Peak & Lake District Sojourn. Day 34.

Updated: Jul 20, 2021

Coledale Horseshoe, Keswick (4 Nuttalls and 2 Wainwrights).

Crag Hill 839m, Sail 773m, Scar Crags 672m, Causey Pike 637m (Nuttalls)

Outerside 568m and Barrow 455m (Wainwrights).

Note: Grisedale, which I did on this route, is a Nuttall too but previously completed. Adding in Hopegill Head, Sand Hill and Hobcarton Crag could make this an 8 Nuttall 8 Wainwright day if you have not done any of them before.

Summary

Well this was an epic day, not that long but it was a good height gain day. I had decided to do the classic Coledale Horshoe from Braithwaite near Keswick but cut out Hopegill Pike, Sand Hill and Hobcarton Crag which saved an hour but the hour was added back on by putting in a linear deviation down a spur to pick up Scar Crags and Causey Pike. I had done Hopegill and Hobcarton twice this week in anyway. It was a stunning day, the weather was perfect, nice and warm with a cooling breeze at the right altitude. This is a busy little horseshoe for a good reason, the views were absolutely awesome. It was a good day for my lists!

The path to Grisedale starts from the car park. A nice steep climb (500m) to Grisedale Pike and then it was a nice break in the shelter just below the summit with grand views. After it was a short drop down before getting on a goat track footpath that goes left and cuts out Hobcarton Crag, Hopegill Head and Sand Hill going across to Coledale Hause pass. There I took the good footpath around the back of Crag Hill (West) to get to the trig pointed top as it is much easier. There are great views from Crag Hill.

Now it was a nice undulating route East to knock off Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike. An excellent few kilometres with outstanding views all around. Then not long after starting the return leg there is a path that heads off down to High Moss at the base of Overside. After another break there I sucked in the short but steep ascent to Overside where you get excellent views of the whole horseshoe route you have just done. Then it was the last leg over to Stile End and down to the last Wainwright that is Barrow before dropping back down to Braithwaite to the finish. An excellent route and a brilliant day out.

Parking: Small free car park (5-6 vehicles, VW campervan size max) at start point. Path starts from the car park.

Route: Excellent paths and trails throughout. Pretty steep ascents overall but not bad at all. An excellent route with no navigation difficulties in good visibility. Follow my gpx trail for exact route on paths.

Route Statistics: A 16.7 kms, 1,260m height gain day done in 5hrs 30mins.