C2C Stage 3: Rosthwaite to Grasmere

Day 4 and a strenuous day although the distance is a mere 10 miles (16km) and the height gain is moderate, too.

Rosthwaite (100m) to Grasmere (75m)
Distance 10 miles/16km – Strenuous - Height Gain 530m/1740ft - 6 hours

Starting at the 28 mile mark:  

and finishing at the 38 mile mark:

Start at 9:00am from Rosthwaite. We should arrive in Grasmere around 3pm.

We take the track alongside Stonethwaite Beck then a rocky path climbing steadily alongside Greenup Gill. We walk steeply up the steps and rocks (a bit tricky but not technical) to the left side of Lining Crag (500m) and admire the views to the north and east. Continue to Greenup Edge, today’s high point at 620m, and then descend the rocky path to the head of Far Easedale. The guide then considers several factors and decides to either follow the ridge walk across Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag before descending steeply into Grasmere or take the less arduous route down Far Easedale.

Strenuous ... doesn't sound good after the last two days.

In good weather this part of the walk is a Lakeland classic.  Let's hope that the weather is fine.

The first bit is a straightforward climb up past Lining Crag to Greenup Edge.The path tracks besides Stonethwaite Beck which is a continuous torrent of white water with occasional waterfalls after rain.

At the top of Lining Crag, weather permitting, it is possible to see Scafell Pike, England's highest summit at 978m.

William Wordsworth called the valley in which Grasmere sits "the fairest place on earth". Heady words. It will be interesting to see why he thought so highly of this valley. Grasmere is the home to Dove Cottage where Wordsworth lived for about 10 years. It is open to the public daily from 9:30am to 5pm.

There are many little shops, cafes and a few pubs serving evening meals in Grasmere.