Shooting from the hip and hitting bulls eye

Wainwrights: Grange Fell, Castle Crag

Weather was going to be iffy today, so we had no real plan in the morning. Clouds were very low. Probably as low as 300m in places so we took our time in the morning cooking up some more gorgeous black pudding sausages from the local butcher. Along with smoked streaky bacon, an egg each and some cheese we had the most glorious breakfast bap!

Into town we went to get some more stuff from the same butcher and make plans over a coffee. The cloud wasn't lifting much yet, so we decided to drive the 15mins down along Derwent Water into Borrowdale and head up two of the lower fells there. Much of the 10k loop would be sheltered and we had options to cut the walk short too.

Apparently, having the National Trust badge in the car is no longer enough to park for free,  you now need to scan your membership card at the machine. Too bad I didn't mine. Duh. We also couldn't come up with £6 in cash (coins). Who does these days?! So we left the Bowder Stone car park and parked up in a layby around the corner... for free. Clock said quarter to 2pm.

Through woodland we walked and once we left the National Trust property and joined  another foot path we were all alone. Up we went through light woods on a grassy and rocky path. It was so humid... We were drenched in sweat only a few minutes into the climb. Views towards Rosthwaite and beyond were getting better the higher we got.
Glaramara was dominating the scene and I remembered the endless slog I had endured at the end of a very long day clambering over its many summits trying to find the way down into the valley. It's a behemoth of a mountain that on its own would surely get the attention it deserves but right in the middle of so many other big names is probably often overlooked.

Quick break taking it all in

Anyway, we were on the even more overlooked "minor" fells and all the folks that queue up the likes of Scafell Pike or the Old Man surely miss out on something great here.
We dropped out of the trees and climbed the last bit up to King's How. Not a Wainwright, not on any ticklist  I know, and a hell of a great climb up here and a killer view over Derwent Water all the way to Keswick with the Skiddaw Range behind it. Fantastic little fell that one!

View from King's How towards Keswick

Through typical British hill side we went over to Grange Fell. Lots of lumps and bumps, heather and rock. We loved every bit of it!
The top of Grange Fell was a playground for scrambling, left and right of the path rose a handful of rocky outcrops begging to be climbed.
We had some fun for a bit and eventually rejoined the main path again. Down we went alongside some more woods and down into Rosthwaite for some afternoon sandwiches and a lager shandy at the local hotel restaurant.

It simply doesn't look like that in perfect sunshine.

On Grange Fell

Heading down to Roswaithe

It was already 5pm when we left after a surprisingly good small meal.
Up the not so steep grassy slope towards Castle Crag on the other side of the valley we went and joined a broad gravel path turning North back towards Derwent Water. More stunning views opened up. What a varied walk again!
I was keen on bagging Castle Crag and we veered off the main path to tick it off. Would've been a shame not to, since we were already here.

We were not expecting the huge pile of sleet we found not far from the top. What the...?! Up we went on a path winding through all that sleet only to find something of an outdoor art gallery at the next plateau. People had not only built piles of sleet but had also erected slates along the path and built all sorts of installations.
It was just weird and special and something we absolutely didn't expect. You choose a route on the map and it looks nice, but it doesn't prepare you for this! Just awesome!

Sleet, so much sleet!

 On Castle Crag

An art installation on Castle Crag

Cautiously we made our way down to the main path again, and were back in woodland soon after.
Rich found and easy crossing of the river dropping us out at the road where we parked much sooner than going around the long way. Saved us maybe 20mins.

It was already just before 7pm. Love those long days of daylight.
What an amazing little walk we had! 10.5k with such varied landscape. And we had only just made it up over a coffee.

Seems like you simply can't go wrong in the Lakes. Pick any walk from the map. Seriously anything. And you get something great. Today was probably one of the best days I've had so far up here. Maybe because I now simply enjoy what I've got and am not desperately after ticking off hills. I've also realised that you often get a much more epic view from lower hills. Seeing the big ones in dramatic light today was amazing. And feeling like you found something special in King's Fell, Grange Fell and Castle Crag. Cracker of a day, especially when it didn't look like it at all in the morning!