Seathwaite Fell, Allen Crags, Glaramara & Rosthwaite Fell - Saturday 7 July 2018
Route
Seatoller - Seathwaite Farm - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright Summit) - Great Slack - Seathwaite Fell (South Top) - Sprinkling Tarn - Lower Esk Hause - Allen Crags - High House Tarn Top - Red Beck Top - Looking Steads - Glaramara - Combe Head - Combe Door Top - Dovenest Top - Rosthwaite Cam - Tarn at Leaves - Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) - Combe Gill - Seatoller
Parking
Seatoller NT Car Park (Charge) - Grid Ref NY245138
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths 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. The descent from Bessyboot to Combe Gill was pathless for the most part.
Weather
Bright with sunny spells, good visibility.
Time Taken
3hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
2322ft (708m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Seatoller - Seathwaite Farm - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Seathwaite Fell (Wainwright Summit) - Great Slack - Seathwaite Fell (South Top) - Sprinkling Tarn - Lower Esk Hause - Allen Crags - High House Tarn Top - Red Beck Top - Looking Steads - Glaramara - Combe Head - Combe Door Top - Dovenest Top - Rosthwaite Cam - Tarn at Leaves - Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot) - Combe Gill - Seatoller
Parking
Seatoller NT Car Park (Charge) - Grid Ref NY245138
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths 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. The descent from Bessyboot to Combe Gill was pathless for the most part.
Weather
Bright with sunny spells, good visibility.
Time Taken
3hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
2322ft (708m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
The walk today was a repeat (almost) of one we last completed almost 2 years ago (link here). We were out today leading a walk for Lakeland Meet Ups and therefore Angie & I met up with Deborah, Alan, Michael, Martin & Sharon at the National Trust Car Park in Seatoller. The more obvious start for this walk would be further down the valley near Seathwaite Farm (parking for which is free along the verge) however our route today would bring us back in to Seatoller therefore there was nothing to be gained from starting at Seathwaite.
The route to be taken was to proceed on up the valley to Stockley Bridge from where we would then head right on the Sty Head path, leaving this for Seathwaite Fell. After visiting the 3 summits on Seathwaite Fell, we would then drop down to Sprinkling Tarn and head to below Esk Hause, then to Allen Crags and along the lengthy Glaramara ridge. From Glaramara, the plan then was to head back to Borrowdale via the 4 Nuttalls of Combe Head, Combe Door Top, Dovenest Top & Rosthwaite Cam to then finish off on the Wainwright summit of Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell. The weather promised a glorious day of wall-to-wall sunshine and high temperatures - it looked a good opportunity for a swim too.
After just under a mile of road walking the route reaches Seathwaite Farm, passing through the farm buildings to emerge on to the path to Stockley Bridge - once over the bridge it is left for the Grains Gill path to Esk Hause or right for Sty Head. We headed to the right on the steep incline that weaves its way up via Greenhow Knott where thankfully the gradient eases. The path to Seathwaite Fell leaves the Sty Head path at GR NY 22765 10659 to head up the right hand side of a bouldery stream - it is easily missed. The ascent is steep and the path is faint for the most part, petering out near the summit although there is the odd cairn here and there.
Reaching the crest of the rise, we first visited the Wainwright summit then headed over to the highest point on the fell, Great Slack and then visited the South Top. The summit plateau is worth exploring - full of interest and tarns plus the views are exceptional, particularly over to Great Gable, Great End and down into Wasdale. From the South Top the route drops down, firstly to a tarn then over a crest to the idyllic and serene Sprinkling Tarn - we rested here for a while and enjoyed a lovely dip in the tarn before heading uphill towards Esk Hause.
After a short pull up to Allen Crags, from the summit we began the long transit over Glaramara's ridge - a superb undulating walk with various subsidiary summits and tarns to keep one amused plus the constant view of the Langdale Pikes for company. After passing over the summits of High House Tarn Top, Red Beck Top & Looking Steads, we made the short pull up to firstly the southern cairn on Glaramara and then on to the north east summit & wind shelter. The summit is a delight and gives a superb view back down the ridge towards Allen Crags.
