Whittle Wanderers

Steel Fell and Grasmere Common, Cumbria. Wed 8 Sep 2004
Today I'm walking on my own. Eric is off on a yachting trip at the end of the week so is spending part of today looking for extra warm jumpers and a pair of sea legs. I had a clear and sunny drive to Grasmere and the weather looked settled for the rest of day. The weather forecast had also predicted sunny weather, for a change, and it looked like they were right. The first obstacle of the day was to find somewhere to park. The long 'free' lay-by on the A591 just to the north of Grasmere has a time limit of 2 hours. So that's no use for walkers. Next I looked at the wide verge at Mill Bridge, where I usually park, only to find freshly erected 'Police, no parking on verge' signs. I wonder at the legality of this as the verge is part of the highway, it is over 2 cars wide and leaving my car here would cause no obstruction whatsoever. So I just moved a bit to the south, out of sight of the signs.
	Steel Fell fromGhyll Foot.
My first objective was Steel Fell and I could see it's south-east ridge in front of me bathed in low morning sunshine. The path is a delightfully green and grassy corridor between the bracken. Frequent stops are recommended to take in the changing views. The summit of Dunmail Raise is down to the east and the opening valley of Grasmere to the south.
Towards Grasmere from Steel Fell.
The summit isn't really a summit in the conventional sense. More like a few hummocks and plateau stretching to the west. It's an interesting place to stop for a brew though as it has an 'artistic' summit cairn with protruding fence posts and, if the weather is clear, views of Thirlmere and Blencathra to the north.
	Looking north from Steel Fell. Skiddaw, Blencathra and Thirlmere can be seen in the distance.
My plan had been to wander over to the west and return via Gibson Knott and Helm Crag. But the weather was so nice and the walking conditions so good it would have been a waste not to take full advantage. So a rethink was needed and a new route decided on. Over Grasmere Common and down by Codale Tarn seemed a good and longer alternative. Approaching Calf Crag I came across the first of two tarns, neither of which was named on my map. I would have thought both justified a name as I have seen some named tarn that only just qualify for puddle status (eg. Foxes tarn on Sca Fell!)
One of the un-named tarns near Calf Crag.
I reached the path descending from Greenup edge and stopped briefly to reflect on the first time I walked here. It was almost quarter of a century ago when I walked Wainwright's Coast to Coast path with Charlie. But that's another story. I started to climb the path to the SE that follows the series of small waterfalls up the river. I didn't want to go too far up as I'd then have finished up on High Raise. I turned SE and looked for Coldale Tarn somewhere below. Eventually I saw it and decided to stop for lunch. It was a beautiful spot with magnificent views across to Helvellyn, Fairfield and Windermere. It was a steep descent to Codale Tarn but once there I was on a well trodden path. Soon I joined the main path down to Easedale Tarn and Sour Mil Gill. It was on this path that I met the first people of the day. Many were just sitting by the tarn enjoying the nice weather. At the valley bottom I followed the road back to the A591 and my car. It was one of those special days for weather that don't happen very often.