Lake District Walks

Outerside & Barrow

Date: 19th October 2007
Distance: 5.0 miles
Ascent: 1831 feet
Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: NY232221

Walk Summary:
A short walk and easy climb revisiting Outerside and Barrow.

Route Summary: Uzzicar - Stoneycroft Gill - High Moss - Outerside - Stile End - Barrow - Uzzicar

Pictures:

1. Causey Pike from the path above Stoneycroft Gill

2. Barrow and Stile End from the top of Stoneycroft Gill

3. The top of Outerside looking to Sail and Eel Crag

4. Coledale from the top of Outerside

5. Barrow and Stile End from Outerside

6. Looking back at Outerside

7. Barrow

8. Outerside from Barrow Door

9. The sprawling cairn on the summit of Barrow

Walk Detail: For my final walk of what had proved to be a productive week in Keswick I resisted the temptation to bag some new Wainwrights and decided instead to revisit a trio of tops which I had rushed a bit two years before on my way down from Scar Crags. My memory card had also ran out last time so I didn’t have many photos of, and from, these tops.

The route of the walk was simplicity in itself although, in the sheltered confines of Stonycroft Gill where there was little breeze, I actually found it quite heavy going though this may also have had something to do with my poor fitness level at the time. The weather was not as nice as forecast and indeed on the summit of Outerside there was even a spot of drizzle but at least I got to use my new waterproof for the first time.

Outerside has a nice compact summit though the views are circumscribed a bit by higher fells. Stile End and particularly Barrow have more open views. Barrow was, as I remembered it, much rockier than the other two tops. I enjoyed the descent towards Braithwaite much more this time, the previous occassion having been quite icy.

Despite the grey weather and the fact I had done much of this walk before I still enjoyed myself and once again my knee held up on the walk. For the first time in a while I began to believe that, thanks to the physio programme I was undergoing, my knee was really getting better.

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