High Level circuit of Derwentwater visiting Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Spy, High Tove, High Seat, maiden Moor & Cat Bells

Friday 27th April 2018

A friend at work had mentioned that his son had done this walk and it sounded great to me. I knew there were a couple of 'bail outs' if I needed them so I decided to give it a go. I got up early, drove to the lakes and I parked on the roadside just outside Portinscale and set off walking for Keswick. After buying a few treats from the delicatessen (cakes) I started this high level Derwent Water circuit. I went through Great Wood en-route to Walla Crag (It may have been quicker to go via Rakefoot - but it was a nice gentle start). After Walla Crag it was Bleaberry Fell, High Seat and High Tove before descending down to Watenlath. I enjoyed my lunch by the tarn watching a fishing masterclass - first cast and the chap caught a Pike !!

After lunch I continued my descent down Puddingstone Bank before reaching Rosthwaite. Then it was across the River Derwent before the next climb of the day onto the Derwent fells via Rigghead Quarries. High Spy, Maiden Moor & Cat Bells all followed before the end of this 9 hour day.

This was a very long (20miles) and hard (5000ft + of ascent) walk - but I have to say, one of my favourites that I have ever done - I returned home very tired but well satisfied.

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Distance: 20.1 miles

Duration: 9:00 hours

Ascent: 5180 ft

Difficulty: Extremely Tough

Accompanied By: On my Own

Weather: Dry with Sunny Intervals

Wainwrights Visited

Bleaberry Fell Cat Bells High Seat High Spy High Tove Maiden Moor Walla Crag

3D outline of route

Parking

Near Castlerigg - look out towards Derwent Water - a beautiful view

View from Walla Crag

and again..... Now onto Bleaberry Fell

High Seat summit

Now for the Pewits - I hope they are not too boggy ! The difficulty of the trek between High Seat and High Tove is always dependent upon how much wet weather there has been recently - I was reasonably okay today

Reasonably okay - I didn't say perfect

The lovely descent towards Watendlath

Watendlath Tarn - a lovely spot for a break

Arriving in Rosthwaite

Hazel Bank - I'd love to stay there, it looks fantastic

Leaving Rosthwaite, you have the choice of crossing the River Derwent by the 'New' Bridge or these stepping Stones

Being lanky - this branch caused me to receive a nasty bash and a forehead cut on a previous walk - serves me right for concentrating on talking and not looking forward - I negotiated it okay this time round.

An interesting climb up Rigghead Quarries - I reached Wilsons Bield between Dale Head and High Spy

A view of Dale Head from the climb to High Spy

This time from the same location a view of Hindscarth

Derwent Water from the ridge path between High Spy and Maiden Moor

View of some of the Derwent Fells from the summit of Maiden Moor. You can see Scope End in the foreground, Knott Rigg and Ard Crags behind and then the Coledale Fells in the background.

Hindscarth and Robinson

I start to leave Maiden Moor and head for Cat Bells - you can see it's famous profile ahead - Skiddaw looking impressive in the distance

Sumptuous views of the Newlands valley