Whinlatter Wainwrights

Having survived my Great North Swim on Saturday, paramount in choice of walk Sunday was not being caught up in the traffic from the swim.   A trip north, via the M6 to Whinlatter avoided the chaos.

Hobcarton Crag from Whinlatter

The begining was a bit of a battle.  Parking at Spout Force Bill’s book gave instructions which neither corresponded to map or tracks on the ground.  Which was ironic considering how plentiful they are in the forest.

Over Barf to Keswick

But keep going up and eventually trees are left behind and open moor is reached, keep going a bit higher and with a little brain power, map and compass  you can figure out where you are, it may even be where you intended to be.

From the top of Graystones

Thankfully it was.  Just above Darling How on the way to Brown How.  Confirmed by meeting other walkers going in the same direction.  The day then changed from a battle through woods and misplaced tracks to an easy roller coaster walk over the five Whinlatter Wainwrights.

North to the Solway from Graystones

Until, that is,  the final zig zag through Darling How Plantation, where though we managed to hear Spout Force we didn’t manage to see it.

the 360⁰ view was well worth floundering through the forest.  I was captivated by Hobcarton Crag and now seriously ‘need’ to hike up Grisdale Pike and along the ridge – anyone want to join me?

Rough route: details here