Lord's Seat, Barf, Broom Fell & Graystones - Tuesday 16 September 2014
Route
Darling How - Aiken Plantation - Lord's Seat - Barf - Lord's Seat - Broom Fell - Widow Hause - Graystones - Darling How
Parking
Spout Force Car Park at Darling How (Free) - Grid Ref NY181255
Mileage
7.5 miles
Terrain
Mixture of forest track and good mountain paths. The descent from Graystones back to the start is very steep.
Weather
Warm with some haze
Time Taken
3hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
2555ft (779m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Darling How - Aiken Plantation - Lord's Seat - Barf - Lord's Seat - Broom Fell - Widow Hause - Graystones - Darling How
Parking
Spout Force Car Park at Darling How (Free) - Grid Ref NY181255
Mileage
7.5 miles
Terrain
Mixture of forest track and good mountain paths. The descent from Graystones back to the start is very steep.
Weather
Warm with some haze
Time Taken
3hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
2555ft (779m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
We had been up these 4 fells before and each time we have been up on the tops have hardly seen anybody - today was no exception. If you don't fancy the steep ascent and scramble up Barf from Powter How then there is a much easier way up from Darling How and this is the route we did today. After a drive via Keswick along the Whinlatter Pass the parking area for the start of this walk is just before Scawgill Bridge at the Spout Force Car Park.
From the Car Park the route follows the forest track and whilst some people may find this uninspiring we actually enjoy it. There are still good views to be had over to Graystones and ahead to Broom Fell and on reaching the sharp bend parallel to Ullister Hill there is a path going off to the left which leads to the open fell side. Turning left at the top of the path there is an easy gradient path up to the summit of Lord's Seat. From here the remainder of the route is clear to see. Heading over to Barf, the summit is soon reached where there are superb views over to Skiddaw and down Bassenthwaite Lake.
We then returned to Lord's Seat before transiting on a good path over to the impressive cairn on Broom Fell. From the summit we then headed over to Graystones where there is a steep descent down to Widow Hause before a gradual rise to the summit of Graystones. The return to the start is a very steep descent therefore in wet conditions this would be tricky but was fairly easy today, albeit hard on the knees. In summary, this is a good walk to do if you don't want to go too high but still enjoy exceptional views for very little effort.
From the Car Park the route follows the forest track and whilst some people may find this uninspiring we actually enjoy it. There are still good views to be had over to Graystones and ahead to Broom Fell and on reaching the sharp bend parallel to Ullister Hill there is a path going off to the left which leads to the open fell side. Turning left at the top of the path there is an easy gradient path up to the summit of Lord's Seat. From here the remainder of the route is clear to see. Heading over to Barf, the summit is soon reached where there are superb views over to Skiddaw and down Bassenthwaite Lake.
We then returned to Lord's Seat before transiting on a good path over to the impressive cairn on Broom Fell. From the summit we then headed over to Graystones where there is a steep descent down to Widow Hause before a gradual rise to the summit of Graystones. The return to the start is a very steep descent therefore in wet conditions this would be tricky but was fairly easy today, albeit hard on the knees. In summary, this is a good walk to do if you don't want to go too high but still enjoy exceptional views for very little effort.
Before setting off from Threlkeld we observed an inversion in St John's in the Vale - Bleaberry Fell is in the centre of shot
Another one before we set off - this time Blencathra. We woke up to this view every morning.
The walk starts from the Spout Force Car Park at Darling How, Whinlatter Pass
A Red Admiral having a bit of a breather in the sun
Walking along the forest track with Broom Fell ahead
Lots of forestry work going on as we pass Darling How plantation
We nearly missed this turning - the path leaves the forest track at a sharp bend and heads through the plantation
Barf with the Skiddaw range behind
Hot Fudge anyone?
The summit of Lord's Seat looking to Barf and the Skiddaw range
The path over to Broom Fell from Lord's Seat - off to Barf first though
The summit of Barf
Barf summit looking back to Lord's Seat
Bassenthwaite Lake from Barf - Binsey can be seen in the haze to the right of centre
Great view over to the Skiddaw range from Barf
The impressive cairn on the summit of Broom Fell
Heading down to Widow Hause
Graystones summit looking over to Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag & Hopegill Head
Steeper than a steep thing - the descent from Graystones back to the start
Scawgill Bridge on the Whinlatter Pass