Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club
Walk & Event Reports
Sunday 2nd April 2017
A Walk
Coledale Horseshoe
8 Miles Grade 1sc
Leader: Roger Tringham
Report by Peter Flynn
Photos by Peter Flynn & Lauren Sarasini
There are days – they don’t occur too frequently – that are utterly perfect: warm, pretty well cloudless, a slight breeze. 11 is a good number for a walk – enough for everyone to chat to everyone else but not so many as to make the group unwieldy. A big welcome to Dave on his first walk with the club. He told me that he did know the fells and had often walked by himself, but decided that it might be better to try coming out with a group. I trust you enjoyed it sufficiently, Dave, to venture out again. First stop was Grisedale Pike where we came across a Panda Bear, loaned to the young lady carrying it from school to be photographed in as many different places as she could manage. We left Panda en route for Hopegill Head, past the always intimidating sight of Hobcarton Crags. Here we had lunch and Ian told us about the Alpine Catchfly which grows just below the summit, was a beautiful tall pink flower, and only survived there because it was a) cold and b) out of range of the sheep – and, presumably, the hordes that come to the summit, but do not venture onto the Ladyside Pike ridge. After this we headed for Eel Crag, where we split three ways – 3 heading down to the valley where they had fun crossing the Coledale Beck, a further 3 taking the footpath up to the summit and the rest of us tackling the very loose, but always interesting scramble up the scree and onto the gulley leading to the summit. Then it was downhill to Sail where we came across a delightful miniature of Stonehenge (cf. photos) and onto Braithwaite where we met up with the 3 who had taken the short cut. A great walk, many thanks to Roger for planning and leading it. Also, best of luck to Panda for the other sights he might see before term starts again.
Peter
