Grasmoor from Lanthwaite Green & Whiteside Ridge

 

Route follows the left hand side of Grasmoor's face (right)

 

Truly wonderful route up the left hand corner of the face - one of AAW's best, but little known and all the better for it & OK I'm biased cos it's in Loweswater. Best to start from Lanthwaite woods and walk up thru them accompanied by red squirrels (or deer if you're early or lucky enough) as you come up to Lanthwaite green head for a narrow pink scree - multiple paths to the right of it.

 

Arete scramble leading to views of summit & final ridge 

 

At the top of the scree (loose & eroded) turn right up a short rake to a platform then up a series of small crags (fairly conspicuous path these days although not so 20 years ago, hardest section is a choice of a gulley or an arete depending on weather and then simply follow the obvious route to the top of the face - glorious views all round.


Crummock Water Loweswater lakes from the top of Grasmoor face

Winter can occasionally provide some extra excitement

Short tramp from there to the summit with large shelter & widening views down the Buttermere valley including Haystacks & the High Stile range to Great Gable & the Scafell range.

 

Summit view, Whiteless Pike in foreground, Scafell range in distance

 

Keep going in the same direction to the valley between Grasmoor & Eel Crag (Crag Hill on OS maps)and down to Coledale Hause. There are 2 options - the well worn path on the southern side of the (suprisingly flat) summit plateau or a more spectacular less obvious path to the northern side which skirts above Dove Crags.

 

 Path down to Coledale Hause with unusual feature

 

The path has recently been restored, for a while a digger was somewhat incongruously in permanent residence up there, but they have done a fantastic job.  

 

Skiddaw from Coldale Hause

 

Descent down Gasgale Gill back to Lanthwaite is a wonderful little walk alongside the Lisa beck, a hidden valley that requires a little scrambling here & there, but unusually it's easier to go down than up, or maybe I just know it too well.

 

An alternative is to go up from Coledale Hause onto Sand Hill & Hopegill Head

 

Walking up to Sand Hill from Coledale Hause

 

Hopegill Head - ridge to Whiteside to right, Gasgale Gill to the left & Crummock Water in the distance

 & fine ridge walk to Whiteside if a slightly longer walk required, and if you're really lucky you might see a Brocken Spectre or two or interesting cloud on the way.

Brocken Spectre -  25th December 2007

Cloud forming on Whiteside ridge

And there is a good test of knee ligaments and cartilage on the way down the corner of Whiteside. 

Start of descent down Whiteside

Especially when it's frozen!

Walking out of Gasgale Gill at the foot of Whiteside, Grasmoor in the background - the ascent follows the ridge on the right

Other possible extensions include Eel Crag, Sail, Grisedale Pike, Whiteless Pike. The main weakness of the walk is the lack of pub at the bottom - although the Kirkstile not far away.