Blea Rigg, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Gibson Knott & Helm Crag - Thursday 1 October 2015
Route
Grasmere - Easedale Tarn - Blea Rigg - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Greenup Edge - Brownrigg Moss - Steel Fell - Calf Crag - Pike of Carrs - Gibson Knott - Helm Crag - Grasmere
Parking
Travellers Rest Pub on the A591 (see below) - Grid Ref NY336089
Mileage
16.2 miles
Terrain
Mountain paths, airy ridge walking - generally good underfoot but the section from Brownrigg Moss to Steel Fell was very boggy for most of the transit
Weather
Warm and sunny with very good visibility
Time Taken
9hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
4767ft (1453m)
Wainwrights
7
Map
OL6 & OL7 - The English Lakes (South Western Area & South Eastern Area)
Grasmere - Easedale Tarn - Blea Rigg - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Greenup Edge - Brownrigg Moss - Steel Fell - Calf Crag - Pike of Carrs - Gibson Knott - Helm Crag - Grasmere
Parking
Travellers Rest Pub on the A591 (see below) - Grid Ref NY336089
Mileage
16.2 miles
Terrain
Mountain paths, airy ridge walking - generally good underfoot but the section from Brownrigg Moss to Steel Fell was very boggy for most of the transit
Weather
Warm and sunny with very good visibility
Time Taken
9hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
4767ft (1453m)
Wainwrights
7
Map
OL6 & OL7 - The English Lakes (South Western Area & South Eastern Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
Another beautiful day in Lakeland therefore we decided to drive over to Grasmere to walk in the Central Fells. This would be a long day encompassing 7 Wainwrights and a tough out and back to Steel Fell but promised to be one of those walks to remember - it certainly was. The walk started at The Travellers Rest pub on the A591 just outside Grasmere. The pub allows walkers to park here but charge £5 for the day – redeemable at the bar on completion of your walk. If this is not to your liking then you can either get fleeced in Grasmere or park on the verge of the A591.
From the pub it was a simple stroll into Grasmere to pick up the road heading to Easedale. Once off the road the walk up to Easedale Tarn via Sour Milk Gill is a delight - a steady incline over farmland at first before the grassy path gives way to a stony ascent until the tarn is reached. Easedale Tarn is a beautiful place and it is worth taking in its beauty and waiting a while before continuing on. The route continued up above the shoreline before leaving the path at a small cairn that is easily missed. There then begins a gentle ascent through bracken before the gradient increases and the Blea Rigg ridge is reached - we took our time on this path as we kept having to look back to gaze out at the wonderful vistas that were unfolding as we gained height. From the perched boulder it was a simple matter of heading up a steady incline to gain the summit - a jumble of boulders and rocks which necessitated a discussion as to which was the summit.
From Blea Rigg we could easily see our next summit of Sergeant Man and the route over gave us more great views over to the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and back to Helvellyn. Despite the excellent weather there were not that many people out today therefore we hung around each summit and sucked in the views - there were plenty of them today. Suitably lunched we then headed over to High Raise where the view over towards Glaramara, Bowfell, Great Gable and The Scafells was simply breathtaking. Tearing ourselves away from the summit, we made our way over to Low White Stones and on down to Greenup Edge where we joined the Coast to Coast path coming up from Borrowdale.
From Greenup Edge there is a good path over to Brownrigg Moss and this is where the fun began. The route over to Steel Fell passes through Brownrigg Moss and unfortunately the bogginess continued for quite a while - almost to the summit itself. As this was an out and back we unfortunately had to endure the bog on the way back - no matter, the views down Thirlmere from the summit more than made up for soggy boots. Calf Crag was next and from the summit the remainder of the route is along a super ridge walk that took us over Gibson Knott and on to our final top of Helm Crag to see The Howitzer and The Lion & the Lamb. Again the views and visibility were constant and jaw droppingly beautiful. There now remained a steep descent from Helm Crag before a flat walk into Grasmere to finally reach the sanctuary of the Travellers Rest.
This is one those walks that should be completed on a day like today - great visibility and weather as the views from each summit just knock your socks off. Whilst we have been in and around these fells many times they are fantastic to visit over and over again.
From the pub it was a simple stroll into Grasmere to pick up the road heading to Easedale. Once off the road the walk up to Easedale Tarn via Sour Milk Gill is a delight - a steady incline over farmland at first before the grassy path gives way to a stony ascent until the tarn is reached. Easedale Tarn is a beautiful place and it is worth taking in its beauty and waiting a while before continuing on. The route continued up above the shoreline before leaving the path at a small cairn that is easily missed. There then begins a gentle ascent through bracken before the gradient increases and the Blea Rigg ridge is reached - we took our time on this path as we kept having to look back to gaze out at the wonderful vistas that were unfolding as we gained height. From the perched boulder it was a simple matter of heading up a steady incline to gain the summit - a jumble of boulders and rocks which necessitated a discussion as to which was the summit.
