mywainwrights

you are in 'mywainwrights'» home » 2009 walks » walla crag

Walla Crag

Date ... Friday, 4 December 2009
Distance ... 5.25 miles
Ascent ... 1150 feet
Time ... 3 hours 30 mins
Weather ... 6 ºC, light SW winds, dry, sunny to start and clouding over later
Walked with ... Sheena and Tim dog
Summits ... Walla Crag - 1234' (aw204)
Start ... Keswick - pay + display car park (NY265233)
Maps ... Ordnance Survey - Outdoor Leisure Nº4 (1:25,000) or Landranger Nº90 (1:50,000)
Books ... Pictorial Guide Nº 3 - The Central Fells by Alfred Wainwright (ISBN 07181400284)

To see the route map of this walk follow think link which will take you to the Anquet Maps web site, which I now use to display my route maps. You can follow my route and see the 'locations' of all the photo's from this walk by visiting Everytrails

We had arranged a couple of days over in the Lakes, to meet up with some friends. We had to go over to Keswick on the Friday to take a pair of my boots back, that have sprung a leak! It was such a lovely morning I decided to give a very early dog walk along the river before breakfast. By the time we'd driven over to Keswick and sorted by boots out at the shop it was midday, which didn't leave us much time for a walk. So after picking up lunch, in the form of a couple of giant Cornish pasties we had a walk up onto Walla Crag. The weather had started off really sunny and bright, but after having lunch on the summit the cloud had drifted over making it a rather dull afternoon. Instead of heading over to Ashness Bridge, as was the original plan, we decided to drop down Cat Gill and pick up lakeside path back to Keswick. It's been years since I'd been up or down Cat Gill and the stone pitched path is a great improvement. It didn't help my back though, I was still shattered by the bottom, I'm hoping to hear from the hospital very soon about getting to see someone. The walk back along the shores of Derwent Water revealed how much damage had been caused in the recent flooding. At times it was very hard to believe how high the water level had been. It was getting really dark by we got back to Keswick, apologies if some of the photo's are a little grainy, the camera was trying hard to cope with the low light! 

The moon was still out as I headed down past St. Edwin's Church onto the river bank

The moon was still out as I headed down past St. Edwin's Church onto the river bank

The sky was starting to signs of the rising sun though, the colours and shadows were lovely, it reminded me of that morning back in May when I sat on the beach at Port Ealrish waiting for the sun to rise!

The sky was starting to signs of the rising sun though, the colours and shadows were lovely, it reminded me of that morning back in May when I sat on the beach at Port Ealrish waiting for the sun to rise!

The moon through the bare branches of the tree's

The moon through the bare branches of the tree's

I was hoping for some nice sun rise shots, but the only clouds were very low on the horizon and far away, oh well you can't win them all!

I was hoping for some nice sun rise shots, but the only clouds were very low on the horizon and far away, oh well you can't win them all!

Tim wasn't complaining, he just loves this walk

Tim wasn't complaining, he just loves this walk

The sun was casting long shadows as we reached the village, time for porridge and honey for breakfast, yummy

The sun was casting long shadows as we reached the village, time for porridge and honey for breakfast, yummy

This is Keswick market place at midday, very quiet compared to other times we've been over. Let's hope that people realise that it's business as normal in Cumbria and they return soon. Otherwise some of the shops and hotels may not be there next summer?

This is Keswick market place at midday, very quiet compared to other times we've been over. Let's hope that people realise that it's business as normal in Cumbria and they return soon. Otherwise some of the shops and hotels may not be there next summer?

Looking back towards Keswick, with a snowy Grisedale Pike in the distance, as we walked along Springs Lane towards Walla Crag

Looking back towards Keswick, with a snowy Grisedale Pike in the distance, as we walked along Springs Lane towards Walla Crag

Even though it was midday, well just after, the winter sun was casting long shadows across the fields

Even though it was midday, well just after, the winter sun was casting long shadows across the fields

Heading through Springs Wood

Heading through Springs Wood

At the top of the woods this is the view you are treated to, stunning on a day like today!

At the top of the woods this is the view you are treated to, stunning on a day like today!

A wider angle view, taking in the Cat Bells to High Spy ridge as well

A wider angle view, taking in the Cat Bells to High Spy ridge as well

Blencathra had a cloud cap on despite the bright blue skies

Blencathra had a cloud cap on despite the bright blue skies

As did Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell

As did Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell

Looking back at Blencathra from higher up the path to Walla Crag

Looking back at Blencathra from higher up the path to Walla Crag

Looking down onto Keswick from Walla Crag

Looking down onto Keswick from Walla Crag

The view across Derwent Water towards the snow covered peaks of Grisedale Pike and Crag Hill

The view across Derwent Water towards the snow covered peaks of Grisedale Pike and Crag Hill

This photo shows the line of approaching cloud which meant the lovely sunny conditions of the morning were replaced with dull cloudy ones, well at least the rain held off

This photo shows the line of approaching cloud which meant the lovely sunny conditions of the morning were replaced with dull cloudy ones, well at least the rain held off

Looking south from Walla Crag down into Borrowdale, with Sca Fell Pike covered in cloud

Looking south from Walla Crag down into Borrowdale, with Sca Fell Pike covered in cloud

This is the view 'East' from the summit, over the slopes of Bleaberry Fell, towards the snow covered 'Dodds'

This is the view 'East' from the summit, over the slopes of Bleaberry Fell, towards the snow covered 'Dodds'

Bleaberry Fell from the top of Cat Gill

Bleaberry Fell from the top of Cat Gill

Heading down the steep path through the gill

Heading down the steep path through the gill

Looking back up at Walla Crag from the shores of Derwent Water. The line of debris in the field indicates how high the water level was during the floods two weeks earlier!

Looking back up at Walla Crag from the shores of Derwent Water. The line of debris in the field indicates how high the water level was during the floods two weeks earlier!

A snowy Skiddaw from Stable Hills

A snowy Skiddaw from Stable Hills

I just loved this dead tree in the field, could resist the photo!

I just loved this dead tree in the field, could resist the photo!

The view south along the lake from Friar's Crag

The view south along the lake from Friar's Crag

It was getting quite dark by the time we reached the landing stages

It was getting quite dark by the time we reached the landing stages

Even though the signs said the ferry was 'open for business' we never saw any on the lake

Even though the signs said the ferry was 'open for business' we never saw any on the lake

Skiddaw from Lady Hope Park

Skiddaw from Lady Hope Park

George Fishers looking very festive

George Fishers looking very festive

So was the Moot Hall

So was the Moot Hall