January 2013 Weekend Meet: Grasmere, Lake District

On Saturday Drew, Marian and Malcolm drove to Swirral Car Park on the banks of Thirlmere. Having saved the £7 parking fee because parking meter was out of order we headed up the Helvellyn Gill path to the top of Helvellyn. The weather closed in as we gained height. By about 850 meters we were walking in mist, a cold wind and crisp lying snow.

Lunch at the summit among a crowd of fellow walkers. Initially we had planned to descent via Swirl Edge and re-ascend via Striding Edge but as this required crampons, ice-axe and white-out navigation we walked along to Nethermost Pike and descended via Comb Crags and walked along the forest path to the car park.

Sunday was a bright sunny day. Along with what seemed like the rest of Grasmere, Drew, Libby, Marian and Malcolm walked up the path to Helm Crag, and along the ridge to Gibson Knott and Calf Crag. At this point Libby and Drew took the Far Easedale Gill path back to Grasmere. Marian and Malcolm continued up to High Raise and descended via Blea Rigg and Easedale Tarn before returning to Grasmere.

1 good pub and 1 good cafe bistro identified....