THE FINEST HALF MILE OF RIDGE WALKING IN THE LAKE DISTRICT 2016, 2019 and 2022. 

The ridge connecting Whiteside and Hopegill Head is spectacular. We first walked it in spring 2016 and repeated it with  a group in 2019,   walking from Crumock Water following the Liza Beck to Coledale Hause and onto Hopegill Head. This is a fine route but the decent from the western summit of Whiteside is very steep.

In 2019 whilst eating our sandwiches on the top of Hopegill Head Chris retrieved John Preston's mat which had been taken by the breeze onto the precipitous northern side of the hill. Whilst we would not wish to descend by way of this slope here is a route up through the rocks from Ladyside Pike. This is the route we used in January 2022.
The walk starts from a small parking spot on the gated road at Swinside over looking Crummock Water and Melbreak.

The way to Ladyside Pike is steep and follows a fence and wall for much of the way. The Solway Firth and Scotland can be seen beyond The Vale of Lorton in the foreground.

Fine views of Skidaw beyond Whinlatter Forest soon open up.

The sun was in our eyes as the path heads south, but that means the solid rock wall of Hopegill Head cannot be seen too clearly!

The way onto the top was managed by using the grassy bits between the slabs to reach the summit of Hopegill Head at an elevation of 770m.

Lunch in the sun with stunning views is a rare treat in January. Then a stroll along the ridge towards Whiteside.

The view back towards Hopegill Head with the rock wall clearly in view.

The descent starts from the eastern summit and was uneventful on easy paths back to Swinside. Note that our route includes a stream crossing near the end. This can be avoided by using other paths if the water levels are too high.