Thursday, September 8, 2011

Oak Bank Hotel Grasmere

Grasmere

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Fungi on moss covered trunk

Typical path - stone path doubling as a stream

Stone walls abound

Holly

Views up Easdale Valley where we had been walking

Les, Genni and Andy on Easdale Valley

Far Easdale valley walk

From the top we descended most of the time through boggy ground or along paths of running water that we would call streams. We stopped by this waterfall for lunch and yes it was still raining.

The ascent if Stonethwaite Beck

We began e walk with a gentle ascent out if the valley. This turned into a steeper and steeper ascent and by the end we were scrambling over rocks with water running down the mountain under our feet. We reached the highest point, Lining Crag which was as high as the mountains in this picture. The rain was unrelenting and the wind at the summit cold and strong. Next we walked across the boggy saddle.

Goat at Stonethwaite Farm

A crazy looking Cumbrian sheep - no it doesn't have a coat on

Day 4 - Stonethwaite to Grasmere, 13.5km, 5.5 hours

This is Stonethwaite Farm, and yes it is raining. We headed off after our cooked breakfast across the nearby stream and headed up the mountain. The night before we had the most magnificent meal in the nearby Langstrath Inn.