Guided Walks - a few little gems!

Zoe on Lingmell with Wastwater beyond - our descent of Scafell Pike

Over the past week I’ve had the pleasure of leading guided walks on some of the finest mountains in the Lake District.

First was a last-minute booking from Zoe who was looking to walk up Scafell Pike.  We had planned to go from Langdale but the weather forecast was showing heavy rain later in the day so we opted to walk the shorter route from Wasdale, walking up the main tourist path to the summit then back down via the quiet grassy shoulder on Lingmell.

Haystacks summit

Two days later I met Zoe again and tok her with her mother Celia, brother Alex and sister Anna up Haystacks for some  memory time of the father.  We walked from Honister Hause so as to have the easiest ascent of the mountain.  Haystacks was Wainwrights favourite fell and this lovely route starts up the old quarry incline which then passes through the old Dubs quarry before reaching the beautiful Blackbeck Tarn and then onto the equally beautiful Inominate Tarn.  The views are far reaching – to Looking Stead, Pillar and Pillar Rock, Green and Great Gable, High Stile and down into the valleys of Buttermere and Crummuck Water.  A super half day walk!

View on descent from Helvellyn over Brown Cove with Thirlmere below.

After Scafell Pike, Helvellyn is probably the next most popular mountain to walk up.  However, the vast majority of people walk from the Patterdale side taking in Striding and Swirral edges.  My client Mickey who had only recently picked up fell-walking again after many years off, decided he’d prefer a less rocky and quieter ascent, so we took the path up from Swirls at the head of Thirlmere.  It was a pretty windy day and by the time we reached the summit we were fighting to stay upright and the cloud covered the summit as we arrived so no views of Striding Edge! After an early lunch stop we started on the return route via Lower Man, then over Whiteside and Raise - the views got better as the sun appeared!  We had planned on descending Sticks Pass but the next summit looked very welcoming so we decided to add in an Stybarrow Dodd to the day – then back to Sticks Pass to the valley. 

So, some fantastic walking over three great Lakeland mountains, or fells if you prefer, over three days with some lovely people.
Thanks for your company Zoe, Celia, Alex, Anna and Mickey.

Kate