Route: Grey Knotts and Brandreth
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 29th March 2014
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and David
Distance: 3.8 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
Weather: Some sunshine, windy on the tops and very hazy
We parked in the National Trust car park at the top of the Honister Pass, which gave us a leg up of over 1,000 feet. The Honister Slate Mine is based here and well worth a visit in its own right
The climb up to Grey Knotts started immediately. It was fairly steep with a few rocky sections, but quite straightforward
The half mile ridge walk across to Brandreth was a simple affair. The views from both tops were very hazy, so there was no point seeking out the place mentioned by Wainwright where ‘a stroll down by the west fence might well produce the most magnificent picture of the year’. Another time maybe…..
The views on the return route were similarly affected by the haze, but we all agreed that it had been an enjoyable walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrels in the garden before we set off this morning
and a pheasant adding colour to the border
At the top of the Honister Pass - there’s no difficulty finding the start of the walk
The path follows the line of the fence up the fellside
Looking across to Fleetwith Pike and the miners’ road
Gilly and David negotiate a rocky section
Onwards and upwards
Looking back down to Honister mine and the car park
Looking up to Grey Knotts
A view back to Dale Head
Glaramara
Green Gable and Great Gable from Grey Knotts
Dale Head from the summit of Grey Knotts
Winnie
Unnamed tarn near the top of Grey Knotts
The easy walk to Brandreth ahead, with Green Gable and Great Gable ahead
Summit of Brandreth with the two Gables in the background
Heading down in the direction of Ennerdale, with Pillar on the left and Haystacks ahead
Haystacks and the High Stile range
Walking back down to Honister in the direction of Borrowdale
Thanks to the volunteers from Fix the Fells for keeping the paths in good shape
Back to the start
Buttermere and Crummock Water
