361 August Walks from Grasmere

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 8th August 2015

and will be from 

Grasmere

 "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found".

Grasmere, cradled in a vale in the heart of the Lake District, is crowned with magnificent fells and mountains all around. From Dunmail Raise in the north, the vale of Grasmere opens up with the rugged peak of Helm Crag (otherwise known as ‘the Lion and the Lamb’) sheltering the town to the south. The combination of scattered hamlets and farmsteads, verdant woodlands, and lush meadows fringing the lakes of Grasmere and Rydal Water and Loughrigg Tarn conjures up a quintessential image of romantic Lakeland.
The poet William Wordsworth, who lived in Grasmere for fourteen years, described it as "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found".
 
There will be 3 walks;

• A Walk led by; Peter Hitchcock
• B Walk led by; John Adamson
• C Walk led by; Joan and Shirley

Details of the walks are below

Grasmere is probably the Cumbria’s most popular village, thanks to William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Today Grasmere is totally given over to the tourist industry, with plenty of gift shops, and places to eat and stay. Most of the buildings date from the 19th or early 20th Century, though the farms around Grasmere are much older. The Church dates from the 13th Century. continued

 

A Walk from Grasmere 2015

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Distance: 9 Miles app
Total ascent/Descent: 3660ft

'A' Route anticlockwise. Click on map to enlarge

On offer this month is a beautiful but challenging walk seeking out, for a change, the “steppes” to Heron Pike and the Great Rigg to the ENE of Grasmere. From minute 0:30 to 1:30 mins after start you will have to work hard climbing directly up the side of the ridge to Heron Pike (1836ft) but the views from the top and subsequent ridge trek to Fairfield (approx 2000ft) are worthy of a 2016 Holy Trinity Calendar! The remainder of the route from Heron Pike is relatively straightforward and, from the many mounds at Fairfield, we descend sharply to the southern edge of Grisedale Tarn for lunch.

A shinny up and back down Seat Sandal is within the overall route plan but is absolutely optional depending on how the legs are doing at that stage or how much lunch you’ve munched! The return descent from Seat Sandal (Hause Gap) is very pretty and relaxing and, indeed, within 1:30 hrs you will be back in Grasmere in time for tea. On the recce, I saw 2 x RAF Hawks, 2 x Tucano, 1 x USAF F-15, 2 x Army Apache helicopters and 1 x Tornado all flying up the pass; heard 1 x Peewit but saw absolutely no wild life at all apart from red-faced exhausted human specimens!

Sticks are definitely recommended for this 9-mile trek as one of the descents is on scree-type shingle for a while; but you will feel really good at the end of it. On arrival at the car park, can we meet up for the “off” outside the 20p toilets – there’s modern romance for you!

B Walk from Grasmere 2015

Walk Leader: John Adamson
Distance: 7 miles app (under)
Total ascent/descent: 1200ft

B Party Route Map

The walk from Grasmere heads through the village and up Easedale Road towards Easedale Tarn. It is a very scenic route following Easedale Beck up to the Tarn. We return to Grasmere via another route on the opposite side of the valley. This is a B Walk with the highest point being about 1000 ft. 

C Walk from Grasmere 2015

Walk Leader: Joan and Shirley
Total distance: 6 Miles
Total ascent/descent:
 

Following coffee in a nearby café which has delicious what they call Plum Bread (toasted) we set off for our walk.   After passing Dove Cottage the route goes upwards and downwards along the coffin route until eventually going down past Rydal Hall to reach the main road. After a short walk along the road the path goes into the trees and follows the River Rothay and along this path we will stop for lunch with lovely views over Rydal Water.

The path climbs quite steeply for a short distance before dropping down to follow Grasmere lake shore. At the end of the lake there is unfortunately a steepish climb up to the road which leads us back to the village where you can enjoy welcome refreshments of your choice and browse the local shops. Don’t forget the Gingerbread shop near the Church; a must for Grasmere visitors.  Have a good day. Joan & Shirley.