Route: Greenburn Round
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 14th May 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 9.8 miles
Weather: sunny, warm, very clear, clouded up towards the end
The Greenburn Round is an attractive circuit of four fells which in order of appearance on this walk are: Steel Fell (1,811 feet), Calf Crag (1,762 feet), Gibson Knott (1,379 feet) and last but not least Helm Crag (1,299 feet)
I parked in Grasmere and as my space was close to Butharlyp Howe, owned by the National Trust, walked through the lovely woodland until I joined the Easedale Road. Although it’s a road there’s little or no traffic and it’s a pleasure to walk along it. I could see Steel Fell ahead of me and at the end of the road I entered Green Burn to climb up the delightful grassy ridge to the top of the fell. The views back over Grasmere and beyond were fantastic and I couldn’t understand why the paths seemed to be so little used – I didn’t see anyone on this section
After reaching the summit of Steel Fell, there followed a squelchy section that took me across the head of Green Burn to the next fell – Calf Crag. The ridge line from there was much drier, with countless ups and downs as I made my way along to Gibson Knott and finally Helm Crag. The way down to Grasmere was down a recently improved path, with wonderful views ahead of me for much of the time
I arrived back in Grasmere hot but happy after a great day out on the fells
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 squirrel in the garden before I set off this morning
Almost as soon as I’d started the walk in Grasmere village I noticed a National Trust sign for Butharlyp Howe, so decided to go through the small wood
Looking towards Seat Sandal
The path took me to the Easedale Road, where I forked off to join the lane leading to Green Burn
Further along the lane the first fell of the day comes into view - Steel Fell on the left
The end of the lane, before entering onto the fellside
Steel Fell on a beautiful morning
Looking across to Helm Crag, the last fell on my itinerary, but there’s a long way to go before I’ll be up there
Further up the nose of Steel Fell
Looking back to Helm Crag
From near the top of Steel Fell, Thirlmere comes into view with Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance
Summit of Steel Fell looking towards Langdale and the Southern Fells
Windermere from Steel Fell
Wheatear
Greenburn Bottom, overlooked by the ridge leading to Helm Crag
Having crossed some soggy terrain, I’m now on drier land leading to Calf Crag ahead
Summit of Calf Crag, from where I follow the ridge to the left
Looking towards the Eastern Fells
Further along the ridge, on the way to Gibson Knott and Helm Crag
Another view of the ridge, with Grasmere beyond
Summit of Gibson Knott
Looking down into Easedale
Helm Crag, with its rocky crown known as ‘The Howitzer’ or ‘The Old Woman playing the Organ’
It’s the only lakeland fell that requires a rock climb (albeit a very short one) to get to the top
Grasmere comes into view on the descent from Helm Crag
Looking into Easedale
Back down to valley level I cross Easedale Beck via New Bridge
A short walk along the Easedale Road brings me back into Grasmere opposite Sam Read’s bookshop
