We left Rosthwaite after a huge breakfast at the Royal Oak Hotel and set off up Stonethwaite alongside the beck. There were a few groups of C2Cers shuffling along. Canadians, Americans, Australians and us – all heading to Grasmere. The weather was promising to be showery but after a bit of rain first thing it turned out to be a lovely dry, clear day.
Leaving Rosthwaite along Stonethwaite beck
As we gained height the view back to Borrowdale was a beautiful picture. Eagle Crag – one of the many impressive truncated spurs hereabouts lost its fierce aspect as we crept upwards and eventually overtopped it.
Leaving Borrowdale behind
2016 has been quite wet and Greenup Gill had some impressive cascades.
Waterfalls on Greenup Gill
Archie checks out the Prairie of Drumlins before the ascent of Lining Crag
Ahead Lining Crag towered above with an ascent up a steep, stony gully to conquer it. The view to the west of much of the ground we had covered in the last 2 days was fabulous.
Above Lining Crag there is a long flatter boggy section. Archie took a surprise swim which was quite funny. Less amusing was a fellow C2Cer who had a proper Dr Foster experience and disappeared right up to his middle in cold, wet bog. We kept well to the right – following the cairns and arrived at Greenup Edge.
The watershed – Borrowdale gone and looking forwards the view was down Easedale to Grasmere.
The watershed, Borrowdale gone and looking forward into Easedale with the Helvellyn range beyond.
At the head of Easedale we opted for the high ridge alternative rather than walking down the valley to Grasmere.
At an old fence we veered off to the North and headed for Calf Crag.
The old fence at the head of Easedale. Turn left for Calf Crag and the Helm Crag ridge.
The following ridge to Gibson Knott and Helm Crag follows a delightful path which goes up and down and in and out. There are magnificent mountain views all around.
The ridge along Gibson Knot, Calf Crag to Helm Crag
After crossing a grassy depression the ridge climbs to the rocky top of Helm Crag. This was a sunny Sunday afternoon and there were a lot of people up there this being an obvious target from Grasmere.
Helm Crag
We left them to it and began the descent to Grasmere. It is steep but the path is well made and we were soon down in the valley and had a further mile of flat walking before reaching our hotel, Dale Lodge.
The drive up to Dale Lodge Hotel
They took pity on Archie as he looked so tired and gave him an upgrade to our room. (We had booked a compact standard room).
Luxury at Dale Lodge
So that was 3 days out of 14 and we were quite tired. We had a good supper a couple of pints of local ale.
Early night and on again in the morning.
18 km with 850m of elevation.
The GPX file for the route that we followed is here.
Old Bat On A Bike. 