Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) & Seathwaite Fell - Saturday 5 March 2022
Route
Seatoller - Johnny Wood - YHA Borrowdale - Peat Howe - Stonethwaite - Big Stanger Gill - Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) - Combe Gill - Thorneythwaite Farm - Seathwaite - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright Summit) - Seathwaite Fell (Great Slack) - Seathwaite Fell South Top - Sty Head - Styhead Tarn - Taylorgill Force - Seathwaite - Seatoller
Parking
Seatoller National Trust Car Park (Charge) - Grid Reference NY 24555 13799. The nearest postcode is CA12 5XP.
Mileage
13.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The descent from Bessyboot to Combe Gill was pathless for the most part. The ascent of Seathwaite Fell is on good a path at first but peters out near the summit. Additionally, the paths on the actual summit of Seathwaite Fell are indistinct.
Weather
Perfect. Superb visibility, sunshine & light breezes.
Time Taken
8hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
3799ft (1158m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Lucy Dockeray
Seatoller - Johnny Wood - YHA Borrowdale - Peat Howe - Stonethwaite - Big Stanger Gill - Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) - Combe Gill - Thorneythwaite Farm - Seathwaite - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright Summit) - Seathwaite Fell (Great Slack) - Seathwaite Fell South Top - Sty Head - Styhead Tarn - Taylorgill Force - Seathwaite - Seatoller
Parking
Seatoller National Trust Car Park (Charge) - Grid Reference NY 24555 13799. The nearest postcode is CA12 5XP.
Mileage
13.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The descent from Bessyboot to Combe Gill was pathless for the most part. The ascent of Seathwaite Fell is on good a path at first but peters out near the summit. Additionally, the paths on the actual summit of Seathwaite Fell are indistinct.
Weather
Perfect. Superb visibility, sunshine & light breezes.
Time Taken
8hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
3799ft (1158m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Lucy Dockeray
GPX File
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Route Map
Early doors at Seatoller National Trust Car Park. The area fills up quite quickly at weekends therefore get here early (as we did) in order to get a space.
The path rises gently from the back of the Car Park (seen below) with Seatoller Fell providing the backdrop
At the top of the rise a gate is reached giving access to the open fell side
Once through the gate the path forks. We would be taking the right hand path which handrails the wall and leads down to the southern edge of Johnny Wood via a hand gate further on.
Heading through Johnny Wood
The River Derwent
A bit of hand on rock required here as we transit above the river over a wet section of slabs. The chains are there to help walkers negotiate this tricky section. When the rock is wet they certainly help.
Exiting Johnny Wood the route passes YHA Borrowdale
Approaching Peat Howe
From Peat Howe we headed for the village of Stonethwaite which is accessed by crossing the B5289
The route passes the Langstrath Country Inn - there are much better pubs than this in the area but that's just my opinion
Approximately 600 yards from the edge of Stonethwaite Village a gate is reached on the right hand side opposite the entrance to a camp site. The gate is the access point for the path to Rosthwaite Fell via Big Stanger Gill.
Almost immediately the path ascends quite steeply up the left hand side of the gill
Looking across Stonethwaite Beck to Knotts & High Crag
Stonethwaite sits below with Borrowdale beyond
Almost at the head of the ravine now as the path passes through a hand gate to then head up the left hand side
Looking back to the hand gate
The head of the ravine of Big Stanger Gill with a snow topped Skiddaw now in view
The crossing point at the head of the ravine. The path comes in from the left, crosses the ravine to head back on itself briefly before then turning left.
Ullscarf from the approach to Bessyboot
Racom Bands
Nearing the summit of Bessyboot. For a fell with a modest height of 1808ft (551m) the views from the summit are superb.
The glorious panorama from Bessyboot
Thorneythwaite Fell in the foreground with Grey Knotts, High Stile, Fleetwith Pike & Dale Head beyond
The cairn which marks the summit of Bessyboot with Rosthwaite Cam, Combe Head & Glaramara beyond
Walking a few yards to the south reveals the beautiful Tarn at Leaves below
Lucy my walking companion for the day on the summit of Bessyboot
Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head, Hindscarth & High Spy from the summit of Bessyboot. In the centre right distance are Crag Hill & Sail.
A closer look at Tarn at Leaves. High Raise is to the left with the familiar 'lump' of Pike O'Stickle in the centre.
From Bessyboot it was time to return to the valley floor via The Combe. I have used this route in the past and, whilst pathless the going is pretty good.
Looking back up at our route of descent from Bessyboot
Combe Gill below as we near the valley floor. The path over the other side of the gill is the route to Glaramara via Thorneythwaite Fell.
