372 September Walks from Grasmere

Our next walks will be from
Grasmere

 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.

Saturday 10th September 2016

0800hrs prompt from the short stay car park

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by: Peter Hitchcock
• B Walk led by: John Wilson
• C Walk led by: Shirley and Joan

Walk details will be added as they become available.

Please scroll down for walk details.

A Walk from Grasmere 2016

Walk Leader: Garth Raybould
Total Distance: about 10.5mls
Total ascent: about 3400ft

Please note that much of the A Walk route is over rough ground and is occasionally boggy. Full walking boots with good ankle support will be preferable to lightweight, shoe-style boots. 

 The planned A Walk will be a steep initial ascent followed by an undulating ridge walk before the descent back to Grasmere: the route is via Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, High Raise, Blea Rigg and Easedale.

From Grasmere we head up the Easedale road and turn off for Helm Crag, taking a new path via the Lancrigg Hotel (this has been created to tempt walkers into the hotel for morning coffee but we shall resist temptation!). We bypass Helm Crag itself and after a stiff climb reach the top of the ridge at “the Lion and the Lamb” rocks, about an hour into the walk. We then walk along the ridge, taking in a number of minor peaks, and this is where the ground starts to be rough and sometimes boggy. From the head of Far Easedale we shall either make our descent, if the weather is poor (and on this route the ground continues to be rough); or possibly, if visibility is good and we are making good time, continue towards High Raise and descend via Easedale Tarn.

B walk Grasmere 2016

Walk Leader: John Wilson
Walk Distance: 6 miles app
Total Ascent/descent: 1300 ft app

B WALK – GRASMERE TO HELM CRAG

This is a short but challenging walk of approximately 6 miles long and 400metres of ascent and decent. It will be completed with plenty of time to spare if you fancy the challenge there will be plenty of stops along the way.

The walk starts gently through Grasmere to Easedale road which we follow until it becomes a path. This path sets off up the flank of Helm Crag and is quite steep and long. It eventually reaches the southern summit known as The Lion and the Lamb, which is a good place to break and take in the views over Grasmere and Easedale Tarn.

The northern summit is known as The Howitzer but the peak is only accessible with rock climbing skills.

Our decent is zig zagging down the side of the saddle in the direction of Easedale Tarn. Here the path is not clear and can be boggy in places. A gentle walk back to Grasmere completes the walk.

The Howitzer