What to do?
Another slow start. I can’t be doing with these silly‑o’clock departures every day, and after two warm, busy days on the trot I wasn’t in the mood for rushing. Still, I managed to be out earlier than on Sunday. The plan was Sheffield Pike. It was unfinished business from last October, when I abandoned the scramble up from Glenridding Dodd and then left too little time and too little energy to do the climb from the Youth Hostel in failing weather. Enough of that. Today’s plan was the north‑side approach from Glencoyne, via Seldom Seen: longer, but the least awkward of the available routes.
Sheffield Pike itself is a compact, rugged fell rising to 675 metres, tucked between Ullswater and the Helvellyn range. It’s known for its steep flanks, old mine workings, and a summit ridge that feels surprisingly wild for its size. The views are excellent. Ullswater curves away below like a silver ribbon, and the skyline is dominated by Catstycam, Helvellyn, and the Dodds. The summit area is a mix of peat, grass, and scattered rock, often boggy after rain — though not today.
Getting Going
I left Keswick no earlier than 11am and made a brief stop in Glenridding to attend to the necessary. Then I parked at Glencoyne and began walking around midday. The owner of the coffee cart told me he was closing at 4pm, which immediately became my target. Four hours to get up and down in time for a coffee. I’d brought lunch and plenty of drinks.
The start of the climb was tough going. It was really, really hot, and the early section through the trees was short on breeze. At about 100 metres of ascent I found a geocache, and shortly afterwards the path broke out into sunshine. From here the route was a steady climb around the northern face of the fell. I had steep scree slopes on my left, bracken and later more scree on my right.
For a good chunk of this stretch I walked with father David and his son Jack, from Newcastle. They were going a bit slower than me (well, David was), but it was nice to have someone to chat to while plodding upwards. At some point before the col, Jack wandered off ahead until I couldn’t see him, and David had dropped back until I couldn’t see him either. Net result: I was on my own and didn’t really know where either of them were. Never mind. I just kept going.
Eventually I reached the col and made the sharp left turn for the final climb. I can see why others describe the summit plateau as boggy. It’s mostly peat with a few rocks sticking out. If there had been any wet weather in the last two months it would have been a difficult crossing. But because everything was bone dry, it was easy enough.
At the summit a few others were enjoying the view. I sat for half an hour eating my lunch. By the time I reached the top it was just after 2pm, so about two hours up. Given the nature of the path, being mainly a steady gradient and mostly gravel, I figured the descent would be quick. I set off at about 2:40.
Descent & Coffee
The walk down was easy and fast. I overtook one of the people who’d been at the summit when I arrived. I was quite tired at the bottom and out of drinks, but it was only 3:40. So I’d got down in an hour and was in plenty of time for a coffee from the man with the van. I sat at his café tables for a while as he packed up, then got back into the car for the 40‑minute drive to Keswick.
Square Orange
In the evening I wandered over to stand outside Square Orange. I’d been there with Ami last year and knew what to expect. I had to wait about 40 minutes, but I didn’t mind because it was a lovely night. So I stood outside with a beer until they were ready for me. The food was great again.
Wainwrights Completed on This Day
Tuesday?
Both Sunday and Monday had been busy days. So on Tuesday I decided to stay in Keswick. The weather was still fiercely hot anyway. So I did what I normally do when I want to do something but not much. I legged it around Keswick and collected a handful of geocaches. I’m not writing a whole post about it though, because I didn’t really take many pictures and there wasn’t enough to make a whole post.
The highlight of the day was probably getting a couple of beers from the supermarket and a takeaway Thai meal from the restaurant at the end of the access road. I ate that in the house and watched the France vs Spain semi-final in the World Cup.
