 Hi folks i'll be in the lake district this september to do the Great North Swim in lake windermere. its on the Saturday. I'm staying in windermere town centre too. i've a full free day and I want to do some walking on the Sunday. I really just wanted some ideas on what to. I leave on the Monday night but most of this day will be travelling and I wont have time to do any mountains. My plan was to do Scafell pike. Is there a tourist route up and down? easy? timescales? any ideas and links to routes etc all welcome  thanks
|
 |
 Driving or bus/train? Depends a bit on your tolerance for travel/level of fixation on Scafell pike really You can get buses from Windermere to New Dungeon Gyhll and then do Scafell from there but you have to change in Ambleside so could be a pain depending how well they coordinate.
Travelwise it'd be easier - and still very worthwhile - to do a local walks round Windermere or maybe from Ambleside. Ambleside is easy/quick by bus from Windermere. Fairfield/Kentmere horseshoes perhaps. Grasmere also has a pretty good direct bus connection.
(the kentmere one going from Staveley which is on the rail line, Fairfield from Ambleside.). Or if you like long routes from one point to another you could walk through to Keswick from Grasmere in various ways then get a bus back to Windermere (something like 30k depending what you do.).
|
|
sorry forgot, i'll be in motor vehicle  yeah just looking for something fairly straightforward. dont mind if i need a bit of effort as long as its not technical. if i could bag a peak it would be something else to brag about when i get home i suppose  
|
|
 Helvellyn via Swirral & Striding Edge? Blencathra via Sharp Edge? Possibly the best routes in the Lakes IMO.
|
|
 Helvellyn via Swirral & Striding Edge? Blencathra via Sharp Edge? Possibly the best routes in the Lakes IMO. Yes maybe the best routes in the lakes, but if Cruiser is looking for a 'tourist' route then Striding Edge or Sharp Edge hardley fit the bill 
I'd go for Scafell Pike, head for Wasedale Head, it's at the end of Wast Water, a remote spot, but probably the easiest route up Scafell Pike. The path is straight forward but a little tough, however there will be plenty of walkers around there to help out if you do get little lost. You cross a stream / river if it's been raining , then when you get a bit further up the path separates. Take the left path, it's longer but a fair bit easier. The path to the right gets very steep and tricky, make sure on the way down you don't end up taking the wrong path again..... Sorry for the very basic path advice......
|
|
 Striding Edge looks like a tourist route most weekends in summer
|
|
 Fairfield Horseshoe is a good one, hard to get lost too. If you're feeling fit, you could take in Cofa Pike and St. Sunday crag before the 'return' leg.
|
|
The Fairfield Horseshoe is technically easy --no complicated route finding or scrambling -- you bag a good few tops and it's not far to drive from Windermere. And it's a good walk.
|
|
Haystacks with around of Buttermere.Very nice. Fairfield and st sundays crag is good. To be honest there is loads of very good walking in the lakes.
|
|
 Have you not considered the Pencil Museum in Keswick?
|
|
 Pencil Museum? Glyn The Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum is the way to go! and it's situated in a small disused tip! Even better do both!
|
|
...Or, the Lakeland Sheep and Wool centre place is good, if you like sheep. I found it fascinating. 
|
|
We went to the Pencil Museum on the first day of our honeymoon- now that's sad! (actually, the Pencil Museum is splendid in my opinion) I second the Fairfield Horseshoe if its a nice day. Alternately, again if you want to stay local, Red Screes is a good walk (from Ambleside- you walk a little way up The Struggle and then turn off on a footpath to the left). You can walk back down a bridleway that runs parallel to The Struggle on the other side, or from Red Screes nip over to Middle Dodd and drop back to Ambleside via Scandale Pass.
|
|
 Mick W. - I'm sorry to the bearer of bad news, but the Sheep and Wool Centre is no more. It's now the Shepherds Hotel. The last sheep show was last October and the area where they did the shows is now bedrooms, or soon will be if they aren't already. As for days out, well if you're staying in Windermere then it's a very long drive around to Wasdale to do Scafell Pike from that side. It also means that you have to go over Hardnott and Wynose Passes, twice!!! Not a road for the faint hearted. I agree with others that the Fairfield Horseshoe would be the best to do. However, I disagree about the "it's hard to get lost on it" statement because a lot of people do end up going down Hart Crag towards Patterdale, instead of continuing around to Dove Crag. Have a look at Andrew Leaney's website for ideas, routes, timing, etc. of other walks in the Lakes www.leaney.org Lorraine
|
| Edited: 28/03/10 17:40 |
