Braithwaite, Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Coledale Hause, Grasmoor, Eel Crag (Crag Hill), Sail, Outerside, Stile End, Barrow, Braithwaite Lodge

Mainly sunny with the wind not as strong as on previous days, but still a cold easterly.

With a promising forecast it was too good to miss out on doing the Coledale Horseshoe. Consequently Sheila and I set off from the Braithwaite disused quarry car park just before 9am. Doing the horseshoe in an anti-clockwise direction, we were straight into the climb as we ascended the steps and continued through the newly sprouting bracken. A relentless climb took us up to the rocky section then a clamber over the rocks saw us arriving at the cairn. Finding a sheltered spot we enjoyed the views down the Hobcarton valley as we stopped for morning coffee. Walking above Hobcarton Crags we made our way round to Hopegill Head. After a few photos we considered the possibility of tackling Whiteside but a quick inspection of the route changed our minds. Descending over Sand Hill another climb took us to the crossroads where we turned right to reach Grasmoor. Retracing our route to the crossroads the next ascent brought us to the trig point on Eel Crag (as named by Wainwright), or Crag Hill as it is named on the OS maps. A rocky descent was successfully navigated followed by the climb onto Sail. Unfortunately the summit cairn had disappeared and an area of previously wet ground marked the summit point. Descending once again we made our way onto the traversing path that led us towards Outerside. This path must have suffered from extensive erosion in the past couple of years as it had deteriorated since I was last here. The route then detoured over Outerside and on to Barrow before making its way down into Braithwaite and back to the car.