Seat Sandal, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag, Birks & Arnison Crag - Friday 15 February 2019
Route
Patterdale - Grisedale - Ruthwaite Lodge - Brothers Parting Stone - Grisedale Tarn - Hause Gap - Seat Sandal - Hause Gap - Fairfield - Cofa Pike - Deepdale Hause - St Sunday Crag - Birks - Trough Head - Arnison Crag - Patterdale
Parking
Lots of parking in Patterdale - £3 all day at King George V Car Park (opposite Patterdale Hall) - GR NY390160
Mileage
11.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The ascent of Fairfield is steep in places and on loose scree for some of the climb. Please be aware that the summit of Fairfield is an extremely confusing place in mist & low cloud. Care needs to be taken on the steep descent from Cofa Pike to Deepdale Hause.
Weather
Good visibility, sunny spells and strong winds, particularly on St Sunday Crag
Time Taken
7hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
3645ft (1111m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes - North Eastern Area
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Lee & Karen
Patterdale - Grisedale - Ruthwaite Lodge - Brothers Parting Stone - Grisedale Tarn - Hause Gap - Seat Sandal - Hause Gap - Fairfield - Cofa Pike - Deepdale Hause - St Sunday Crag - Birks - Trough Head - Arnison Crag - Patterdale
Parking
Lots of parking in Patterdale - £3 all day at King George V Car Park (opposite Patterdale Hall) - GR NY390160
Mileage
11.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The ascent of Fairfield is steep in places and on loose scree for some of the climb. Please be aware that the summit of Fairfield is an extremely confusing place in mist & low cloud. Care needs to be taken on the steep descent from Cofa Pike to Deepdale Hause.
Weather
Good visibility, sunny spells and strong winds, particularly on St Sunday Crag
Time Taken
7hrs 45mins
Total Ascent
3645ft (1111m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes - North Eastern Area
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Lee & Karen
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GPX File
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Route Map
The walk started from the Sports Field Car Park in Patterdale located up the lane to Grisedale Bridge opposite Mountain Rescue.
As of 2019 the charge is £3 per day by donation and all proceeds go to the upkeep of the facilities.
As of 2019 the charge is £3 per day by donation and all proceeds go to the upkeep of the facilities.
Place Fell
Heading along the access track through the Grisedale Valley - Birkhouse Moor is above us to the right with the Helvellyn range ahead
The path continues along the valley floor in the direction of Grisedale Tarn
Eagle Crag dominates the view ahead with The Tongue on Dollywagon Pike to the left
Approaching Ruthwaite Lodge looking back down the Grisedale Valley
Ruthwaite Lodge near Grisedale Tarn
The climbing hut was restored in 1993 in memory of the bravery of two climbers from Outward Bound Ullswater, who lost their lives climbing Mount Cook in New Zealand. The plaque to the left of the door commemorates this.
The climbing hut was restored in 1993 in memory of the bravery of two climbers from Outward Bound Ullswater, who lost their lives climbing Mount Cook in New Zealand. The plaque to the left of the door commemorates this.
The Brothers Parting Stone
The stone is located just off the main path at Grid Reference NY 35237 12339. It marks the place at which William & Dorothy Wordsworth last saw their brother John on 29 September 1800. John was on his way to command his ship the Earl of Abergavenny which belonged to the East India Company. He was drowned, along with 250 other men when the ship sank off Portland on 5 February 1805. The stone is engraved with an inscription (barely legible) which is taken from the Elegiac Verses that Wordsworth wrote in memory of his brother in 1805 although they were not published until 1842.
The inscription reads:
Here did we stop; and here looked round
While each into himself descends,
For that last thought of parting Friends
That is not to be found.
