Lots to do in around and Keswick in a weekend, Latrigg, Derwent Water and Threlkeld

Biking round Latrigg

A quick spin up the old railway track and around the back of Latrigg. It was a beautiful Friday evening after my first full week of work at George Fisher, exploring trails and paths I’ve not been on before. Hardly a sole around, just a few sheep, and when I reached the summit there were two paragliders taking off and soaring around the skies above my head, brilliant!

Trip on Derwent Water

Saturday afternoon out with Zac, we took the Keswick launch along to Lodore Falls Hotel and walked back to Keswick along the shores of Derwent Water. A lovely warm summers day, with lots of people around and everyone enjoying the sunshine.  Some out on the water, it looked inviting, I stuck to the shores whilst Zac took many swims after sticks!

Cycle to Threlkeld for a cuppa

View-from-Threlkeld-Coffee-Shop

View from Threlkeld Coffee Shop

Sunday afternoon cycle with Zac up the old railway line to Threlkeld and a cuppa tea in the Threlkeld Coffee Shop, it has a great view!   I decided not to return the same route on the old railway line, instead I cycled through Threlkeld and up Blease Road and past Blencathra Activity Centre onto the footpath through the forrest and onto an old single track tarmac road which went along the front of Latrigg and came back into Keswick over the motorway and down past The Calvert Trust stables.  I crossed back over the River Greta and joined the last part of the old railway track again till I got home.  A nice ride exploring trails I haven’t been on before.

 

Sunday wander up Catbells

We parked at Nichol End Marina and walked from there through the forest to the foot of Catbells. Instead of following the crowds up the popular footpath we walked round the foot of Catbells and up the Western flank to the coll between Maiden Moor and Catbells. From here we walked up to Catbells summit for some amazing views out over Derwentwater to Keswick, Skiddaw and up the valley to Bassenthwaite Lake and beyond.  We took the busy and popular route down along the ridge.

 

Moving to Keswick

It’s happened, I’ve made the move to Keswick and I was greeted by some lovely summer weather (for the most part)!  It’s been a busy first week, taking in the sights and sounds of Keswick as a resident and sampling some of the coffee shops!

Night in a local bothy

A 15 minute drive from Keswick and a short 10 minute walk into the forrest and we were at an old foresters hut for the night.  No-one else around, just us the dog and thousands of Lakeland midges… We made a fire in the hearth and enjoyed the peace and quiet with a few beers, till the wind got up and the midges went away, then we could sit outside and take in the views through the trees to the hills, I mean the fells, I need to learn the lingo, not in Scotland anymore!

Bike round Thirlmere

On the evening of the hottest day of the year, a friend took me for a spin round Thirlmere in the cool of the evening, great ride and the first of many I will enjoy!

Walk up Latrigg

Another beautiful day, I took myself on the short walk up Latrigg behind Keswick to survey the land and take in the views of Derwent Water and Keswick.  Starting up Spooneygreen Lane, it took me an hour and a hour round trip, stopping for photos and a snack on the bench at the viewpoint. An easy walk and accessible by all, it is a nice way to see the Borrowdale Valley and surrounding fells and a tick in the Wainwright box!

Honister Via Ferrata

When I was last in Keswick for the Chris Walker Cycle Challenge,  I spotted the Via Ferrata at the top of Honister Pass,  so today we took a day trip back to Keswick,  from Edinburgh which is a 5/6 our round trip depending on traffic.

Via Ferrata’s are a series of metal cables, rungs, ladders and bridges used to ascend and descend.  They originate from The Alps and were used in World War One and Two to enable soldiers to carry munitions and supplies to their allies.  They were commercialised for public use in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy after the Wars.

We did the Via Ferrata at Honister Slate mine with Jason from Keswick Adventure Center.  It was great fun and in all, took us about 3 and a half hours.  The weather was not the best, it was warm, but it was raining and gusting winds of maybe 40mph, which made the bridge crossing quite interesting! The Via Ferrata took us through a couple of mining tunnel and finished with a cargo net, and a ten minute walk to the summit of Fleetwith Pike, and I’m told, that if we could have seen anything, it would have been beautiful views over the Lake District: Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater.

The bad weather and lack of views (and no photos) just means another trip will have to be made to enjoy it in (hopefully) better weather!

We dried out and warmed up by heading to The George Hotel for a great lunch!

Chris Walker Cycle Challenge 2013

Dad and me, Top of Whinlatter Pass

My Dad and I at the top of Whinlatter Pass

On June 29 I headed to Keswick with my Dad for the 2013 Chris Walker Cycle Challenge.  Although the event itself had been cancelled, there was a big group of people who gathered to ride the route in memory of Chris and raise funds for the Chris Walker Memorial Trust.

It was my frist ride out on my new Giant Avail road bike, it was a good ride which covered almost 43 miles of the Lakes, taking in Derwent Water, Borrowdale, the impressive and tough Honister Pass, Buttermere, Crumnock Water, Loweswater, Eaglesfield, Fangs Brow and Whinlatter Pass back to Keswick, in all 3,993ft of elevation.  You can see the exact route and details on my Strava profile.

We were staying with friends at their guest house in Threkeld called Blease Farm, it has amazing views down the valley.  We had a lovely meal on the Saturday night at the Horse and Farrier in Threkeld.

We headed to Bram Crag Quarry on Sunday morning for a bit of climbing and I did my first E1 5c, a route called Charcoal Burner, it was a big slab and you had to put your trust in your feet and finger tips!

A quick visit to Keswick in the afternoon and then a short 3 hours drive back up the road to Edinburgh.  It’s great the Lake District is so accessible from Edinburgh.

If you wish to donate to the Chris Walker Memorial Trust you can do so via their mydonate page.

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