From Blea Rigg we could easily see our next summit of Sergeant Man and the route over gave us more great views over to the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and back to Helvellyn. Despite the excellent weather there were not that many people out today therefore we hung around each summit and sucked in the views - there were plenty of them today. Suitably lunched we then headed over to High Raise where the view over towards Glaramara, Bowfell, Great Gable and The Scafells was simply breathtaking. Tearing ourselves away from the summit, we made our way over to Low White Stones and on down to Greenup Edge where we joined the Coast to Coast path coming up from Borrowdale.
From Greenup Edge there is a good path over to Brownrigg Moss and this is where the fun began. The route over to Steel Fell passes through Brownrigg Moss and unfortunately the bogginess continued for quite a while - almost to the summit itself. As this was an out and back we unfortunately had to endure the bog on the way back - no matter, the views down Thirlmere from the summit more than made up for soggy boots. Calf Crag was next and from the summit the remainder of the route is along a super ridge walk that took us over Gibson Knott and on to our final top of Helm Crag to see The Howitzer and The Lion & the Lamb. Again the views and visibility were constant and jaw droppingly beautiful. There now remained a steep descent from Helm Crag before a flat walk into Grasmere to finally reach the sanctuary of the Travellers Rest.
This is one those walks that should be completed on a day like today - great visibility and weather as the views from each summit just knock your socks off. Whilst we have been in and around these fells many times they are fantastic to visit over and over again.
The Travellers Rest Car Park on the A591 near Grasmere
New Bridge on the Easedale Tarn path out of Grasmere
The lower waterfall on Sourmilk Gill
Glorious day today
The path to Easedale Tarn continues to rise quite steadily along the side of Sour Milk Gill - Brinhowe Crag can be seen to the left
The upper waterfall of Sourmilk Gill & Ecton Crag
Easedale Tarn & Tarn Crag panorama
Shortly after Easedale Tarn a path marked by a small cairn leaves to the left heading for Blea Rigg ahead
Nearing the top of Blea Rigg looking back down the ascent - The Helvellyn Range, Seat Sandal & Fairfield provide an impressive backdrop
Now at the face of Blea Crag and Sergeant Man comes into view
Wainwright's "perched boulder" at the top of the ridge - Blea Rigg 6
What a great view this is - the Helvellyn Range and the Northern part of the Fairfield Horseshoe
In the foreground are Steel Fell and the Gibson Knott/Helm Crag ridge
In the foreground are Steel Fell and the Gibson Knott/Helm Crag ridge
Fudge was as keen as ever to show off his mountain climbing skills
On the summit of Blea Rigg looking to Crinkle Crags, Harrison Stickle & Pavey Ark
Up on Blea Rigg with The Coniston Fells to left and Pike O'Blisco
On the summit of Blea Rigg
The Shelter Stone on Blea Rigg where the "accommodation is strictly limited" - Blea Rigg 12
A closer look at Harrison Stickle & Pavey Ark
Pavey Ark - Jack's Rake can clearly be seen to the left, arrowing from right to left.
Easy Gully runs from the left to right and the North Rake is to the right
Easy Gully runs from the left to right and the North Rake is to the right
Leaving Blea Rigg, Stickle Tarn comes into view from the path to Sergeant Man
Another superb view over to Dollywagon Pike, Seat Sandal & Fairfield. St Sunday Crag is just peeping out above Seat Sandal
Sergeant Man, Codale Tarn & Easedale Tarn panoramic
Wainwright's "rock pool" at the crossroads of paths on the way to Sergeant Man (Blea Rigg 11)
The final climb to the summit of Sergeant Man - Bowfell puts in an appearance
The summit of Sergeant Man
Dollywagon Pike, St Sunday Crag, Seat Sandal, Cofa Pike & Fairfield from Sergeant Man
Cracking view to the Helvellyn Range and the Fairfield Horseshoe from Sergeant Man
Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike & Great End
Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Green Gable & Pillar
The unnamed tarn between Sergeant Man & High Raise looking to The Dodds, the Helvellyn Range & Fairfield
The summit of High Raise looking across Langstrath to Glaramara with Great Gable & Pillar centre
High Raise panoramic
It does not get much better than this
Glaramara
Leaving High Raise to the North East is a rocky outcrop which marks the path to Low White Stones and Greenup Edge to the North
The summit of Low White Stones looking to Skiddaw & Blencathra. The Dodds are to the right.
Steel Fell - it is fair to say the route over Brownrigg Moss was a tedious trudge over a lot of bog
Looking into Greenburn Bottom - Steel Fell to the left and the Gibson Knott ridge is to the right
The summit of Steel Fell looking towards Thirlmere
Thirlmere, Skiddaw & Blencathra from Steel Fell
The summit of Calf Crag
Our route ahead to Gibson Knott
The summit of Gibson Knott
Approaching the col before the short, steep pull up to Helm Crag
The Howitzer - the summit of Helm Crag
Heading over to the South East end of the summit of Helm Crag - The Lion & The Lamb
Grasmere from Helm Crag
Who are Ewe looking at?
The steepish descent from Helm Crag