High Crag to Starling Dodd

A walk to mark the publication of Cicerone's Western Fells Fellranger.

Route: From the main Grasmere carpark to take a path between the Red Pike ascent path and the stroll round the lake, climbing gently into Burtness Combe and then steeply gaining the summit of High Crag via Sheepbone Rake. Along the ridge to High Style, Red Pike and Starling Dodd. Then descending north west to reach the summit of Gale Fell and a rough pathless descent to Scale Force and back to Grasmere.

Conditions: Still, some sun, but cool out of the sun.

Pub: The Fish at Grasmere for Sneck Lifter and a seasonal Hesket Newmarket beer.

The Scandale Horseshoe

A brisk walk on a cool March day.

Route: From the main Ambleside carpark to High Sweden Bridge and then onto Low Pike and High Pike keeping to the RHS of the ridge wall all the way. At a cairn before the summit of Dove crag, along a path to the prominent cairn at High Bakestones and then following the path down, under Little Hart Crag to the pass at Scandale. Up the long and fairly tedious ascent to Red Screes and then the fine descent back to Ambleside.

Conditions: Some sun but a cold wind. Hazy.

Pub: The Golden Rule at Ambleside for Double Hop and the seasonal Hannibal's Nectar.