Walla Crag

Having had our gentle walk in the lakes up onto Helm Crag, I googled more easy places to walk and up popped a trip to Walla Crag near Keswick. I saw that it was around 400m of climbing in total, so I did my usual thing and lied to my glamorous assistant and told her it was only 200m. My thinking being by the time she realised, she would already been too far into the walk.

Parking at the National Trust Great Wood car park, we just followed the path and signs.

The track follows a nice winding route around the forest with little trickling waterfalls.

The route to the top is pretty easy as there is a clear track leading the way and lots of little things to look at to keep your distracted from the pain in your legs and lungs.

We're a canny way up now and we start to level out a bit and get a break in the trees.

Our first view of Derwent Water below.

Someone thinks we're are nearly at the top and is appreciating the scenery.

But we then dip back into the forest a bit more. The steps seem never ending now.

Someone has just realised that the ascent may be a little more than 200m!

But then all of that is forgotten as we break through the trees and get our first proper sight of Derwent Water.

As we get towards the top of the hill we catch a spectacular view of some hills and crags in front of Bleaberry Fell. I wonder how long it would take me to get to the top of those, so I give my hiking partner a rest and I peg it over for a gander.

Getting closer.

And within 10 minutes I am standing atop the crag. Looking over Derwent Water to the west I believe that is Cat Bells. My knees have never forgiven me for the descent from that one!

Just a bit further along is Bleaberry Fell and High Seat, but I think I will be pushing my luck if I take a little diversion to explore those, so I head back the way I came.

Then it's just a short stroll over to Walla Crag. On the main rocky area there were a lot of people standing on it milling around so I didn't bother with a photo, but headed over to the edge to get some fabulous photos of the view from the top.

Then a final look down at Derwent Water before we head back down towards Keswick.

Another short and sweet wander in the lakes and I now have to pay for it in alcoholic refreshments for my glamorous assistant!