Hope to head for the Lakes for the first time for a long weekend 2nd week in September
Hope to base myself in Grasmere and walk W to Langdale/Bowfell area and N to Helvellyn area... My last trip was to Glyders/Carneddau - loved Tryfan even though it gave me one jelly legged moment! Ideally long full days or shorter walking days mixed in with scrambles..
Firstly does basing myself in Grasmere sound a good idea (I just want to leave the car at Grasmere) and secondly will September be a little quieter...??
On 29 Jul 2004 06:16:04 -0700, [email hidden] (Tom Forbes)
Quoted message said:
Dear All
Hope to head for the Lakes for the first time for a long weekend 2nd week in September
Hope to base myself in Grasmere and walk W to Langdale/Bowfell area and N to Helvellyn area... My last trip was to Glyders/Carneddau - loved Tryfan even though it gave me one jelly legged moment! Ideally long full days or shorter walking days mixed in with scrambles..
Firstly does basing myself in Grasmere sound a good idea (I just want to leave the car at Grasmere) and secondly will September be a little quieter...??
Any advice would be greatly received...
Many Thanks
Tom
Yes and yes. Grasmere's a great place to base yourself, and you'll very likely get quieter hills and fine walking weather in September.
I live in Kendal and avoid the lakes like the plague from May until October, you can't move for tourists.
It depends entirely on where you go. I've had many summer days in the Lakes with the hills virtually to myself.
It's quite possible in out of the way, less popular parts of the Lakes, but the most of it is usually pretty crowded (which includes most of the bits with the best scenery).
In summer it's best to start late, with the long days. If you start at about 4 in the afternoon you can still get a decent walk done before it gets dark, and it'll be a lot quieter.
I live in Kendal and avoid the lakes like the plague from May until October, you can't move for tourists. For more enjoyable walks try Kentmere and Longsleddale both are "blind" valleys and a lot of people don't like this. Parking in Kentmere is bad but if you go to the right just before the village you can usually find somewhere, Longsleddale is no problem. There are some fantastic walks in both valley some interlinking. "Paul Rooney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On 29 Jul 2004 06:16:04 -0700, [email hidden] (Tom Forbes)
Quoted message said:
Dear All
Hope to head for the Lakes for the first time for a long weekend 2nd week in September
Hope to base myself in Grasmere and walk W to Langdale/Bowfell area and N to Helvellyn area... My last trip was to Glyders/Carneddau - loved Tryfan even though it gave me one jelly legged moment! Ideally long full days or shorter walking days mixed in with scrambles..
Firstly does basing myself in Grasmere sound a good idea (I just want to leave the car at Grasmere) and secondly will September be a little quieter...??
Any advice would be greatly received...
Many Thanks
Tom
Yes and yes. Grasmere's a great place to base yourself, and you'll very likely get quieter hills and fine walking weather in September.
It's quite possible in out of the way, less popular parts of the Lakes, but the most of it is usually pretty crowded (which includes most of the bits with the best scenery).
That's not my experience. The crowds stick to the honeypots. I had many a day last summer on the fells, and not just back-of-beyond ones, when I scarcely met a soul. That includes weekends.
That's not my experience. The crowds stick to the honeypots. I had many a day last summer on the fells, and not just back-of-beyond ones, when I scarcely met a soul. That includes weekends.
I agree - I've spent days in Upper Eskdale in summer and hardly seen a soul - my inlaws, who were in Ambleside at the same time, later informed me that the place was heaving with tourists . . . . . Try Ennerdale if you want a little isolation - the place is a bugger to reach if you're heading there by car, but its worth it . . . .
That's not my experience. The crowds stick to the honeypots. I had many a day last summer on the fells, and not just back-of-beyond ones, when I scarcely met a soul. That includes weekends.
I agree - I've spent days in Upper Eskdale in summer and hardly seen a soul - my inlaws, who were in Ambleside at the same time, later informed me that the place was heaving with tourists . . . . . Try Ennerdale if you want a little isolation - the place is a bugger to reach if you're heading there by car, but its worth it . . . .
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
Paul Rooney <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
OK - I'll rise to that :-) I avoided Skiddaw for years (decades!) but then discovered that an ascent on a cold, crisp, early spring morning via Ullock Pike is a wonderful experience! That route even made it into Fellwalking with Wainwright - "18 of the Author's favourite Lakeland Walks".
I agree absolutely about the tourist route, though. I slogged up the first bit once - as part of a circular walk over Lonscale Fell and Burnt Horse Ridge - but wished I'd flanked Lonscale Fell and gone up the shoulder instead.
In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Rooney <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
The view of Skiddaw from Ashness Bridge is one of the classic Lakeland views.
Wainright considered Low Man one of the best viewpoints in the Lakes. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley
On 29 Jul 2004 22:24:13 GMT, Stuart Mann <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
Paul Rooney <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
OK - I'll rise to that :-) I avoided Skiddaw for years (decades!) but then discovered that an ascent on a cold, crisp, early spring morning via Ullock Pike is a wonderful experience! That route even made it into Fellwalking with Wainwright - "18 of the Author's favourite Lakeland Walks".
I agree absolutely about the tourist route, though. I slogged up the first bit once - as part of a circular walk over Lonscale Fell and Burnt Horse Ridge - but wished I'd flanked Lonscale Fell and gone up the shoulder instead.
Stuart
That's the way I intend to go - Ullock Pike - when I get around to it. I may save it for a cold, crisp winter morning!
My own experience of the Lakes (and I tend to be there about one weekend in three) is that the hills are surprisingly quiet in summer, because the crowds will tend to stay in the valleys, in the villages, and on the lakes. I find the hills are getting busier by September, as the crowds go home and more fellwalkers return. Ennerdale and Eskdale have been mentioned, and I'd commend them heartily; because it takes an extra 90 minutes to get to the west of the District, it's a lot quieter in my experience. Mark -- Mark Manning [email hidden]
That's not my experience. The crowds stick to the honeypots. I had many a day last summer on the fells, and not just back-of-beyond ones, when I scarcely met a soul. That includes weekends.
I agree - I've spent days in Upper Eskdale in summer and hardly seen a soul - my inlaws, who were in Ambleside at the same time, later informed me that the place was heaving with tourists . . . . . Try Ennerdale if you want a little isolation - the place is a bugger to reach if you're heading there by car, but its worth it . . . .
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
I did qualify it with "most". Perhaps I should've added "accessable", too. There's a pretty good view down Derwentwater and Borrowdale from Skiddaw.
I should have added too, thet the honeypots aren't the same as the most scenic/interesting bits. Skiddaw draws the crowds because it's over 3000 feet, but I've never heard anyone praise its scenery (though I've yet to climb it myself, so I'm not speaking first-hand).
Skiddaw has plenty of fine scenery.. Ullock Pike, Dash falls, the moors around Skiddaw House. The imposing peak as seen from Dumfriesshire.
For real praise of this cahrming hill - have a look at Ann Bowker's Site
