Route: Whiteless Pike, Wandope, Hopegill Head and Whiteside
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 30th January 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.2 miles
Weather: Mostly sunny, snow on tops, freezing wind
Gilly dropped me off just outside Buttermere. The climb up Whiteless Breast started as soon as I’d passed behind Crag Houses, and before long I had to put on microspikes – the walk would have been quite dangerous without these
As I gained height the wind grew stronger and I had to layer up. It was already below freezing and according to the Mountain Weather Information Service the wind chill factor would be -15C. It certainly felt that way, and I needed to keep moving to retain body heat
Clouds were scudding across the sky quickly but there were plenty of sunny spells and the views from Whiteless Pike were lovely. I then made the easy ascent of Wandope and descended to the foot of Grasmoor, which was in cloud so I gave it a miss
I made quick progress to Coledale Hause, where I saw the first person I’d encountered so far. It was a slog up the slopes of Sand Hill to the summit of Hopegill Head, where there were a few other walkers taking photos, so I didn’t linger there and without ado set off along the wonderful ridge to Whiteside. This is one of my favourite miles in lakeland – the narrow ridge commands fabulous views all around – and it was looking dramatic in these conditions
I left Whiteside via the Dodd ridge and climbed down into Lorton valley and walked back home along the lane (for anyone else following this linear walk it would be a good idea to leave a car in the small car park at High Swinside, or finish at Lorton)
It was a wonderful walk in great winter conditions
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
The day before the walk, a red squirrel in the garden
Nuthatch
Next day, the start of the walk in Buttermere - I follow the path behind the cottages
Onwards and upwards
Looking back to Buttermere and High Stile
Looking back down the path
Mellbreak and Crummock Water
One man and his dog have been here before me - the footprints soon stopped and after that I was walking in virgin snow
Buttermere, High Stile and Red Pike
Rannerdale Knotts, with Mellbreak beyond. Time to put the microspikes on
Rannerdale, Crummock Water and Loweswater
The knobbly outline of Causey Pike in the distance
Shafts of sunlight on Haystacks
A short rocky section to negotiate
Summit of Rannerdale Knotts below
Taken from the summit of Whiteless Pike - Whiteless Edge ahead on the right
Crummock Water and Loweswater again
Heading along Whiteless Edge towards Wandope
The insignificant summit cairn of Wandope
I give this cornice a wide berth as I walk round the edge of Addacomb Hole
Walking towards Coledale Hause
The wonderful view along Coledale looking towards Skiddaw and Blencathra
Looking back down to Coledale Hause from the slopes of Sand Hill
Loweswater Fells
It clouds over briefly on Sand Hill
Whiteside
Summit of Hopegill Head
From the summit, looking along the ridge - here we go
Looking along Hope Gill towards Lorton and Cockermouth
Further along the ridge, Whiteside is ahead
Looking back along the ridge
The Dodd ridge - my way down into Lorton Vale
Thackthwaite and Fellbarrow
Lorton, Cockermouth, the Solway Firth and Criffel in Scotland
The end is in sight
Mellbreak
On the home straight
