Lake District Adventure Weekend
Organiser – Gary Box
Where – Grasmere Independent Hostel, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9RU
When – April 29th – May 2nd (3 nights)
Cost – £130.00 (includes 3 nights accommodation and all guided walks)

Summary

For our early May bank holiday we will be visiting the ever popular Lake District. Our accommodation is Grasmere Independent Hostel, a high standard accommodation which sleeps 24 people. All bedding is provided so you only need to bring towels and toiletries. The hostel has everything you should expect from group accommodation but also has a sauna that we can use (though it is only really big enough for a couple of people at a time). There will be various departures from London announced nearer the time. Most will leave in the evening but there will be at least one early departure for those that want it since we need to do the key handover before 9pm on Friday.

For the walks we have tried to include many of the Lake District classics and we are looking forward to creating an action packed video from the weekend.

Lake District Walk Options

Saturday Harder Option – Coniston Circular

A 30 minute drive from the hostel this is a classic 13 mile (21km) route with over 1300 metres of ascent. We will park at the disused quarry car park unless it’s already full in which case we will start in Coniston village (added distance). Our route includes 9 summits of which 7 are Wainwrights (in bold) Wetherlam, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Brim Fell, The Old Man of Coniston, Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike. A tiring route best suited to regular hill walkers it offers lots of visual interest, both extensive views from the summits and the likes of the Levers waterfalls.

Saturday Easier Option – Scafell Pike

40 minute drive from hostel to Seathwaite where our 9.3 mile route starts. This route to the highest peak in England involves 1000 metres of ascent. We will pass Styhead Tarn before taking the Corridor route to the summit of Scafell Pike (978 metres). The route back has always been a favourite of mine. Partly this is because it seems less people return this way so it’s more peaceful but also I’ve often had amazing late afternoon light. The terrain is rocky but you only slowly lose height as you make your way to Esk Hause. From here we head towards Sprinkling Tarn but turn right before it and back on a good path to Stockley Bridge and then to the waiting vehicles.

Scafell Pike

Sunday Harder Option – Blencathra via Sharp Edge

It’s a 20 minute drive from the hostel to Threlkeld where this walk starts.  Whilst not a long walk this is rated as a mountain challenge, mostly because of the short scrambling section which is known as Sharp Edge. This walk is therefore not for those who know they have bad vertigo issues, but for those that like a little adrenalin this is one the must do walks in the Lake District. From Threlkeld we walk to Scales before turning left towards Scales Tarn. We can take a break at the Tarn as Sharp Edge follows shortly after. The ridge is only a short section of exposure but if there are very high winds it’s still one to perhaps avoid for another day. Once over the ridge we will then make our way to the summit of Blencathra (868 metres). Our descent from the summit is in a south westerly direction towards the Blencathra Centre from which it is an easy, short walk back towards the start point. Since those doing this route are likely to be finished early there is an additional option of doing a 3pm session of Via Ferrata extreme which costs £45.00 per person. It’s a 30 minute drive from Threlkeld to Honister Pass so you will need to leave Threlkeld by 2pm latest to take advantage of this.

Sharp Edge, Blencathra

Sunday Easier Option – Grasmere & Loughrigg Fell

Leaving from the hostel door this walk heads through the village of Grasmere and along the southern edge of Grasmere water and Rydal Water before gaining modest height to Loughrigg Fell. From Loughrigg Fell we make our way to Loughrigg Terrace and back towards Grasmere village and then to the hostel. This option will also finish relatively early leaving you various options. You could explore Grasmere village in more detail and see the graves of the Wordsworth family and visit the famous Gingerbread shop. You could also return to the hostel and relax and perhaps use the sauna. Finally you could also take part in via ferrata extreme at Honister Pass which is a 40 minute drive from the hostel. They have a 3pm session and usually require people to be there at least 30 minutes beforehand. The tickets for via ferrata extreme cost £45.00 each.

Monday Option – Langdale Pikes Walk

It’s a 30 minute drive from the hostel to the start of this walk in the Langdale Pikes. This route is relatively short and depending on whether you take the Jack’s Rake scrambling option could be considered an easy walk. From the car park it’s an easy ascent to Stickle Tarn where we can have a quick snack. The group will then split into two. Those that are confident with scrambling will take Jack’s Rake to the summit of Pavey Ark. Those that want a more leisurely day will take a slightly longer but much simpler route around the back to Pavey’s Ark. With the height gained we then continue to Thunacar Knott, Pike of Stickle, Loft Crag and Harrison Stickle before arriving back to Stickle Tarn from the other side. Our route from Stickle Tarn to the car park is a reverse of the start of this walk.

We aim to leave the Lake District by about 2:30pm latest on Monday with the aim of arriving back in London by about 8:30pm. Depending on passengers and cars, people are welcome to skip the Monday option if they want to arrive back in London earlier on the Monday.

Link to video of Via Ferrata extreme