Catstycam & Birkhouse Moor - Thursday 15 May 2014
Route
Glenridding - Grisedale Bridge - Hole in the Wall - Red Tarn - Catstycam - Red Tarn - Birkhouse Moor - Little Cove - Miresbeck - Glenridding
Parking
Plenty of parking in Glenridding
Mileage
8.8 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout. Steep descent in places down through Miresbeck to Glenridding
Weather
Overcast although visibility was generally good
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3125 ft (952m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Glenridding - Grisedale Bridge - Hole in the Wall - Red Tarn - Catstycam - Red Tarn - Birkhouse Moor - Little Cove - Miresbeck - Glenridding
Parking
Plenty of parking in Glenridding
Mileage
8.8 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout. Steep descent in places down through Miresbeck to Glenridding
Weather
Overcast although visibility was generally good
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3125 ft (952m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
Having just finished The Dales Way we were keen not to get too stiff therefore decided on a drive over the Kirkstone Pass to walk up Catstycam & Birkhouse Moor from Glenridding. We normally park in Patterdale but it was busy there today therefore drove a bit further and started from Glenridding. Despite the weather being overcast, the visibility was pretty good and throughout the walk Helvellyn was cloud free which is a rarity in itself. We took our time today as the walk up to the Hole in the Wall is a bit of a trudge but makes up for it with the developing scenery over the Grisedale valley. The path was busy with people going over Striding Edge and on to Helvellyn and on reaching the wall we were the only walkers going right to Catstycam rather than left to the Edge.
We then headed for Red Tarn which Fudge immediately decided to dive into. Once he had got his swim out of the way we made our way the short distance over to the path to head up to the Swirral Edge junction. From this point Swirral Edge did not look too difficult a transit but the conditions we had today were fairly benign - when the wind blows and there is ice and snow on the ground it is a different story. From the junction we had a gentle amble up the incline to the summit of Catstycam. Here there are fantastic views North East to Ullswater where this beautiful lake stretches away up towards Pooley Bridge, Keppel Cove and the breached dam wall plus North over to Raise and The Dodds. We stayed a while on the summit as nobody else was about and we had it to ourselves.
We then made our way back to the path junction and over towards the Hole in the Wall but then took the path sweeping away to the left which heads to the summit of Birkhouse Moor. From the summit there was another superb view down over Glenridding to Ullswater. We then made the steep, in places descent down Little Cove to Miresbeck and on to Glenridding. We had been looking forward to walking Catstycam and the route up and down did not disappoint.
We then headed for Red Tarn which Fudge immediately decided to dive into. Once he had got his swim out of the way we made our way the short distance over to the path to head up to the Swirral Edge junction. From this point Swirral Edge did not look too difficult a transit but the conditions we had today were fairly benign - when the wind blows and there is ice and snow on the ground it is a different story. From the junction we had a gentle amble up the incline to the summit of Catstycam. Here there are fantastic views North East to Ullswater where this beautiful lake stretches away up towards Pooley Bridge, Keppel Cove and the breached dam wall plus North over to Raise and The Dodds. We stayed a while on the summit as nobody else was about and we had it to ourselves.
We then made our way back to the path junction and over towards the Hole in the Wall but then took the path sweeping away to the left which heads to the summit of Birkhouse Moor. From the summit there was another superb view down over Glenridding to Ullswater. We then made the steep, in places descent down Little Cove to Miresbeck and on to Glenridding. We had been looking forward to walking Catstycam and the route up and down did not disappoint.
Just leaving Grisedale Bridge - it was busy here today
An aerial view of Wainwright's Barn in the Grisedale Valley - looks like they have some scaffolding up
Looking back down the path towards Patterdale with Place Fell in the centre
Helvellyn left and Catstycam from The Hole in the Wall
Fudge at The Hole in the Wall
Catstycam
Helvellyn & Red Tarn with Striding Edge left and Swirral Edge right
Looking down into Brown Cove with White Side centre and Raise to the right
Red Tarn and Striding Edge
The gentle incline to Catstycam
Summit of Catstycam with Ullswater behind
Raise and the unsightly zig zag path down to Keppel Cove
Helvellyn and Swirral Edge
Raise, Keppel Cove and the dam wall
White Side & Keppel Cove. In 1927 a fierce storm washed away part of the embankment releasing the waters of the now dry tarn. A great flood swept down the valley into Ullswater causing much damage to houses in Glenridding. The dam was then replaced with the one in the picture but this was breached in 1931 due to its poor construction - the breach can clearly be seen on the bottom right. They never bothered to repair it and all that remains of the tarn is a boggy marsh.
The Cairn at 2316ft on Birkhouse Moor with Helvellyn, Catstycam, Helvellyn Lower Man and White Side. The highest point on the fell lies a little way back to the South West
Ullswater and Glenridding Dodd from Birkhouse Moor
Glenridding and Ullswater from the descent to Miresbeck
Don't use small stones - use a big one!!
That's better - nothing like an overpriced pint of Diet Coke - view was good though!