Brother and friend, if verse of mine
Have power to make thy virtues known,
Here let a monumental Stone
Stand–sacred as a Shrine
The stone is located just off the main path at Grid Reference NY 35237 12339. It marks the place at which William & Dorothy Wordsworth last saw their brother John on 29 September 1800. John was on his way to command his ship the Earl of Abergavenny which belonged to the East India Company. He was drowned, along with 250 other men when the ship sank off Portland on 5 February 1805. The stone is engraved with an inscription (barely legible) which is taken from the Elegiac Verses that Wordsworth wrote in memory of his brother in 1805 although they were not published until 1842.
The inscription reads:
Here did we stop; and here looked round
While each into himself descends,
For that last thought of parting Friends
That is not to be found.
Brother and friend, if verse of mine
Have power to make thy virtues known,
Here let a monumental Stone
Stand–sacred as a Shrine
A close up of the inscription on the Brothers Parting Stone
Looking back to St Sunday Crag
Looking over Grisedale Tarn to Seat Sandal
When it is quiet this is one of the loveliest spots to simply sit and take in that view.
Our path to the foot of Seat Sandal is around to the left above the lake shore.
Our path to the foot of Seat Sandal is around to the left above the lake shore.
Heading along the eastern side of Grisedale Tarn looking back to Dollywagon Pike
At Hause Gap looking to Seat Sandal - the first part of the path heads up the scree sloping from left to right
Up we go on the ascent of Seat Sandal. The scree path turns to the left where a wall is then followed to reach the summit plateau
Whilst all eyes are on the steep ascent of the fell, remember to look back at this superb view of Fairfield & St Sunday Crag
The summit of Seat Sandal looking to High Crag & Dollywagon Pike
Seat Sandal summit looking to St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike, Fairfield and Great Rigg
Whilst my walking companions remained on the summit of Seat Sandal, Fudge and I had a walk over to the south western cairn
It was certainly worth it for the view
Dollywagon Pike & Grisedale Tarn from the descent of Seat Sandal.
We descended back the same way to Hause Gap to continue on up to Fairfield. Our path of ascent can be seen to the right of picture.
We descended back the same way to Hause Gap to continue on up to Fairfield. Our path of ascent can be seen to the right of picture.
Looking back to Seat Sandal from the ascent of Fairfield.
Our route of ascent up Seat Sandal can just about be seen - scree path followed by handrailing the wall
Our route of ascent up Seat Sandal can just about be seen - scree path followed by handrailing the wall
For the most part the ascent of Fairfield is extremely steep and on loose scree however the views make up for this
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn & Striding Edge from the ascent of Fairfield
The summit plateau on Fairfield - in mist this is can be a very confusing place.
Looking to our onward route over Cofa Pike & St Sunday Crag from Fairfield
My walking companions on the summit of Cofa Pike
The final part of the ascent on to the summit of Cofa Pike - in my opinion a very underrated fell
Looking back towards the Fairfield range from the summit of Cofa Pike
Descending to Deepdale Hause - the path down is steep but not overly difficult and just requires care to be taken
Not a bad view eh? Near Deepdale Hause looking over to Helvellyn & Striding Edge
Gavel Pike from St Sunday Crag - although we didn't today, it is well worth a visit
The summit of St Sunday Crag looking to the Far Eastern Fells
The shadow of St Sunday Crag hangs over our transit to Birks ahead with Ullswater & Place Fell providing the backdrop
Fells galore to the east as we head to Birks
L to R are Brock Crags, Rest Dodd, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, High Street, Grey Crag, Hartsop Dodd, Thornthwaite Crag & Caudale Moor
The fell sloping in the foreground is Hartsop Above How
L to R are Brock Crags, Rest Dodd, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, High Street, Grey Crag, Hartsop Dodd, Thornthwaite Crag & Caudale Moor
The fell sloping in the foreground is Hartsop Above How
The understated summit of Birks
The descent from Birks to Arnison Crag which is in the centre of shot with Place Fell to the rear left
The descent down to Trough Head follows a broken wall, swings right then left to then transit the ridge over to Arnison Crag
The summit of Arnison Crag looking to Ullswater & Place Fell
Heading back to Patterdale from Arnison Crag