Training Logistics

Training for the Bob Graham is often a lonely affair - days on the fells, getting in the miles (or kilometres); putting the ascent and descent into your legs; sorting out which line you prefer - is time consuming and even with a companion or two can be logistically tricky

Figuring out where to leave the car or cars while you are out on the fell and then getting back to it when you are tired is just another problem that you could well do without. The following is a set of notes offering advice for each section. They are presented as if for a clockwise round but are just as valid for an anti-clockwise attempt. My personal preference is to park up at the end of the proposed run - nicer to get back to your dry clothes as soon as you get off the fell than having to run, hitch or get a bus ride back.

Skiddaw

Parking: Parking in Keswick costs money and be prepared to be out for longer than any of the cheap options. No parking problems at the Threlkeld end at the moment. An alternative place to park is at the car park on Latrigg but this does mean that the initial climb out of/descent into Keswick is missed out.
Getting Back: The best way, avoiding the A66, is to head up towards the Blencathra Centre then drop down on paths to cross the beck before either climbing back up to Latrigg or skirting down through the woods into Keswick. Alternatively the old railway is now a cycle route and is easy running (if boring).

Helvellyn

Parking: Either park near the sewage farm south of the A66 at Threlkeld. Use of the cricket club car park should probably be avoided for training runs though it's not much of an issue on attempts as Threlkeld is normally visited in the early hours. Or on the roadside at Dunmail Raise.
Getting Back: This is one section where having a mate and a car at each end is practical. Stagecoach run bus services (well they run buses, debatable as to whether it's a service!) between Ambleside and Keswick and also between Keswick and Threlkeld. It may be quicker (and certainly cheaper) to only go as far as Thirlspot then jog/hitch back to Threlkeld.

The Awkward One

Parking: Either park on the roadside at Dunmail Raise or at the NT carpark (fee) at Brackenclose in Wasdale. An alternative is to park in Borrowdale near Rosthwaite.
Getting Back: This is the most awkward section as the two end points are hard to get between by road and the section is very much an end-to-end affair. One possibility is to recce this in two stages to about halfway, doing both bits as out and back runs.
Alternatives.: A good proportion of this leg (Bowfell to Scafell) may be done from Eskdale, parking at Brotherlikeld with access/egress points of Three Tarns on Bowfell and Slight Side for Scafell

Wasdale Section

Parking: Either at the NT carpark (fee) at Brackenclose or the NT carpark at Honister Youth Hostel (fee). A third option is to park in Rosthwaite, again a fee, and add the section between there and Honister to the run.
Getting Back: Moses Trod is the best alternative here. If parking at Rosthwaite then heading back over via Sty Head is the way to go.

Dale Head - Robinson

Parking: The carpark at Honister YHA (fee) or either somewhere in Newlands or back in Keswick - all depending on just how much road work you want to do.
Getting Back: If you park up near Little Town then doing the leg as an out and back makes most sense. If you park in Portinscale or Keswick then the Anniversary Waltz route plus quite a bit of road will be a good day out. From Honister it's possible to make a decent circuit for either direction by running over to Dale Head tarn and down the Newlands Valley with a bit of road at the far end to link things up.