Wandope, Grasmoor, Crag Hill, Sail & Ard Crags - Monday 15 January 2024
Route
Rigg Beck Quarry - Rigg Beck - Addacomb Beck - Addacomb Hole - Wandope - Thirdgill Head Man - Wandope Moss - Grasmoor - Crag Hill - The Scar - Sail - Sail Pass - Ard Crags - Aikin Knott - Rigg Beck Quarry
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. The section from Addacomb Beck to the summit of Wandope is extremely steep. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground which was frozen underneath therefore I wore micro spikes from Addacomb Beck to Ard Crags.
Weather
Glorious. Light breezes and sunshine with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3510ft (1070m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge
Rigg Beck Quarry - Rigg Beck - Addacomb Beck - Addacomb Hole - Wandope - Thirdgill Head Man - Wandope Moss - Grasmoor - Crag Hill - The Scar - Sail - Sail Pass - Ard Crags - Aikin Knott - Rigg Beck Quarry
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. The section from Addacomb Beck to the summit of Wandope is extremely steep. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground which was frozen underneath therefore I wore micro spikes from Addacomb Beck to Ard Crags.
Weather
Glorious. Light breezes and sunshine with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3510ft (1070m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge
GPX File
|
|
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Route Map
Just Fudge and I out today on a route that had been on my radar for quite a while. From the summit of Ard Crags I had often looked over at the ascent to Wandope from Addacomb Beck and thought it looked steep but inviting. Today was the perfect day to do it - great visibility, sunshine plus a bit of snow on the ground to make it interesting.
From the parking area at Rigg Beck Quarry a path leaves the road to the right towards Buttermere
The path runs alongside the right hand side of Rigg Beck. The three distinctive crests of Ard Crags are to the left with Sail & Scar Crags over to the right.
A little further up the valley and Fudge stares at me to remind me that there is water down below and he would like to go in it
Continuing through the valley the path starts to rise and becomes thinner as height is gained. I was aiming for the col up ahead which is between Ard Crags & Sail.
Looking back down my route of ascent to Cat Bells & beyond
Looking across the valley to the familiar knoll that marks the summit of Causey Pike
As I headed towards Addacomb Beck I had a look back to the path I would be taking later to climb Ard Crags. Whilst the path is short, it is extremely steep, particularly at the end of a long day out. I put it to the back of my mind and concentrated on the job in hand which was another steep ascent - that of climbing up the side of Addacomb Hole to Wandope.
Not caring a jot about steep ascents, Fudge decided to arse about with a lump of snow and completely ignore my attempts to get going.
Click Play to view
Click Play to view
Looking down Sail Beck towards Buttermere with High Stile, Red Pike & Starling Dodd now in view
And here it is - the 1/2 a mile steep, steep ascent to Wandope via Addacomb Hole which can be seen above the path to the right
I noticed from below that the route to Wandope had a fair amount of snow on it. Also, with it being also quite steep I decided to don my micro spikes in order to give me more grip on the frozen terrain. Fudge meanwhile waits for the command to enter the freezing cold water of Addacomb Beck.
Looking back to my route over from the col below Ard Crags from near the crossing point over Addacomb Beck
There are no easy sections on this ascent - straight up the nose. On extremely steep ascents like these I like to break it down into short 100 yard bursts then rest before going again - it seems to work.
Looking back down the ascent which gives a good idea of the steepness
Looking across to the southern face of Crag Hill
Bloomin 'eck - it just seemed to go on forever. I prayed to myself that the knoll ahead was the top but secretly knew it wasn't.
By this time I was blowing for tugs big time, however..........................................
............... somebody was mocking my progress
At last a little bit of respite as the route turns to the right towards Addacomb Hole - however it wouldn't last long. Fudge meanwhile arses about in the snow ahead of me.
Looking across Addacomb Hole to the impressive wall of Crag Hill's south face
Not far from the top now as I look down my route of ascent to Ard Crags, Maiden Moor and the Helvellyn range
The headwall of Addacomb Hole
Sail across Addacomb Hole
Another impressive shot of the south face of Crag Hill
The Addacomb Hole headwall from near the top of the ridge
Crag Hill & Sail across Addacomb Hole
The final hundred or so yards to top of the ridge
A last look down my route of ascent and into Addacomb Hole - that was hard but incredibly rewarding
At last - the summit of Wandope
The summit of Wandope looking to Crag Hill & Sail
From Wandope I could have easily dropped down into the col between Crag Hill and Grasmoor to make my ascent of the latter. However, just along from Wandope is the lovely summit of Thirdgill Head Man which is always worth a visit.
Fudge having a bit of fun in the snow. It seems difficult to accept he is no longer with us to arse about in the snow - something he just loved doing.
Click Play to view - unfortunately the wind drowned out the talking
Click Play to view - unfortunately the wind drowned out the talking
The summit of Thirdgill Head Man looking to Grasmoor
The huge bulk of Grasmoor from just below Thirdgill Head Man
Walkers making their way down from Grasmoor as I make my way up. The fell in the distance is Grisedale Pike.
Looking back to Wandope from my ascent of Grasmoor. The path I am on is clear enough on the ground but is not marked on the OS Map. Below to the right is the path I took on leaving Thirdgill Head Man.
The col between Grasmoor and Crag Hill - this would be my ascent of the latter once I had dropped down from the former. The path heading left leads to Coledale Hause.
The eastern cairn on Grasmoor - the summit is about 1/2 a mile further along the ridge
Thirdgill Head Man, Whiteless Edge & Whiteless Pike with Third Gill over to the right
The stone wind shelter that marks the summit of Grasmoor
Fudge surveys the snowy seats in the wind shelter - it was a bit nippy to sit down here therefore we headed off
Looking across Gasgale Gill from Grasmoor to one of the finest ridge walks in Lakeland - that of Hopegill Head to Whiteside
From Grasmoor's summit I retraced my steps along the ridge to then drop down to the col. My path to the next summit of Crag Hill can be seen heading up from the col.
The path to Crag Hill from the col - flat for a bit then steepens all of a sudden
Looking back to my descent from Grasmoor
Wandope and the top of Addacomb Hole from the Crag Hill ascent
As is tradition, Fudge adorns the Trig Point on Crag Hill
With one of my two best friends on Crag Hill
Grisedale Pike from Crag Hill
Descending Crag Hill via The Scar to Sail - this is a lovely section of walking, particularly on a day like today
A walker heading over The Scar with Ard Crags over to the right and layers of fells beyond
I was glad of my spikes today as I descended into the col
Once down at the col there was a short and steep climb to reach Sail
Looking back along The Scar to my descent from Crag Hill
The summit of Sail
Scar Crags & Causey Pike over to the left with Ard Crags to the right as I start my descent to the Sail Pass
The zig zag path from Sail - my path from the pass to below Ard Crags can be seen heading away to the right
Almost down at the col now with the path to Scar Crags heading up the other side
From the col I headed right on a good path to reach the col below Ard Crags
The col and the onward ascent to Ard Crags - short but extremely steep
Fudge on the summit of Ard Crags with my earlier route up Wandope just right of centre
Heading along the ridge from Ard Crags to Aikin Knott
Causey Pike
Dropping down through the foliage to Aikin Knott
Looking back to Ard Crags with Scar Crags over to the right
At Grid Reference NY 21871 19885 the path splits and I took the left hand fork to cross Rigg Beck below to then join my outward route from the Car Park.