Lake District
MOUNTAIN HORSESHOE
1 NY158208
A wide path leads north-east through bracken towards the slot of Gasgale Gill. Across a hidden footbridge the main path turns right, up the spur of Whin Ben. It zigzags uphill rather steeply through heather and then eroded, bare rock. It levels briefly at the small hump of Whin Ben. The path bends up north and again steepens on bare rock, to the sudden arrival at Whiteside End.
2 NY170219 The airy ridgeline to Hopegill Head has bare rock at a couple of places with a path just down left. At Hopegill Head there’s a wide path down south over Sand Hill, but for views and gentler slopes continue ahead, beside the drops of Hobcarton Crag, down to a grassy col. Take the short climb ahead to the nameless hump (739m) for superb views down Coledale to Derwent Water. Turn back sharp-right on a clear path slanting down to Coledale Hause.
3 NY188211 Across the saddle, fork briefly left, then turn back right. A cairn marks a path junction at the foot of the small valley between Crag Hill and Grasmoor. Here fork off right on a very faint path, crossing the stream and up the spurline above. Stay next to the big drops on the right as you reach the plateau and follow it to the large, sprawling shelter cairn of Grasmoor.
4 NY174203 Turn back on a wide, clear path just to the right of the line you arrived on. It runs along the top of the south-facing slope, then descends towards the major saddle west of Crag Hill (Eel Crag). Just above the saddle point, bear right on a wide grass path south-east. It rises to the minor summit of Wandope, with sudden views down to Newlands.
5 NY188197 Leave Wandope on a wide path roughly west (avoid the smaller one running south-west next to drops on the left, a false trail). There’s a very slight rise to
Thirdgill
Head Man (‘Cairn’ on
OS Explorer maps). A wide path runs down a narrowing ridgeline, then up to the summit of Whiteless Pike. The path down southwards is steep and rough in places. After a flatter shoulder, it slants down to the left to reach the slot gap at the top of Rannerdale.
6 NY179177 Turn down the little valley on a clear path. It continues to the left of the stream, above a wall. At the valley foot, turn down right through a gate to cross a substantial footbridge. Turn left on a grass track, through bracken then grassland to a car park beside B5289.
7 NY162192 Continue to right of the road for just 300m, then cross to a kissing gate. (This is different from the public footpath line on maps.) Head down to the lake shore, where the path continues under oak trees. After 600m it moves inland a little, to a gate into plantations. It returns to the lakeside, to the start of an earth track at a boathouse.
8 NY154205 Follow the track ahead for a few steps, then turn back sharp-right up a wide path. It runs uphill to left of a stream, then bends left of the near wood edge to join an earth track to a gate on the right. Cross a field with a wall on your left. Through a gate, take a faint track to the right, bending left to Lanthwaite Green Farm. A fenced in way passes left of buildings, to a gate onto B5289. The parking area is just to your right.