At last a clear sunny morning is forecast. I've been saving this, one of my favourite circuits, for just such a day.
There is a slight complication - today is the day of the famous Fred Whitton challenge. Thousands of bicycles will be clogging up the narrow Lake District roads for much of the morning. Yesterday I rang the ever-friendly staff at Honister Slate Mine who advised me to be out of the valley by 7:30 latest.
This is what finds us at Honister for 7am on this bitterly cold, sunny Sunday morning.
360° view from Green Gable
360° view from Great Gable
Of note:
This descent from Windy Gap is nothing but loose rocks. When I descended it with Indy, I slipped over twice. Today just once. I found the alternative route off Great Gable to the W to be worse. Another time I would seriously consider a retrace up Green Gable to join Moses Trod further North
Near Blackbeck Tarn, where Rex has to negotiate a group of people who have spread out all over the place to have their picnic. Loads of rustling noises!
Warnscale Beck
360° view from Fleetwith Pike
1) "Honister rambler" bus from Keswick to Honister
2) All day car parking, toilets and café at Honister Slate Mine [NY 22414 13561]
Honister, Green Gable, Windy Gap, Great Gable, Moses Trod, Hay Stacks peaks, Innnominate Tarn, Blackbeck Tarn, Dubs, Fleetwith Pike, Black Star
Distance 9.20 miles, Time 5.52 h, Total Ascent 3,553 ft
Wainwright Pictorial Guide: The Western Fells
