I have looked at Catstycam many time and thought what a horrid slog it must be. It wasn't. In fact it was a delightfully gentle and quick ascent with spectacular views. We parked on Glenridding and then took the path towards Red Tarn. This was paved, but not too steep and we took the quick detour onto Birkhouse Moor. Then without loosing much height at all carried on to Red Tarn. From the tarn there was a gently inclined track up to the top of Catstycam. From there we were able to see the queues beginnning to form on Striding Edge. We returned to the tarn for lunch - including grabbing a large blonde longhaired Alsation type dog that had chased a Herdwick from the beginning of Striding Edge all the way to the tarn. The sheep went down, but fortunately the dog didn't attack - and I was able to grab it. The owner wanted to call it back to him, but sorry there was no way that dog wasn't going to run off after the sheep again, so I held on, with two others who kindly came across to help, until the owner arrived. Sheep worrying is far too common at present with an influx of inexperienced fellwalking visitors. Anyway after that, we descended down to the valley and back down Glenridding Beck to meet Tom who had been exploring the spoil heaps. We also collected the first chanterelles of the season - yum!
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Looking back down Ullswater; Rocky on the top of Birkhouse Moor and Red Tarn.
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Red Tarn; the top of Catstycam; view from Catstycam and Rocky on the top.
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Tom happened to spot us on the top of Catstycam.
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Glenridding Beck.
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Coming down Glenridding Beck and a stop for a field sketch.
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