I've been wanting to do this walk for a couple of years now after I first saw it in Trail magazine. But every time I've gone across to do it the weather has always been lousy and I've ended up doing something else instead. Well after seeing how good the forecast was for today I knew that I just had to have a go at it. There was a definite chill in the air as I was putting my boots on, the car temperature gauge was reading minus 5 ºC. I knew that it going up the way I was planning I was going to be in the shadows until I reached the top of Browncove Crags, so it was going to be a cold climb, and a bit icy underfoot. It took me about an hour and 10 minutes to reach the top of crags, the climb wasn't too bad until the last bit, that stone pitched path is horrid, the steps are too big for my little legs! LOL After coffee stop on top of the crags it was a simple wander over to the summit of Helvellyn, which surprisingly was deserted. Hard to believe on such a lovely day, but I wasn't complaining, I spent about 10 minutes wandering round enjoying the views and taking photos before the cold started to get to me. My return route was over Little Man and then down the ridge to Whiteside, I had planned to go straight down to Brown Crags from there. Since the weather was so nice I decided to head over to Raise first and then take a direct route down Brund Gill to Brown Crags from there. That part of the descent wasn't too bad, it was after Brown Crag where it got really steep. I also made the mistake of following Tim dog and we ended up off the path a couple of times. Mental note to oneself, don't follow the dog, he can't read the map!!!!
The sun hadn't reached Thirlmere by the time I arrived at the car park
Looking up at my ascent route to Browncove Crags, the high point on the skyline
Frosty grass, the temperature was minus 5ºC when I left the car park
Skiddaw and Blencathra bathed in the early morning sunlight
Raven Crag standing sentinel over Thirlmere
The autumn colours looked lovely in the early morning light
As I gained a bit of height Great Gable started to appear over Armboth Fell
Zooming in on the distant Skiddaw
Looking over High Tove towards NW fells, the air clarity was very clear
I could have spent ages taking photos, but it was also freezing in the shadows, had to keep climbing to keep warm!
Tim leading the way up the pitched path towards Browncove Crags
Looking across Ullscarf towards Sca Fell Pike
Zooming in on Great Gable
The shadow of Browncove Crags pointing towards Bassenthwaite Lake
At last some sun as I reached the top of the steep pitched path, time for a coffee stop!
The lovely view of an inversion over Windermere
Another view towards Great Gable as I walked towards the summit of Helvellyn
Looking back along the path towards Browncove Crags from Little Man
Tim at the cairn that marks the start of the descent to Swirral Edge
Looking down onto Red Tarn
Swirral Edge leading to Catstycam with Ullswater in the distance
The summit of Helvellyn, which I had all to myself for a few minutes!
The view to the south looking over Nethermost Pike
Striding Edge and Red Tarn from the summit
Zooming in on the distant Ingleborough, probably about 30 miles away?
Looking west from the summit, Great Gable has got a little bit of cloud just covering the top now
Heading towards Helvellyn Little Man, I would be going down the ridge on the right towards White Side
Bronwcove Crags from Helvellyn Little Man
Zooming in on Ullswater with Cross Fell in the background
The path towards White Side
Looking back up at Helvellyn Little Man
The wind shelter on White Side, where we had our lunch stop
Raise from White Side
Looking back at White Side as I made my way to Raise
Tim leading the way to the summit of Raise
Skiddaw and Blencathra from Raise
Sheffield Pike and Ullswater from Raise
Heading down towards the grassy Brown Crag
Crossing Brund Gill
Tim on Brown Crag
Skiddaw from Brown Crag
Great How and Raven Crag from Brown Crag
High Rigg and Skiddaw as I made the steep descent down from Brown Crag
Great How with Skiddaw in the distance
Looking back up at Browncove Crags as I rejoined my outward route, looks much warmer up there now!
Looking down St John's in the Vale towards the distant Blencathra
I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the photograph's from this walk? If you have any questions or comments regarding them or the walk in general, please either leave a message below, or send me an email, and I will get back to you asap. Thanks Gary ...
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Our last walk was a visit to Walla Crag
Our next walk ... coming soon from who knows where!
Other Lake District walks 2010 walks journalAll of the photograph's from this walk were taken using my Sony A700 camera
© www.mywainwrights.co.uk (This page was last updated - 26 October 2010)
