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Hiking the District (circle ?).

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By Crys on 19/08/19 at 6:16pm

Hi, I'm a French hiker and I suscribed today because I need some help to plan a trip in what looks like a little gem in the UK. My girlfriend and I are planning to stay 2 weeks in next september in the Lake District and I'm looking for advices as we hope we will be able to do a long trail in the area. At first I was thinking about doing some modifications to the Cumbria Way, but the more I think about it, the more it seems that maybe a circle multi-day hike in the Lake district starting in Windermere or Ambleside would be great (and finishing somewhere at the same point). So I wanted to know if experiences people from there would suggest to do. We are experienced hikers so feel free to suggest some hard walks (and we are not afraid of rain as we are returning from hiking in New Zealand last year). And as last question : which maps would be great to buy and is there any mobile application I should use for that trip ? I wish to thank you all, everything I found on that website is very great and helpful See you !

By TallPaul on 19/08/19 at 7:13pm

I'm sure other people will have thoughts on where you could go but for maps this page is probably the place to start and for walking I think you can't really beat the OS 1:25,000 series although to keep the weight down the Harvey's 1:40,000 has its merits.

By Crys on 19/08/19 at 8:42pm

Thank you TallPaul for the answer. I was planning to buy maps unless someone convinces me to get an app. I forgot to mention that we ate bringing the tent with us and that we could camp in the wild if needed.

By TallPaul on 19/08/19 at 8:46pm

Batteries don't run out on paper maps ...

SheepFarmer likes this post

By Crys on 19/08/19 at 9:37pm

Can't be more true !

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By SheepFarmer on 20/08/19 at 8:17am

Or the weatherproof OS Active versions, plus if bought new OS maps have a scratch off code to download the map to your smart phone.

By TallPaul on 20/08/19 at 11:07am

We're not great fans of the OS Active maps - too bulky and don't fold well (oh for a return to the days of OS "cloth" maps, now those were robust) - but yes, the scratch off code thing is good. Just don't forget to download the map when you're on WiFi as otherwise it will chew up your mobile data.

By SheepFarmer on 20/08/19 at 1:08pm

I have the active maps, but they do tend to remain in my rucksack and I use a print out of my route on your waymaps & a GPS unit with maps on. I've found that no matter how you fold the paper version in a map case it still has to come out at times mid walk, although a print out stuffed into a pocket is liable to be lost when you then stuff & pull other things out. GPS units are also liable to damage when dropped, Kirk Fell won in that battle with mine last year. I also saw someone have their map blow away, thankfully they caught it some yards away. So the answer is that there is no one ideal solution & you're better off with a belt & braces approach.

By Lancashire Lad on 20/08/19 at 1:31pm (last edited 20/08/19 at 1:34pm)

Hi,

I wholeheartedly agree with the "belts and braces approach" when it comes to navigation aids!
For extended walking tours within the "main" area of the Lake District, and certainly for backup mapping purposes, I'd still recommend the "Walkers Map Central Lake District - AA Leisure Maps" as the best (paper mapping) option.
It is effectively an AA "rebranded" version of Ordnance Survey mapping at 1:25000 scale. (The mapping is, in all respects, absolutely identical to that on the OS 1:25K Explorer maps).
Where it scores over the OS maps is that the whole of central Lakeland is included on the one map, where it takes four of the OS 25K maps to cover the same area.
(I'm not sure if revisions more recent than 2016 are available, but, (especially amongst the fells), paths and terrain won't have noticeably changed since 2016.
I originally posted here, giving more details of that map and the area it covers: -
https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=507

Regards,
Mike

By Crys on 21/08/19 at 8:28am

Now that the trip seems to be defined, I'm looking more closely at the maps I will buy to take with me, but unfortunately, I can't choose between the official OS ones and the Harvey ones, and the last one Mike presented. In regards of what I planned, what would be your choice ?

By Crys on 20/08/19 at 3:03pm (last edited 20/08/19 at 8:39pm)

Thank you everyone about that maps stories, I will look at it closely. As itinerary, I did a a first shot (the perfect one but you know, trips are rarely going as expected) on you GPS mapping tool. So I did a GPX file you can find there (EDIT : it is now two posts later). Let's have some point of view of yours on it.

By Lancashire Lad on 20/08/19 at 5:20pm (last edited 20/08/19 at 5:25pm)

Hi,

Your proposed route is certainly going to take in most of the Lake District’s well known fells.
I hope that you have good weather, so that you can make the most of the many superb views to be had from those fells!

Obviously, you may have had specific reasons for choosing that particular route, so alternatives might not fit in with what you expect to see and where you might be planning on camping etc. etc.

However, a couple of suggestions I would make are: -
From Bow Fell, rather than descending into Moasdale, carry on over Shelter Crags, Long Top (Crinkle Crags) and Cold Pike, then dropping to the Three Shire Stone at top of Wrynose Pass, and then up Wet Side Edge to Great Carrs. (From where you can pick up your original intentions of Grey Friar and the Coniston Fells).
Crinkle Crags area is a favourite of mine, with spectacular views across to the Scafells and Langdale Pikes etc. etc.

Also, (I think you would kick yourself afterwards if you did not do them), would be the Langdale Pikes.
Your route currently misses them out entirely, and in my humble opinion, the Langdale Pikes are some of the best fells in the Lake District!

Done from New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, and walking up Stickle Ghyll to Pavey Ark (either via North Rake, or possibly via Jack’s Rake if you are adept at scrambling), then across to Harrison Stickle, and then on to Pike O’Stickle.

Whichever way round you manage to fit them in, you won’t regret it. The Great Langdale area is a beautiful place and the Langdale Pikes, on a good weather day, just can’t be beaten!

PS. Might also be worth a look at some of the Walk Reports that some of us have posted here on WalkLakes. Many of the reports are quite detailed and have some good photos taken from viewpoints along the way.

Best of luck with your trip.
Regards, Mike.

By Crys on 20/08/19 at 8:38pm

Hey Mike, thanks for that advice, I looked at some pictures (not too much, I don't want to be spoiled !), and add the suggestions you made. In fact it won't do so much miles more and looked awesome. So the new GPX file is nos attached for any suggestion. And I will do a back review as I come back after the trip

By SheepFarmer on 21/08/19 at 1:19pm (last edited 21/08/19 at 4:52pm)

Crys,

Since Dale Head is a place to go for the views & Ullscarf one to avoid as it’s wet Wainwright says of it “after rain wear thigh length gumboots” & having been there it is a rise in the midst of a plateau of wetness, so here is my alternative for the Honister to Glaramara section, but if you’re going to do it then detour to include Eagle Crag & maybe Sergeant's Crag from Greenup Gill.

I was thinking of this before your comment about no more suggestions, but posted anyway for anyone else intrested & I'm after the fine weather this Sept as well.

By Crys on 22/08/19 at 10:28am

I wasn't taking any suggestions, everything is still good to take. I've never been here before so some help of people that walked in the District is very welcome !

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