Ennerdale to Rosthwaite to Grasmere - August 3rd and 4th

Our walks through the fells yesterday and today are among the most challenging hikes we’ve ever done, not due to steepness or length, but rather to terrain and conditions. The weather both days has been near perfect, but the rains prior have left the paths VERY muddy and in many instances have turned them into full streams. The scenery is beautiful, but the terrain, which has been extremely rocky, is very difficult to navigate and, in more than one instance, our walk has been more of a rock scramble.

August 3rd

We left Ennerdale yesterday with blue sky peeking out through the clouds and soon had our jackets off. Our route first took us around Ennerdale Water (lake) before starting to climb into the fells. We had two route options: a high route, which was described as “extreme”, and a low route described as “strenuous”. We chose the low route, which began with a moderate climb on a gravel road. At @ 9 miles (@ 700 ft. elevation gain) into our 15+ mile hike we stopped at a hostel for lunch before continuing the rest of the way up and over Grey Knotts. Our guidebook described the next part of this hike as “a little tricky”, which was an understatement. Most of the trail was very rocky and, when the path became dirt or grass was very muddy or boggy, which made walking slow going. At times, the path totally disappeared, and our only guide was to stay to the left of the river running downhill (Loft Beck). All told, our total elevation was 2,021 feet for the day. It took us @ 9.5 hours to hike these 15+ miles and longer to walk the last 6 miles than it did to walk the first 9. What a day!

View of Ennerdale Water










Lake District scenery


Our lunch stop

Example of almost 6 miles of trail 

August 4th

Today’s walk was short (8.4 miles) but our elevation gain (2,044 ft.) was a little more than yesterday. We had set out to walk the high route which was only a couple hundred feet higher and .5 miles longer, but after trudging 4 miles up to Greenup Edge and encountering the same wet and rocky trail conditions as yesterday, plus an added rock scramble bonus of well over 50 feet near the summit, Rich and I decided to take the low route from the top rather than continuing to walk along the ridge. Judy, Cindy and Pam (Gary didn’t walk today) stayed with the high route. Even the route coming down the mountain and through the valley was arduous: wet and rocky trail conditions (think walking in a stream bed for multiple miles), roaring streams to leap across, plus the trail disappearing too many times to count. All in all, another tough day. 

Road out of town










Lake District view

Waterfall alongside the trail
Trail up the mountain



One of the better sections of trail








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