Coledale Horseshoe: A Tough Day in the Lakes
10-12 miles | Circular route | Braithwaite, near Keswick | Strenuous
If you're looking for a Lake District walk that combines steep climbs, exposed ridges, scrambling, spectacular scenery and just enough suffering to make that post-walk pint taste even better, the Coledale Horseshoe is well worth putting on the list.
Depending on the variation you take, the route is around 10–12 miles, starting and finishing in Braithwaite, just outside Keswick. We researched it beforehand and it was consistently described as a difficult route. Seems Google wasn't lying
This is a strenuous mountain day. There are some long, steep ascents, sections of scrambling, plenty of ridge walking and some exposed areas where you'll definitely want a head for heights. Good navigation skills and a decent level of fitness aren't optional extras here — they're part of the kit.
We actually started from Lanefoot Farm, a lovely campsite about a mile up the road from Braithwaite where we'd based ourselves for the trip. It's a great spot if you're camping or travelling in a van.
For anyone driving directly to the walk, there's a car park just up from the Coledale Inn, which is effectively where the route begins.
And from here, there's no gentle warm-up. It's a long uphill (approx 3-4km).
The climb towards Grisedale Pike is very steep in places. As we gained height, the ground became increasingly rocky and the shale near the summit made the going particularly hard.
The visibility wasn't great either, but the path to the top is fairly obvious and easy to navigate. The views would probably have been spectacular.
From Grisedale Pike, we headed along the ridge towards Hopegill Head. This section gives you that classic Lake District ridge-walking experience - there are sections where you're walking relatively close to the edge. It was also windy. Views probably would have been spectacular.
Turning south towards Coledale Hause, things began to change.
As we lost some elevation, the clouds started to lift and, finally, the sun appeared.
After spending a good chunk of the morning in damp, gloomy conditions, the warmth was very welcome.
It was also one of those moments that reminds you why the Lake District is so good. The weather can change dramatically over a relatively short distance, and suddenly the landscape opens up and you're walking through completely different conditions to those you experienced an hour earlier.
Of course, the improved weather didn't mean the hard work was over.
Far from it.
Coming around the back of Eel Crag, there's another good climb up towards Crag Hill. By this point, the legs were definitely starting to feel the miles and elevation we'd already put in, but there was still plenty more to come.
Once we'd reached Crag Hill, the character of the route changed again.
Heading on towards Sail and Scar Crag, we came across some really "enjoyable" little sections of scrambling. Nothing that was beyond our physical capabilities, but there were definitely moments where we found ourselves thinking:
"That's a bit closer to the edge than I'd ideally like."
The scrambling itself wasn't particularly technical, but the combination of steep, rocky ground and exposure meant it required concentration. There are sections where you definitely want to be confident with your footing and comfortable with being close to the edge.
From Sail and Scar Crag, we continued towards Causey Pike, which we couldn't resist adding to the day — it seemed rude not to when it was sitting there waiting for us!
Good footwear, appropriate mountain kit and a head for heights are definitely recommended. We'd also be cautious of doing this section in more extreme weather conditions (ice, high winds etc.)
After Causey Pike, we decided we'd had enough for one day and skipped Outerside and Barrow, which had been included on the route we'd originally downloaded. With a couple of dodgy knees between us, some new footwear that was still being broken in, and the general view that we were on holiday and should probably be relaxing a bit, we felt we'd earned the right to call it a day!
And that's something worth remembering on any mountain day — the route you've planned isn't set in stone. Your legs, the weather, your kit and how you're feeling on the day all matter. There's absolutely nothing wrong with changing the plan when the sensible option is staring you in the face.
So we dropped straight back down into Braithwaite (which was a long but less arduous descent), very ready for what was probably the most important part of the entire expedition...
The pub.
We headed to the Coledale Inn for a well-earned beer and some absolutely gorgeous food. The portions were huge, which, after several hours of walking uphill, was exactly what we needed.
Two courses for £27 as well.
Bargain.
A pretty perfect end to the day.
Would we recommend it?
Yes — but with a few big caveats.
The Coledale Horseshoe is a fantastic day out if you're an experienced hill walker with a good level of fitness, confident navigating in the hills and comfortable with steep, rocky and exposed terrain.
We'd put this firmly in the strenuous / difficult category rather than a straightforward walking route. It's not necessarily the mileage that makes it challenging; it's the amount of ascent, the terrain, the exposure, the scrambling and the potential for rapidly changing weather.
If you're relatively new to hill walking, we'd suggest building up your experience and fitness on some less demanding routes before taking this one on.
For experienced walkers, though, it's a brilliant challenge. Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Crag Hill, Sail, Scar Crag and Causey Pike give you plenty of variety, and on a clear day the views would be exactly what you'd hope for from a Lake District mountain day.
Just go prepared, keep an eye on the weather, know your limits and be willing to shorten the route if necessary.
Want to be fitter for your next adventure?
Whether you're planning your first fell walk, working towards a challenging mountain day like the Coledale Horseshoe, or simply want to feel stronger, fitter and more confident on your feet, the right training can make a massive difference.
At JDW Fitness, we can help you build the strength, fitness and conditioning you need to get more out of the activities you love — whether that's hiking, running, cycling or simply keeping fit.
Want to improve your fitness and get ready for your next adventure? Drop us an email and let's have a chat about how we can help.
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