Catbells in the rain

The first day of the trip wasn't very promising, with lots of rain forecast.  We thought a simple (and short) introduction was called for, so Catbells was the ideal target.  Despite Evie's protests the previous time she had done Catbells most of the climbing was in the carrier, so she couldn't claim that.  So this was a first for Evie and Poppy.  We drove the few miles from the house and parked on the 'on road' car park at the foot of the ridge.

Difficulty: 2

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (13), Grace (11), Evie (8), Poppy (5 1/2)

10:22, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (103)

11:40, 2.1km 1h18 342m, Catbells (451)

12:52, 4.6km 2h30 359m, End (98)

It was pretty wet and windy unless you had some shelter from the hill.  This was after we had made it to the top, and (much to Caroline's disgust) I had made a call to turn back.  The wind was from the south, so there was some shelter on this path, but onwards from Catbells would have hit the worst of it.

This was taken from the same place, looking back up the path to Caroline descending.  It was quite wet... 

Catbells and Castlerigg

We were staying for the week at Bank Ground, on the shores of Coniston.  It's famous for being Holly Howe in Swallows and Amazons, the summer home of the Swallows, although we didn't get to stay in the actual farmhouse...

We started the week with Catbells, a great kids favourite for being not too long or too high but yet really impressive views and some great scrambling to get to the top.

Difficulty: 2

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (7), Grace (5)

0.0km 0m, Start (121)

1.5km 317m, Catbells (451)

5.4km 421m, End (164)

No gps route, so the distance & height will be a bit off.  We took between 2 and 3 hours for the round trip.

Evie started off walking, but fairly quickly wanted to be carried to the top.

Isabelle and Grace were loving it, 

The view back down the ridge we had climbed. 

When you're this size, this counts as rock climbing! 

Stopping for a well deserved lunch break at the top.

Caroline posing with a less than impressed Evie in the carrier. 

We then drove across to Castlerigg, to have a look (and to get up close and personal) with the stones.  

Grace being very happy, back when she would be happy having her picture taken.

First ascent up Catbells

This was the first full day of our honeymoon, after driving up the previous day and having a small walk up Aria Force.  We parked at the start of the walk, and took the obvious route up, going over the top and back along the side of the fell next to Derwent Water.

Caroline, still enjoying the climbing up.

View from the top (ish), looking south east.

View from the top (ish), looking north towards Keswick and Skiddaw.