So we visited Lancaster the day before and arrived in the Lakes to stay in the old Thorney How youth hostel in Grasmere, a place big enough for the 16 of us on our yearly family holiday north. I’m not certain how many more of these we will get as the kids grow up (mine are 19 and 17 now!!) and we have been coming now for 18 years, but they are the best and both my two love this holiday. This year they drove themselves, well dad was behind them most of the way, tutting at the unnecessary lane changes and lack of signalling on occasions 😂. We all arrived safely and planned our outings for the week, our first one was the next day, a walk up to Great Rigg via Stone Arthur, returning along the ridge to Nab Scar before dropping to Alcock Tarn and back into Grasmere. Alcock Tarn was a first for me and it was nice to complete this round which added 4 more fells for Linda and the boys to their tally. Apart from the initial steep climb to Stone Arthur it is a good route with great views to the west throughout. The ridge back down from Great Rigg is a superb path, undulating and with views out along the Rydal valley, through Ambleside and on to Windermere. Next we turned on to the path that slants down to Alcock Tarn, through the bracken, popping out by the walls that enclose this area. The tarn sits nestled below Heron Pike on a shelf, above the steep ground falling to Grasmere, reeds have taken over a little across the water but it is a lovely spot to sit if you have time. We didn’t and if anything we were behind after a late start and needed to get a wriggle on for tea, which we made. A fine walk to start to week and one from the door which would become a theme as we only drove for one walk during our stay
Start – Grasmere, Thorney How
Route – Grasmere – Stone Arthur – Great Rigg – Rydal Fell – Heron Crag – Nab Scar – Alcock Tarn – Grasmere
Distance 7.5 miles Start time – 11.30am Time taken – 6hrs Highest Point – Great Rigg 766 metres
Thorney How and our weekly stay. Its one of the few places big enough to take the 16 of usJust at the end of the path you have views to Seat Sandal to the left, Firfield is in the middle and Stone Arthur is behind the tree to the rightHelm Crag as we cross the A591 to head up to Stone ArthurMost of the way up tot Stone Arthur and we are huffing and puffing up the steep climb. Grasmere belowStone Arthur summit with Grasmere below and the Coniston range back middleWalking up towards Great Rigg, its a rolling ridge with rocky outcrops to negotiate. The major climb is done by the time you get to Stone Arthur so this isn’t too badStunning views west and dozens of fells in viewsOn to Great Rigg summit and looking up to FairfieldThe other way with Ryudal valley to the left, the ridge to Heron Pike ahead and Windermere at the back. Infact you can see 3 other waters from here with Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water left to right and Grasemere down to the rightGreat Rigg looking west, to the left of the summit cairn is Great Gable, Pillar and the High Stile ridge. The Coniston range with the Crinkle Crags and Bowfell running left to right across the middle of the phot and on to the Scafell massifLooking up to Rydal Head and part of the Fairfield horseshoeLovely views to Ambleside and WindermereWalking to Heron PikeHeron PikeMore of the Fairfield horseshoe from Heron Pike, with Rydal Fell nearest to meNab Scar is next down there and sun breaks out across AmblesideNab Scar and GrasmereNab Scar and our next route, Alcock Tarn is down that way somewhere. The central fells dominate the backgroundAlcock TarnStone Arthur and the route up to Great Rigg, as you can see from here its a steep ascent up to Stone Arthur through the bracken pathsAnd to finish a view to Helm Crag and the Central fells, the edge of Grasmere on the left. I took no more photos from here as we sped back for tea. A great walk and a great start to out week up here
18 years of get togethers in the Lakes, babies into adults and then new babies into teenagers etc etc. Whether we get that far again I’m not sure but I’ve loved every trip up there.
Thorney How was one of the first places I stayed in the Lakes back in 1983, the days when you still had to do ‘chores’ every morning! And the walk is a cracker, Alcock Tarn being a lovely spot
Glorious views. I did this exact walk 6 or so years ago, and the walk up with all the false summits made me so puffed out – I kept thinking I was there and then I wasn’t! It was harder than I’d anticipated. Your photos are lovely as always, and it’s so nice the boys still enjoy going 🙂
Wonderful to have everyone together like this, Steve. And superb views! xx
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18 years of get togethers in the Lakes, babies into adults and then new babies into teenagers etc etc. Whether we get that far again I’m not sure but I’ve loved every trip up there.
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An age since we’ve been up there – a favourite/
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I really enjoyed the walk, did the full Fairfield round and then Stone Arthur separately, so it was nice to link the two bits together
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Looks a mighty walk and great for a family holiday. 🙂
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It was a little tougher than I thought to be honest. Not sure I was quite fell fit at that stage in the week
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Amazing walk Steve and the weather looked ok.
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To be fair the weather was good on that one, it was early August we did this one so some hot walk days to come and then some rain later in the week
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Thorney How was one of the first places I stayed in the Lakes back in 1983, the days when you still had to do ‘chores’ every morning! And the walk is a cracker, Alcock Tarn being a lovely spot
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I did wonder when staying there how many people had been through the door to stay. The kitchen still had that industrial feel to it
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Glorious views. I did this exact walk 6 or so years ago, and the walk up with all the false summits made me so puffed out – I kept thinking I was there and then I wasn’t! It was harder than I’d anticipated. Your photos are lovely as always, and it’s so nice the boys still enjoy going 🙂
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My youngest has started asking about going next year already
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Good start to your walking week. I was in the cloud the only time I’ve ever visited Alcock Tarn – shows what a miserable day that was!
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Blimey its only around 400 metres up so that would be a bad day for views
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