Dale Head via Scaleclose Gill - Wednesday 5 February 2025
Route
Seatoller - Scaleclose Gill - High Scawdel - Launchy Tarn - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head - Honister - Little Gatesgarthdale - Seatoller
Parking
The National Trust Car Park in Seatoller (Free for NT Members, charges for non members) - Grid Reference is NY 245 138. The nearest postcode is CA12 5XN. An alternative option is to park in Keswick and catch the bus to Seatoller which is what we did today.
Mileage
6.3 miles
Terrain
The majority of the route is along good mountain paths & low level tracks. However much of the ascent up the side of Scaleclose Gill is pathless which in turn is not marked on the OS Map as is the route from Launchy Tarn across to Dalehead Tarn. Therefore the ability to navigate over pathless ground in low visibility is paramount.
Weather
A game of two halves - overcast in the morning, sunny spells in the afternoon with a bitterly cold wind throughout.
Time Taken
4hrs
Total Ascent
2746ft (837m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4- The English Lakes - North Western Area
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Seatoller - Scaleclose Gill - High Scawdel - Launchy Tarn - Dalehead Tarn - Dale Head - Honister - Little Gatesgarthdale - Seatoller
Parking
The National Trust Car Park in Seatoller (Free for NT Members, charges for non members) - Grid Reference is NY 245 138. The nearest postcode is CA12 5XN. An alternative option is to park in Keswick and catch the bus to Seatoller which is what we did today.
Mileage
6.3 miles
Terrain
The majority of the route is along good mountain paths & low level tracks. However much of the ascent up the side of Scaleclose Gill is pathless which in turn is not marked on the OS Map as is the route from Launchy Tarn across to Dalehead Tarn. Therefore the ability to navigate over pathless ground in low visibility is paramount.
Weather
A game of two halves - overcast in the morning, sunny spells in the afternoon with a bitterly cold wind throughout.
Time Taken
4hrs
Total Ascent
2746ft (837m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4- The English Lakes - North Western Area
Walkers
Dave & Angie
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GPX File
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Route Map
We parked in Keswick and caught the bus to Seatoller and therefore started the walk from the NT Car Park in the village
Walking out of Seatoller in the direction of Honister passing The Yew Tree Inn en route
At the first bend in the road a way marker points the way up a path to the right.......
...... which leads to a gate on to the open fell side
As we start to climb the views open out to Rosthwaite Fell with the slopes of Thornythwaite Fell over to the right - the fells in the distance are High & Low Saddle on Ullscarf
At Grid Referene NY 24298 14078 the route reaches the old toll road which is on the Coast to Coast path - it is here that Angie and I would part company as she was off to Honister and would hopefully meet me later on the summit of Dale Head.
Angie heading to Honister as I climb to join the bridleway coming in from Honister via Little Gatesgarthdale
High Doat from the Little Gatesgarthdale path junction
Looking to Low Scawdel & Castle Crag from a solitary boulder on the main path. This path is part of the old quarry miners path that ran between Honister & the village of Grange.
A few yards after the solitary boulder at Grid Reference NY 24360 14386, a vague path (not detailed on the OS Map) heads off to the north west. This path heads in the general direction of Scaleclose Gill which comes up from the right. In all fairness I could have continued to climb to the ridge up to my left but I wanted to follow the course of the gill as much as I could today.
Looking down to the footbridge over Scaleclose Gill - the ladder stile to the right gives access to the path leading to/from High Doat. In the distance is Castle Crag with the summits of King's How & Brund Fell on Grange Fell to the centre and right.
Nearing Scaleclose Gill with the crags of High Scawdel above
Reaching Scaleclose Gill - I would now follow the fence line all the way to the summit of High Scawdel near Launchy Tarn. Whilst it was a straight line ascent, it was extremely steep for a few hundred yards and I did wonder whether I would have been better off climbing up to the ridge earlier and then joining the fence line later.
Looking to Low Scawdel, Derwentwater & Castle Crag from the fence line
As I gained in height the views to the east really began to open out. Whilst it was a dull and overcast start I had no complaints with regard to the visibility - it was pretty good all day. Here I am looking over Castle Crag & Grange Fell to Blencathra, Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat & High Tove with The Dodds & the start of the Helvellyn range in the far distance.
At Grid Reference NY 24134 14477 the route reaches a hand gate in a wall which I needed to pass through in order to join the fence line on the other side
Looking back to the hand gate and the ridge I could have climbed up to earlier - as far as effort goes I reckon the difference in both routes is negligible
Looking into the ravine of Scaleclose Gill and one of its many waterfalls
The ravine of Scaleclose Gill (Click Play to view)
Continuing my ascent - I was still following the line of the fenceposts which had clearly seen better days
Another of the many waterfalls of Scaleclose Gill
The fence corner that marks the summit of High Scawdel looking over to Dale Head
The seldom visited Launchy Tarn looking to High Spy
From Launchy Tarn I made a beeline for Dalehead Tarn over pathless ground - it looks boggy but I had a fairly dry transit
Miners Crag & High Spy over Wilson's Bield
After crossing to Dalehead Tarn I sat and had my lunch in the small enclosure near the water's edge. This is a popular wild camping spot and it is usual to find items of rubbish however after having a quick scout around I was pleased to see it free of litter.
The western face of High Spy from near Dalehead Tarn
Lunch over it was time to make the steep but very enjoyable ascent to Dale Head which gives a great view back down to the tarn
The slopes of High Spy to the left, Wilson's Bield, High Scawdel, Launchy Tarn & Dalehead Tarn from the now pitched path up to Dale Head. The two people below were the first people I had seen since starting out from Seatoller.
Hindscarth from near the top of the climb with the zig zag path down to Newlands via Far Tongue Gill visible down below
High Spy & Maiden Moor from the path junction as I start the final 350 yards or so to the summit. Below to the left and just out of shot is a small cairn which marks the turning point to Dale Head's summit - the path continues on to cross beneath Dalehead Crags & Great Gable (the other one) and continues to Newlands via Far Tongue Gill.
As I approach the summit I spot a familiar face - I wonder who it is??
All smiles as I meet up with Angie on the summit
The summit of Dale Head looking down Newlands
The superb view down Newlands from the summit of Dale Head
Angie on the summit of Dale Head looking to Hindscarth
If this is yours then it is in the bin at Honister
Grey Knotts to the right with Bowfell, Esk Pike, Esk Hause, Great End and The Scafells in the far distance
Honister now in view as we continue the steep descent
Safely down at the road now as we look over to Honister Youth Hostel
Honister Slate Mine and I do believe the cafe is open
A Baguley narrow gauge steam locomotive. It's actually not "steam" as such - this 2ft gauge 'steam-outline' diesel loco No 3236 was built in 1947 by Baguley for the amusements at Sheerness, but since 1998 has been on static display at Honister.
It is amazing the things the slate artists at Honister can put together
The view down the Honister Pass from the entrance
Food of the gods at Honister
Looking down the Honister Pass to Honister Crag also known as Black Star - Robinson is to the right
Leaving Honister we headed through the rear Car Park and along the track to cross the road on to the Coast to Coast Path
Since becoming a National Trail, the Coast to Coast has been treated to some new signage...............
.......... and has had some of the once rough pathways repaired
Looking over the lower slopes of Seatoller Fell to Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot), Rosthwaite Fell & Glaramara
Descending into Seatoller
Oh dear, the recent storms have left a bit of a mess here as a large fallen tree blocks the path
Journey's end for today as we enter Seatoller
A little bit of history about the origins of Seatoller to end the walk