High Rigg from Thirlmere

Date: 12th April 2019

Start/Finish: Smaithwaite Bridge, North Thirlmere

Wainwrights: High Rigg

Distance: 7.5 Miles

Max Elevation: 1224 Feet

Height Gained: 2470 Feet

Time Take: 3 1/2 Hours

The Route : Clockwise from Bridge End (most southern point)

This was first time back in the fells after a 6 month hiatus. I've lost a bit of fitness so decided to peruse the less lofty fells on my Wainwrights 'to-do' list. High Rigg seemed like a nice option. Indeed Wainwright described this very walk as being "... suited to old and rickety fellwalkers long past their best". Perfect for me then! He also suggests doing the walk clockwise so that the lovely views of Blencathra are always in front when on the higher ground. I therefore followed this advice. 

I parked right by Smaithwaite Bridge on the A591. There is a stile and gate within the dry stone wall just north of the bridge where the path heads along St John's Beck. A steepish path then branches off on the left towards Wren Crag. The hillside is littered with uprooted trees following the recent winter storms.

The Stile on the A591

Views down to St John's in the Vale from the upwards path

The first of many uprooted trees on the hill side

Looking back towards Great How

The path up to Wren Crag

Glimpses of Thirlmere behind

Views from Wren Crag looking north - Mart Crag with Blencathra and Skiddaw on the horizon and down along the 'St Johns in the Vale' valley 

A little un-named tarn between Mart Crag and High Rigg

The path up to High Rigg

High Rigg summit views of Blencathra ...

… and back towards Thirlmere

From High Rigg I decided to extend the walk over Low Rigg and Tewet tarn. The path passes the little church and youth centre. 

Low Rigg over the Youth Cente 

There can't be a more picturesque Youth Centre in the UK ?

Looking back over High Rigg

Skiddaw from Low Rigg summit

Tewet Tarn

I then headed back via Yew tree farm and the main path skirting Rake How and heading towards Low Bridge End Farm following the course of St John's in the Vale Beck. Overall a lovely little walk perfect for blowing off the cobwebs. 

Castle Crag and the Borrowdale Valley

Date: 26th July 2018
Start/Finish: Rosthwaite Hotel
Wainwrights: Castle Crag (951 feet)
Distance: 5.6 Miles
Height Gain: 2080 Feet
Time Taken: A very leisurely 4 hours

Social Hiking Map Link

The Route: Clockwise from the Rosthwaite Hotel

Castle Crag is a bit of an outlier as it doesn't easily link up with any surrounding fells without significant height loss. Its nearest neighbours of High Spy to the west and Grange Fell to the east are best climbed in a circuit of their respective neighbouring fells. For this reason, Castle Crag is often the last Wainwright climbed on the circuit of 214. However, I was in the area on a family camping holiday and it was a balmy windless day ideal for a low fell with good views. So instead of marching my 11 year old lad up one of the high fells we decided to tackle something lower. Castle Crag fitted the bill nicely, especially as part of a circuit of the Borrowdale valley. It also had the advantage of finishing by the River Derwent where we could cool off afterwards.

We parked on the Rosthwaite Hotel car park and duly paid the £3 all day fee. The walk took us on a wide circular route out towards Seatoller and then looping back towards Castle Crag before descending steeply down to the Derwent. 

Views over to Stonethwaite

First sight of Castle Crag (centre left)

Surveying the destination

A steep ascent

Remnants of previous quarrying

Views southwards from the ascent path

Slate cairns 

Summit views of Derwent Water

The summit

Cooling off in the Derwent 

Those fish were actually nibbling our toes!

Little Langdale Circuit - A Family Walk

Date : 29th May 2016
Start/Finish: Skelwith Bridge
Distance: 6 Miles
Time Taken : A leisurely 5 hours including lengthy lunch and pub breaks.

The route : Clockwise from Skelwith Bridge

This a cracking little family walk that is especially suitable for young kids. My lad first walked it aged 5. He is now 9 and took his friend with him today. It is mostly flat and easy going. It has woods, waterfalls, great paddling spots, a tarn, a lake and a pub. It can easily be walked in 3 hours but it is really not a walk to rush. We had a picnic, 2 paddles and an ice cream (a beer for me and the Mrs) and it took 5 hours. The paths are clearly marked the whole way round and indeed follow the Cumbria way for some sections.

The start of the walk from Skelwith Bridge

The first section is through open farmland

Some lovely cottages adorn the route

Park Farm

Heading down towards the river

The path then crosses a road and there is the option of taking a direct route up through woodland, or taking a slight detour to the right to see Colwith Force. We detoured.

The route to Colwith Force

My photos of Colwith Force never seem to do it justice. It is an impressive waterfall though and well worth seeing.

Every good kids walk has a money tree

High Park Farm and coffee shop

Views over to Lingmoor Fell

Winner of this years 'worlds scraggiest sheep' competition

We stopped by Slater Bridge for a picnic lunch. The kids had a great time paddling in the Greenburn Beck and trying in vain to catch the tiny fish darting around their feet.

Slater Bridge

Fish spotting

Going in for the hunt

We could have stayed there all day. The kids ended up stripping down to their undies and wading all the way in. Despite their best efforts though ...... the fish went uncaught.  

More great paddling spots

The onwards path towards Lingmoor Fell

Little Langdale Tarn

We followed the path to Elterwater with the promise of an ice cream providing adequate motivation for the kids. 

Little Langdale Tarn with the Coniston Fells beyond

Elterwater village

All good low level walks in the lake district have a pub along the way. This walk is no exception and the Britannia Inn at Elterwater is a cracking place for refreshments. From here, the walk follows the Cumbria Way along the River Brathay back to Skelwith Bridge.

Some sheep playing hide and seek

Crystal clear water

Elterwater with the Langdale Pikes beyond

Getting friendly with some locals

The Cumbria Way by Elterwater

Skelwith Force

Admiring the different types of local slate you can have in your kitchen

Back to Skelwith Bridge