Walla Crag and Derwent

Walla Crag is the smallest Wainwright and and having done twelve miles of the Limestone Link the previous day, this easy walk up a hill, by a lake, was a soft option than tackling the snowy tops. 

From the car park at Great Wood, off the Borrowdale road, head south to that most photogenic of bridges, Ashness.   Add your photo to the millions of others pasted on every thing from tablemats to websites.  And now mine!  For a shorter, steeper route turn left and north and head up Cat Gill, but your camera will appreciate the detour.

Back on track, and heading up towards Walla Crag, Derwent Water, Cat Bells and surrounding hills faded in and out of the cloud with shafts of sunlight favouring the odd peak or two.

The waterfall at the top of Cat Gill was too diminutive to have gouged the impressive  valley it now tumbles down.

The clouds drifted away long enough to see the Isles of Derwent, Keswick and Basenthwaite .

Of course the disadvantage of a more accessible Wainwright is that you are hardly likely to be alone for long and may have fight for your view point.

Though Rosie and I did manage to grab a spot first.

So then for the downhill section.    Follow a wide, grassy route by a wall, progress observed by the Skidaw and Bencathra ranges, mist allowing.   Then a Sunday afternoon stroll along Derwent shore back to the car park, with one stop.   There was an unusual choral society meeting, of frogs. (Or toads – happy to be corrected).  In a small pond, strategically placed to catch the sunshine, hundreds of frogs were singing their pleasure.  It was fascinating.  The noise resembled the rainforest rather than the Lake District, yes we do have the rain.

Many frog photos followed and a link to youtube here, though they don’t sound quite so good as the live performance when they really equal Paul McCartney.  Or may be they were his accompanists?

More pictures here.  Route in book here.

Map

Wainwrights book