Crossing Combe Gill - just prior to taking this photo I slipped on my arse which gave my walking companion a right good laugh!
From the path above Combe Gill the route heads towards Strands Bridge but then turns left to travel along the access road to Thorneythwaite Farm. This track and subsequent path ensures that the walker can avoid walking along the sometimes busy B5289.
At Thorneythwaite Farm a kindly placed sign ensures the farmer and his wife are not disturbed by stray walkers
Base Brown dominating the scenery with Seathwaite Farm just about in view below
Seathwaite Farm with Sourmilk Gill to the rear. Raven Crag on Grey Knotts peeps out behind the gill. Seathwaite Farm is a very popular starting point for Scafell Pike as well as other walks such as Great Gable.
From the southern end of the farm the route passes to the right of the footbridge to High House Bunk Barn
Seathwaite Fell looms high above us with Taylorgill Force over to the right and the River Derwent below. We would be coming back via the lovely little scramble which is out of view to the right of the waterfall.
Stockley Bridge over Grains Gill
The bridge was widened in 1887, only to be severely damaged after the storms of September 1966 following 5 inches of rain in an hour and subsequently had to have the walls rebuilt. It has a 15 foot span with 6 ft 4 ins between the parapets. The bridge formed part of an ancient packhorse route over the Sty Head Pass to Wasdale.
The bridge was widened in 1887, only to be severely damaged after the storms of September 1966 following 5 inches of rain in an hour and subsequently had to have the walls rebuilt. It has a 15 foot span with 6 ft 4 ins between the parapets. The bridge formed part of an ancient packhorse route over the Sty Head Pass to Wasdale.
Stockley Bridge and our outward route from the western bank
From Stockley Bridge the route climbs steeply along the popular path to Sty Head where the view really does open out looking back to Borrowdale.
Glaramara
Fawn Crag on the eastern flank of Base Brown
This small cairn marks the turn off for Seathwaite Fell to the left with the Sty Head path continuing to the right. The route for Seathwaite Fell leaves the Sty Head path at GR NY 22765 10659 to head up the right hand side of a stream - it is easily missed.
The path is intermittent in part but in good visibility the way up the fell is clear enough
Great & Green Gable from the ascent of Seathwaite Fell
Climbing over, the gradient levels out leaving a short walk on grass over to the Wainwright Summit of Seathwaite Fell
The Wainwright Summit on Seathwaite Fell. Wainwright himself acknowledged that this summit was clearly not the highest point on the fell (Seathwaite Fell 3). The difference in height from this top to the highest point some 600 yards to the south is 98ft.
Great End dominates the view to the centre left as we look over to the highest point on Seathwaite Fell - we were off there next
Seathwaite Fell is not just a series of summits but is littered with lots of lovely small tarns which are worth seeking out
The cairn on Great Slack - the summit of Seathwaite Fell
Yet another idyllic tarn a short distance from Great Slack with a view of Great End thrown in. Esk Pike peeks out to the centre left.
The summit of Seathwaite Fell South Top looking to Great End with Allen Crags to the left and Esk Pike centre left
Another glorious view - this time from near the South Top looking back to Great Slack
Allen Crags & Esk Pike with Sprinkling Tarn below
Zooming out to Allen Crags, Esk Pike, Sprinkling Tarn & Great End
Great Gable & Green Gable from near Great Slack
Our path to Sty Head from near Sprinkling Tarn as we look to Great & Green Gable. The deep gully in the centre of shot is Aaron Slack.
Styhead Tarn now in view as the path swings left to Sty Head
The Mountain Rescue Stretcher Box at Sty Head
Styhead Tarn & Seathwaite Fell from Sty Head
Great End across Styhead Tarn
The footbridge crossing Styhead Gill. To return to Seathwaite via Stockley Bridge cross the footbridge and follow the gill on its eastern bank. However today I wanted to return by what I consider the more interesting route back via Taylorgill Force, therefore remained on the western side.
Heading for Taylorgill Force. The path is intermittent in part and it is just a question of not veering too far away from the gill.
The path passes a series of lovely little cascades as it nears the top of the waterfall
The Taylorgill Force path back to Seathwaite looking to Hind Crag on Thornythwaite Fell. This route is great fun and although it looks precarious from here, it is a good path.
Taylorgill Force
The final scrambly section of the Taylorgill Force path. Below is a hand gate which gives access to easier ground.
The route across the fell side can be a bit squelchy in part, however once this stile is crossed below Fawn Crag it becomes less boggy.
The footbridge over the River Derwent leading to Seathwaite Farm
Safely back at Seatoller after a simply fantastic day on a route which we both thoroughly enjoyed.