A Couple of Linear Walks

Most of our walks are circular, not least as that's what most people want to do, but occasionally we put up a linear walk from one place to another. Here's two. They're both long days, being five fell rated, but we think they're both cracking days out. You can park at the end point and use the local bus service to get you to the start so logistics are straightforward even with a single car.

A Journey from Buttermere to Keswick

This walk takes you from the lovely village of Buttermere, over the Wainwright fells of Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head, High Spy, Maiden Moor and, last but not least, Cat Bells. To walk these in a day is usually accomplished as the Newlands Horseshoe, but here we took a slightly different look at them.

Looking south from Robinson

Buttermere village sits between the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water, and hemmed in by the High Stile range to the south and the Dale Head range to the north. It's the sort of place you go to be amongst the fells even you don't climb them. The way up to Robinson from the village is steep and airy with the view behind to the village, and out westwards to the coast opening out with each step. Once reaching the first summit, with views constantly changing, you stay high for a long time until the descent of Catbells somewhat later in the day. Then it's just a short wander to Portinscale and across the fields to Keswick.

A journey from Dungeon Ghyll over the fells to Ambleside

This walk starts from the New Dungeon Ghyll, follow Dungeon Ghyll up towards its source amongst the Langdale Pikes. Visit Harrison Stickle and Thunacar Knott, and then joining the long south east spur from High Raise walk the length of the ridge all the way back to Ambleside.

Great Langdale from beside Dungeon Ghyll

Its purpose; to watch the changing scenery, from the pastures of the Langdale valley floor, up through rich green summer bracken to the rough and grey volcanic tuff of the Pikes. Then joining the gradually descending ridge of Blea Rigg you walk back through bog, heather, and more rock, into bracken lands again. Along the way if you feel like it there are a number of small Birkett tops you can visit, but these aren't obligatory. The steep climb over Loughrigg Fell comes as rather a shock after such a long gentle descent, but it's the termination of the ridge and has its own great views. On the other side you also descend easily into the heart of Ambleside via Rothay Park whilst encountering the least amount of tarmac road. So a rather fine journey.

Together we think these two are rather fine walks. So if you fancy something different, and you're up for the challenge next summer, then why not give one or both a go?

Tagged: walks

You can comment on this post in our forum.