Words & Photos Jerry Rawson

December 03 2009

If you enjoyed Striding Edge, Swirral Edge and Sharp Edge then you will also like the easier, but still delightful, ridge linking Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grisedale Pike.

Approached from the tranquil Vale of Lorton it offers a delightful outing with the highlight being an easy but airy scramble up overlapping slabs ending at the sharp pyramidal summit of Hopegill Head (Hobcarton Pike).

It was a cold, beautifully sunny morning as I headed up initially beside Hope Beck through a steep-sided valley, followed by a broad grassy ridge. Once over Ladyside Pike I arrived at a deep notch at the foot of Hopegill Head’s rocky north ridge sweeping up to the summit. A sharp arête reared up on the left-hand edge of a broad band of stepped, rocky slabs with a sheer drop down the precipices of Hobcarton Crag to the left.

The most exciting scrambling is usually had by sticking to the very crest of the arête. Consisting of Skiddaw slate, the holds are sloping and can become very slippery when wet. Also, as they’re 
north-facing, in winter the rocks are in the shade all day and can be very hazardous when covered in frost. Guess what? The sloping holds were covered in frost. After a few tentative moves up slippery rocks I opted for the easier route up a path which weaved its way up the gentler rocky slabs and loose scree further right. Even here some of the easy-angled slabs were icy.

I was glad to reach the sunny summit of Hopegill Head, which sits at the hub of four connecting ridges. In the cold, clear air the views were superb in all directions especially west to Whiteside and east to the shapely Grisedale Pike.

A stroll around the head of Hobcarton Crag led easily up to the shapely summit of Grisedale Pike from where I could look back across Hobcarton Crag to the ridge scrambled up earlier.

Back at Hopegill Head the narrow ridge sweeping west to Whiteside looked very appealing and I was soon following its rocky crest, with Crummock Water just visible down Gasgale Gill to the left.

The undulating narrow ridge includes a steep section over a conical rocky outcrop before arriving at Whiteside’s East Top, accompanied by wonderful views left down Gasgale Crags to Gasgale Gill backed by bulky Grasmoor. Although the East Top is Whiteside’s highest point, I ambled along to its West Top, just for the bird’s-eye-view of Crummock Water

Back at the East Top a broad, heathery ridge dropped north-west to the dip below the craggy end of Dodd then down to Hope Beck where I rejoined the outward path. It might not have been a long walk but it had barrowloads of quality.

Distance:7 miles/11km Ascent: 2790ft/850m Time: 6 hours Start/finish: Narrow hill road above Hope Beck and just south of High Swinside Farm; off-road parking (GR: NY 169242) Map: Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer sheet OL4 (The English Lakes - North Western area) or Harvey Maps 1:25,000 Superwalker, Lakeland North Information: Keswick, 017687 72645.

Technical Spec
Follow footpath alongside Hope Beck for 1.5km. Turn L at a sheepfold up shallow gully then via broad ridge up to Ladyside Pike. Continue along the crest to deep notch. Scramble up the sharp arête on the left-hand edge of a broad band of stepped, rocky slabs to Hopegill Head. Difficulties can be avoided by a path up the slabs and scree further right. Head E to Grisedale Pike. Return to Hopegill Head and follow a narrow ridge W to Whiteside. Retrace steps to East Top and descend NW to the dip below the craggy end of Dodd. From the notch head down R, cross Hope Beck near a stone sheepfold to rejoin the outward path.