For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

We left home around 8:30 and pottered up through the lakes in no particular hurry as we were hoping that the sun would burn off the haze. Our walk started at Great Wood NT car park just outside Keswick on the Borrowdale road and took us up a very dry Cat Gill. There were plenty of stops on this section due to my huffing and puffing but I prefer this ascent rather than that by Rakefoot. Eventually the summit of Walla Crag was reached but views were not that great due to the haze. After a pleasant break on the summit we descended to Keswick via Rakefoot and Springs Road for Fish & Chips at the Keswickian. The return to Great Wood was via Friars Crag.

We left the car in the NT Great Wood car park and took the track towards Cat Gill.

A well trodden path which will also take you to Ashness Bridge.

A very dry looking Cat Gill from the bridge. Our path goes up the left hand side of the gill. If you cross the gill a path will take you to Ashness Bridge.

The path follows the gill for most of its way and is rather steep in places but perfectly safe. I prefer this route up as if used as a descent it sets my knees off.

As we gain some height Derwent Water ant the NW Fells start to appear.

Despite it being a lovely day it is very hazy and views are not that clear.

As the path reaches the top of Cat Gill it swings left and goes towards a wall. Cross the wall at a stile and follow the well trodden path towards the summit.

Looking E'wards towards the Helvellyn Dodds

Derwent Water and Catbells.

Across Keswick to the Skiddaw Fells

Blencathra......pity about the haze.

North Western Fells

As we made our way down towards Rakefoot the masses were arriving on the more popular ascent route from Keswick.

Having descended to Rakefoot we took the path down through Springs Wood towards Keswick.

There is a return from this fingerpost back to Great Wood but we carried on down through the woods on our way to Keswick.

We continued through the woods towards Kewick and then passed the Parish Church of Keswick St John

The town was quite busy but we managed to get a table in the Old Keswickian for a bite to eat.

After some lunch we walked down to the waterside to return to Great Wood.

Walla Crag

We must have passed this stone many times but I can't remember noticing it before.....no idea of its history though

And finally .....back to the car park

Next Walk:      26th April 2010 - South Cumbria - Levens Park & Hall

Last Walk:    22nd April 2010 - Lake District - Holme Fell from Low Tilberthwaite

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