MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Hi all,
A friend and I were planning on walking the West Highland Way over 5 days starting tomorrow.
However, we have been piss poor in planning it and have found ourselves expecting to be in the restricted wild camping areas (Loch Lomond) on both night 1 and night 2 with no availability for permits and no availability at local campsites.
Accordingly, we have decided to abandon. I'd still like to get away and was wondering if anyone can recommend any circular 3-day routes in the lakes (max 20 mile days but going for the craic, not to rack up the miles).
Help me Obi-Walk-anobe, you're our only hope.
What's your preferred starting point? Have you got somewhere to leave your car, or are you public transporting it?
20 miles is actually quite a lot in the Lakes! How many hours a day?
Drive to start point anywhere in the Lakes, provided there is somewhere to dump the car for a few days (paid for or otherwise). Happy to drive part and public transport part but prefer not to public transport the whole way from Manchester.
WHW was circa 20 miles per day but less elevation gain than we'd likely end up doing in the lakes. Like I said, 20 miles is max I could manage. Happy to do half that. I'm just not familiar enough with the lakes so thought this might be a good place to start.
You could start at Penrith, walk/get bus to Pooley Bridge, follow path south of Ullswater then either get on the Highstreet ridge and follow it to Troutbeck or go up Helvellyn from Glenridding and then over Fairfield down to Grasmere. Both have few tarns as wild camping spots. Either way you'd walk to Windermere to finish and get train back to Penrith. Weather not looking great this weekend so you may prefer a low level route.
Starting tomorrow? lol christ better get the maps out. I'm at work so haven't got the time to help you properly but I envy your predicament. I'd probably start at the top of Keswick, Braithwaite way and walk over whiteless Pike to Buttermere day one. Camp on rannerdale perhaps a bit higher up away from the road. Day 2 walk over to ennerdale either via any number of routes, you could get proper high here, camp somewhere along the river that feeds ennerdale.
Day 3... You need to get back to somewhere like Seatollor where you could catch the bus back to Keswick or get a taxi. So perhaps yomp over to Wasdale head then to Seatollor but that might be too much. That's just off the top of my head sorry I couldn't be more help.
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Keswick CA12 5RA
https://goo.gl/maps/q3X3yoMCtuqrrpAJ8
Coming from the South, then drive up and leave the car somewhere near Grasmere (get there early!) Not sure about leaving a car for a couple of days, think there are some spaces at the road running up to Loughrigg Terrace if you get there soon enough.
Up the ridge to Fairfield then all the way along past Helvellyn and down to St John's in the Vale, pub at Thirlspot. Camp somewhere on High Rigg. Keswick for Breakfast, then Catbells ridge up past Dale Head and over towards Buttermere. Pub in Buttermere. Camp somewhere up the back of Haystacks.
Then Great Gable, Esk Pike, Bowfell, then down Langdale to Elterwater and Grasmere.
All sorts of variations are possible. I'm assuming 'leave no trace' wild camping, not setting up until dark and down at dawn.
we did similar way back when I was a young'un. Got the bus to ambleside, walked to Elterwater Youth Hostel, stayed the night, walked to keswick, stayed in the youth hostel. Cant remember how I got back to Ambleside which is of limited help but sure there's a bus....
Park here for free indefinitely
Keswick CA12 5RA
https://goo.gl/maps/q3X3yoMCtuqrrpAJ8/blockquote >Not sure if they're enforced, but there's "No Overnight Parking" signs there now. I think it's more to deter the campervans, but still. Shame as it was a useful spot. Someone more local may be able to provide more info.
Just go up there and wing it. What's the worst that could happen, just don't go up high late on or in bad weather.
Have a great time and we'd love to hear how you get on so updates please with pics if poss 🙏😄
Just a big heads up check the weather warnings for wind on higher ground, Helvellyn Skiddaw both clocking 70-90 mph
Op..give us an update please, I'm invested now 😆
It's certainly a bit wild out there this morning. OP might find some space appearing at Lake District campsites as all the festival tents disappear in tatters up the valley.
I’m doing the same thing next week with daughter no.1. Wanted to go on public transport but was ridiculously expensive, so I’ll leave the car somewhere in Keswick and head up past Castlerigg and along the High Seat ridge to Langdale, then head west to the Gables, over to Buttermere then across the Derwent Fells back to Keswick.
We’re taking 5 days worth of food, but if the weather’s against us can drop down into a valley and catch the bus back to Keswick if we need to bail. With food and a water filter you can stay up on the tops for a few days no problem.
Afternoon all,
Thanks for your tips!
MY OS Map collection has dictated where we're off as I happen to have the right map(s) for Grasmere/Keswick/Wasdale
I've ended up having to go into work so tomorrow is now the intended day of departure. Early arrival at Grasmere, make our way to Helvellyn, Thrilmere, Keswick, Dale Head, perhaps Wasdale Head (without summitting Great Gable or Scafell - we like the pub there) then back to Grasmere.
Camping spots likely to be somewhere around the north end of Thirlmere, Dale Head Tarn and Angle Tarn.
Just go up there and wing it.
Absolutely. Make an adventure of it and maybe navigate by OS maps alone?!
The decisions, bants and mistakes could produce more memories than something over planned?
How you getting on Op?