Lake District Walks

Helm Crag & Calf Crag

Date: 12th January 2008
Distance: 8.3 miles
Ascent: 2049 feet
Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: NY339073

Walk Summary:
Some atmospheric views along the Helm Crag ridge on a misty winter's day in the Lake District.

Route Summary: Grasmere - Easedale Road - Helm Crag - Gibson Knott - Calf Crag - Far Easedale - Easedale Road - Grasmere

Pictures:

1. Tarn Crag

2. Codale Head

3. Mist over Dunmail Raise

4. Gibson Knott from Helm Crag

5. The top of Helm Crag

6. Looking back at Helm Crag

7. Seat Sandal

8. On the top of Gibson Knott

9. Ullscarf

10. Calf Crag

11. Mist at the head of Far Easedale

12. Looking back at Calf Crag

Walk Detail: In many ways this was a strange walk. The weather was the cause with lots of patches of mist developing from nothing in the valleys before creeping up the lower slopes of the fells. Added to this there was a lot of higher cloud with the occasional patches of blue sky and sunshine. All this added up to quite stunning views but also large periods where there was nothing to be seen.

At first I thought I was going to be just one of those days when I completed my mist shrouded steep climb up to the interesting summit rocks of Helm Crag to find very little to look at. The mist cleared though to give some amazing views over the Easedale and Dunmail Raise. The mist over Gibson Knott was also very atmospheric.

The ridge walk over Gibson Knott to Calf Crag was fairly easy on a good path though for much of it there was not much to see. Initially I had some problems identifying the top of Calf Crag and I ended up eating my lunch on what was clearly a lower part of the fell.

The return via Far Easedale was long but not unpleasant though having said that it was very wet in places. Due to the often poor visibility I didn't feel completely satisfied with this walk. Having said that I have seen very few sights as stunning as when the cloud cleared on Helm Crag.

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