The Coledale Horseshoe

Walk through the village to the Whinlatter Pass road, turn left along the road to climb to the small car park at the end of the track to Force Crag Mine, deep in the Coledale valley.

Just inside the entrance of the car park turn right taking the steps, probably lurking behind the summer vegetation, going steeply up. After a short climb the path rises more gently whilst parallel with the pass road. Let the path swing you more and more left to go back on your self along a small spur climbing southwards towards Kinn. Cross the fence at the step stile, there's a dog gate alongside, and bear right, the path continuing to climb.

Kinn is a minor bump on this spur. From here there are good views down the length of Coledale to Force Crag, Crag Hill, and the first real look at Grisedale Pike.

Continue from Kinn along this spur, dropping to shallow depression, then climbing a steep grass bank. The view north is to Skiddaw, east to Clough Head and the Helvellyn range, southwards is obscured a little by Causey Pike and friends. Great reasons to take a breather.

Now on Sleet How, the last steep section beckons. This narrowing ridge has something of an airy appeal. Steep, loose and stony, with rocky outcrops you can play on or avoid as you like you, it's not too long to be tedious.

The summit of Grisedale Pike is a rock outcrop just on from the top of the steep climb. A small unremarkable cairn marks the obvious spot. Curiously it's never been clear when we've visited it, mist always comes in tantalizingly obscuring the view!

From the summit of Grisedale Pike continue south west following the line of old rusting fence posts. This is safe even in the mist as the path is obvious. You'll have to drop left as this little ridge ends abruptly. There's usually a shallow puddle on the depression before the climb to the 739m top.

Gradually swing through west to north west along the edge of Hobcarton Crag to the dramatic rocky outcrop of Hopegill Head.

Leave Hopegill Head slightly east of south, sharply left from the direction of approach. Climb to the cairn on Sand Hill, and drop down through the scree the other side onto Coledale Hause.

Cross Coledale Hause keeping slightly right to join the infant Liza Beck as you climb between Grasmoor on your right and Crag Hill to your left. The beck is a reliable source of water although you may want to keep an eye on it to refill slightly further up. Reaching a junction of paths on the col turn left along a wide path climbing directly to the trig point on Crag Hill.

The outlook from here, down the length of Coledale to Keswick, Skiddaw, Blencathra and on a clear day includes the northern Pennines, is fantastic.

From Crag Hill trig point turn right from the direction of approach, to head first south east and then more east. A scattered line of cairns marks the way to the top of a ridge, The Scar, dropping quite steeply to a col. On the way down there are two rocky steps of note. Neither are difficult to scramble down.

On the col continue ahead, you soon reach another rocky step which is easily overcome.

You soon reach the domed top of Sail. The path bypasses the summit puddle, and cairn. Sometimes there's a cairn on the grass, others it's 'moved' into the middle of the puddle.

Continue on the path heading ENE, to join the infamous zigzag path down onto the col before Scar Crags. Turn left at the crossroads. The path soon bears right and drops steadily across the northern face of Scar Crags along a fine airy terrace.

Force Crag Mine buildings can be seen below and across Coledale. Grisedale Pike looms above. Outerside is ahead. As the path gradually swings further right, turn left at a small cairn. Cross boggy ground to gain Outerside's south west ridge. Climb up brushing through the heather to the top.

The summit of Outerside is a simple rocky outcrop.

From the summit of Outerside carry on down the long north east ridge. Stile End is ahead across a boggy depression. Unless you want to climb Stile End, watch for the path turning off left in the bottom, it is not entirely obvious. Initially vague the path becomes clearer along the north west side of the fell. Coledale falls steeply on your left hand side.

Follow the path through increasingly thick bracken, heading for Braithwaite ahead. Lower down you get funnelled between a wall to the left, and Barrow Gill to the right. Joining a concrete road, go through the gate at the bottom onto the tarmac road. Head into the village and at the T junction, turn left to return to the car park on the Whinlatter road. Alternatively turn right to return to the school, campsite, and rest of the village.