Seatoller via Honister Pass to Fleetwith Pike

After getting a bus along the Borrowdale valley as far as Seatoller, I then walked up the Honister Pass to reach the Honister slate mines before continuing the climb to the top of Fleetwith Pike. Then back down to Seatoller for the bus back to Keswick making a total walk of 7 miles. Total climb from Seatoller to the top of the pike was about 550 metres.

Fleetwith Pike is a fell which reaches a height of 648 metres (2,126 feet). The fell is a well-known feature of the area as it casts an imposing presence over Buttermere and the Honister Pass between Borrowdale and Buttermere. The view from the summit gives a fine prospect of the Buttermere valley which also takes in the other two lakes of Crummock Water and Loweswater. The fells of Pillar and Great Gable are close by and are usually well seen (but hidden behind cloud today).

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Walla Crag, Ashness Bridge

 a 7.5 mile hike taking me first to Castlerigg Stone Circle before climbing up to Walla Grag and then on to Ashness Bridge before the return back to Keswick.

The crag is the terminal cliff on a short ridge running north west from Bleaberry Fell, dropping about 400 ft from the plateau above. Below this are further steep slopes before the gradient slackens on the shore of Derwentwater. The face is heavily wooded — mainly with conifers — almost to the top. The trees continue down through Great Wood to the lake. 

Gowbarrow Fell, Ullswater, Lake District

 Some harsh winter sun and great views across Ullswater on this hike around Gowbarrow Fell, ending alongside Aira Beck and its various waterfalls.

The summit is the rocky Airy Crag, on which an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar has been built. This now bears a National Trust plaque, reflecting the ownership of the land. Views from here include the two Mell Fells, Blencathra and the Northern Fells, and the northern parts of the Helvellyn range including the Dodds.