Walk 2645r - Honister Fells

	Walk 2645r - Honister repeats - 1st April 2022
	Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 7 The Western Fells and Book 6 The Western Fells
	Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head (all 2nd time)		Distance	9.2 miles
			Time	5 hrs
			Lowest Point	700 ft
			Highest Point	1775 ft
			Total Ascent	2156 ft
	Walk rating - moderate, really two moderate walks, one after the other.

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to walk start

///inner.highs.sinkhole


	11.40 It was so handy to be staying in Rosthwaite, just 2 miles from Honister.


	11.43 Panorama 655 Looking across at the old mine workings on the side of Dale Head.


	11.53 The main path from Honister.


	12.02 Nice framing guys, well done.


	12.05 Panorama 656 At the junction where the path splits for Haystacks or towards Great Gable.


	12.29 This time I went up the way we came down in the rain last time, by turning off the Brandreth path after 10 minutes or so and heading straight up the fell.


	12.40 The path was unclear but just keep heading upwards..


	12.50 Panorama 657 I first visited the east summit which had amazing views today.


	12.50 Panorama 658 The real summit is visible in front of Pillar.


	12.51 Skiddaw behind Dale Head


	12.52 The real summit in front of Pillar.


	12.52 Base Brown


	13.01 Between the summits.


	13.07 Panorama 659 Grey Knotts summit. Excellent views of the snowy Scafell range. Last time we were here we couldn't even see Brandreth.


		The view is good on all sides with a skyline of giants to the south. The finest prospect lies north-west where the Buttermere district, seen over a foreground of rock, is of superlative beauty.
		Alfred Wainwright - The Western Fells, Grey Knotts.


	13.08 Panorama 660 On the actual summit I could confirm that we had been in the right place last time.


	13.14 The ground was cold but the air was very still and it felt pleasant all day.


	13.27 Green Gable had the best snow cover I could see anywhere.


	13.37 Panorama 661 From the eastern side of Brandreth.


	13.49 Descending Brandreth, back on the Gable path.


	13.51 Ennerdale from Brandreth.


	13.53 Buttermere valley from Brandreth.


	13.55 Looking back at the stile on Brandreth.


	13.57 Even colder on the ground on the sheltered side.


	13.58 All of the trickles and streams were at least partly frozen.


	13.59


	14.27 Back near the Haystacks path and making the decision to go for Fleetwith Pike.


	14.32 Kirk Fell


	14.34 Honister mine waste pile.


	14.54 After a snack stop I pressed on up Fleetwith Pike. Looking back at Grey Knotts.


	14.59 Kirk Fell again and I'm trying to spot the gully we walked (and crawled) up. I think it is that snowy section in the centre of the picture.


	15.11 Approaching the summit of Fleetwith Pike with High Crag and High Stile behind.


	15.12 The positioning of shadow on the end of Hindscarth gives a strange effect.


	12.03 Panorama 662 On the summit of Fleetwith Pike in good visibility at last.


		Most visitors to the cairn will consider the prospect along Buttermere valley the best thing in view, and this is certainly remarkably fine, and exclusive to Fleetwith Pike. Yet predominantly, mountains occupy the scene. The Grasmoor fells, the High Stile and Dale Head groups, Great Gable and Pillar are all seen at close range, the latter two appearing as giants.
		Alfred Wainwright - The Western Fells, Fleetwith Pike.


	12.03 Panorama 663 Looking south west over Haystacks.


	15.15 Buttermere, Crummock Water, a tiny piece of Loweswater and another part of Crummock Water.


	15.17 The bothy is just visible by the path on the side of Haystacks.


	15.20 Whin Rigg and Illgill Head over Black Sail Pass.


	15.20 Haystacks and Pillar.


	15.22 Causey Pike.


	15.26 The path goes very close to the edge on the way to Black Star.


	15.41 Panorama 664 Black Star looking back at Fleetwith Pike.


	15.42 Black Star and Dale Head.


	15.56 Panorama 665 Back on the quarry road.


	15.57


	16.05 I found the quarry road much less pleasant to walk on than the path I had taken up.


	16.10 Honister Slate Mine opened by The Duke of Edinburgh on 4th August 2001.


	16.38 I just managed to grab a coffee and a slice of cake before the cafe shut and then began up the Dale Head path.


	17.32 Panorama 666 A darkened sky and white tops made a pretty picture of the Helvellyn range.


	17.58 A nicely lit Scafell group.


	18.02 Panorama 667 Dale Head summit looking down Newlands Valley.


	18.04 Panorama 668 Dale Head summit looking towards the Scafells.


	18.04 The snow speckled Helvellyn range looked great in the evening light.


	18.49 A glimpse down the pass to Buttermere as I descended.


	18.54 By the time I got back to Honister it was nearly empty and was glad it was only a 2 mile drive back to Rosthwaite.