Cumbria: Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April
We spent two nights, 21st and 22nd April, at the Borrowdale Gates hotel in Grange at the south end of Derwent Water.
We had stayed here previously in November 2015 - see Borrowdale
On 22nd we did an ascent of High Spy (~640m) from the hotel. We ascended via Nitting Haws, on a nice but somewhat strenuous path we had not previously done, to join the ridge between Maiden Moor and High Spy. Having then made the easy ascent to High Spy, we continued south via Dale Head Tarn and Yewcrag Quarries to the Honister Pass at Honister Hause. From there we descended the road to the East for a short way before joining the bridleway NNE back to Borrowdale and Grange. Distance ~11km, ascent ~590m
We had stayed here previously in November 2015 - see Borrowdale
On 22nd we did an ascent of High Spy (~640m) from the hotel. We ascended via Nitting Haws, on a nice but somewhat strenuous path we had not previously done, to join the ridge between Maiden Moor and High Spy. Having then made the easy ascent to High Spy, we continued south via Dale Head Tarn and Yewcrag Quarries to the Honister Pass at Honister Hause. From there we descended the road to the East for a short way before joining the bridleway NNE back to Borrowdale and Grange. Distance ~11km, ascent ~590m
On the mornings of both 22nd and 23rd I did an early morning walk from the hotel to the southern shore of Derwent Water. Alison accompanied me on the first occasion. Both mornings were beautifully still and clear. We made several nice bird observations: our first Willow Warblers, Grasshopper Warbler and Redstarts of the year; a party of 4 Red-breasted Merganser came very close; a Barn Owl hunting along the road came close and perched for while; 2 Great Northern Divers on Derwent Water