose, stony terrain to Coledale Hause. Directly ahead the ascent is blocked by crags, so fork right and ascend south along a stream. At a four-way junction, turn left and
steadily climb north-east to Crag Hill’s trig pillar.
3 NY192203 Veer right and descend east along The Scar ridge – including some easy
scrambling – to a col. Climb easily ahead to the summit of Sail, which is located slightly to the left off the main path. Descend north-east and east on the winding, zig-zagging switchbacks of a machine-built path to reach another col. Climb north-east to the cairned summit of Scar Crags. Descend the ridge east-north-east to a col and ascend easily over undulating, lumpybumpy terrain to Causey Pike’s dramatic summit. Re-trace your steps back to the col and fork right on a shortcut path curving west and then north to High Moss. Climb ahead to the summit of Outerside. Descend north-east to Low Moss, skirt south-east around Stile End on narrow trods to Barrow Door, and ascend gently east and north-east to gain the summit of Barrow, the final Wainwright of the day.
4 NY227218 Descend Barrow’s north ridge on a good, well-trodden path. Ignore a turn-off to the left bearing towards Barrow Gill, and instead continue north-northeast to Braithwaite Lodge. Pass through the gated farmyard and through a field to arrive at the road. Turn left and head north-north-west through the village. Cross the bridge over Coledale Beck and pass the Royal Oak pub to arrive at the B5292 Whinlatter Pass. Turn left on the narrow road, and ascend the road west and then north. As the road steepens, arrive back at the car park at the foot of Grisedale Pike’s eastern ridge.