Grisedale Pike

The summit of Grisedale Pike was busy with people. I started chatting with a Scottish couple. They were camping at Braithwaite and had come here with their two kids, who looked around six or seven. They'd done well to get up here. From this higher vantage point, I could see that the cloud inversion I'd seen around the Thirlmere area actually stretched right around across the Lakes, to the Scafell massif. We seemed to be in the only area that didn't have a cloud inversion.  Looking towards the sea, there was a distinct band of cloud that stretched along the horizon to the north. It looked like an approaching weather front, but I was sure that the weather forecasters said that this wasn't due to arrive until Wednesday. The family of four headed off westwards towards Hobcarton Crag, and I headed off northwards towards Hobcarton End.

Hobcarton End

This was the first time I'd taken this route off Grisedale Pike. There were a couple of steep sections with slippery loose stones, but generally the track was good. It offered tremendous views over to Hopegill Head and Ladyside Pike. There were also extensive views over the valley to Whinlatter and east to Skiddaw. How odd, after all these years of walking in the Lake District, that I'd never walked this path before. I had lunch on Hobcarton End and then started the descent down to Black Crag. The path offered great views westwards down the Whinlatter Valley. On the OS map the track terminates in the midst of a plantation before it reaches a forestry road and I'd had concerns that this bit of the route might be impenetrable. Apart from it being very boggy, I had no problems getting down to the forestry road. Some large machine had been up here at some point and created plenty of wide tracks. I recognised the forestry road as one that I'd been on yesterday (See Tour De Whinlatter).

Hospital Plantation

My route back to Braithwaite was via the forestry roads through the Hospital plantation. I'm not sure how it got that name; there doesn't appear to be any buildings, old or new, that resemble a hospital. The forestry roads contoured along the hill without me having to gain or lose much height. The roads were true to the OS map and so navigation wasn't a problem. I eventually re-joined the path I'd ascended this morning, up to Kinn Hill. I spotted a raptor flying over in the direction of Skiddaw. It was too far away to clearly identify. It was doing some interesting dives in a an un-buzzard like fashion. I wish I'd brought my long lens for my camera.

Braithwaite was a bit livelier than when I left it this morning. It was almost like a Summer's day. There were even people sitting at the picnic benches at the Coledale Inn. Not bad for mid-February. It had been an excellent walk. Hobcarton End had turned out to be a gem of a route.