There are several options back to Seatoller from Glaramara's summit - descend via Hind Gill, via Thorneythwaite Fell or go with our original plan of bagging the Nuttalls of Combe Head, Combe Door Top, Dovenest Top & Rosthwaite Cam and then descending via Combe Gill after nipping up Rosthwaite Fell to Bessyboot. From Glaramara's summit there is a 20ft rock groove to negotiate which could be tricky in the wet although there is an alternative path around the side that comes out below the crags. From the rock groove it is about a quarter of a mile to the summit of Combe Head to then a steep drop via Combe Door to the summit of Combe Door Top and then to Dovenest Top a little further on. All 3 summits are worth visiting for the views alone - particularly on such a good a day as today.
From Dovenest Top the route descended in to Great Hollow before rising out of it to climb steeply to reach the summit of Rosthwaite Cam from where there are superb views down to Tarn at Leaves, Bessyboot and right down Borrowdale to Derwent Water and on to Skiddaw & Blencathra. Unlike last time we were here, we made the short journey up on to Bessyboot, the Wainwright summit of Rosthwaite Fell from where we descended, pathless for the most part to the valley floor and Combe Gill. Once down at the gill a good path leads through woodland to eventually reach the road at Mountain View - from here it is a short walk along the road back to Seatoller.
All that was left to do was have a customary debrief, this time in the adjacent Glaramara Hotel. Another fantastic day out and lots of laughs with great company - this was one of our best days out on the fells.
The route to be taken was to proceed on up the valley to Stockley Bridge from where we would then head right on the Sty Head path, leaving this for Seathwaite Fell. After visiting the 3 summits on Seathwaite Fell, we would then drop down to Sprinkling Tarn and head to below Esk Hause, then to Allen Crags and along the lengthy Glaramara ridge. From Glaramara, the plan then was to head back to Borrowdale via the 4 Nuttalls of Combe Head, Combe Door Top, Dovenest Top & Rosthwaite Cam to then finish off on the Wainwright summit of Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell. The weather promised a glorious day of wall-to-wall sunshine and high temperatures - it looked a good opportunity for a swim too.
After just under a mile of road walking the route reaches Seathwaite Farm, passing through the farm buildings to emerge on to the path to Stockley Bridge - once over the bridge it is left for the Grains Gill path to Esk Hause or right for Sty Head. We headed to the right on the steep incline that weaves its way up via Greenhow Knott where thankfully the gradient eases. The path to Seathwaite Fell leaves the Sty Head path at GR NY 22765 10659 to head up the right hand side of a bouldery stream - it is easily missed. The ascent is steep and the path is faint for the most part, petering out near the summit although there is the odd cairn here and there.
Reaching the crest of the rise, we first visited the Wainwright summit then headed over to the highest point on the fell, Great Slack and then visited the South Top. The summit plateau is worth exploring - full of interest and tarns plus the views are exceptional, particularly over to Great Gable, Great End and down into Wasdale. From the South Top the route drops down, firstly to a tarn then over a crest to the idyllic and serene Sprinkling Tarn - we rested here for a while and enjoyed a lovely dip in the tarn before heading uphill towards Esk Hause.
After a short pull up to Allen Crags, from the summit we began the long transit over Glaramara's ridge - a superb undulating walk with various subsidiary summits and tarns to keep one amused plus the constant view of the Langdale Pikes for company. After passing over the summits of High House Tarn Top, Red Beck Top & Looking Steads, we made the short pull up to firstly the southern cairn on Glaramara and then on to the north east summit & wind shelter. The summit is a delight and gives a superb view back down the ridge towards Allen Crags.
There are several options back to Seatoller from Glaramara's summit - descend via Hind Gill, via Thorneythwaite Fell or go with our original plan of bagging the Nuttalls of Combe Head, Combe Door Top, Dovenest Top & Rosthwaite Cam and then descending via Combe Gill after nipping up Rosthwaite Fell to Bessyboot. From Glaramara's summit there is a 20ft rock groove to negotiate which could be tricky in the wet although there is an alternative path around the side that comes out below the crags. From the rock groove it is about a quarter of a mile to the summit of Combe Head to then a steep drop via Combe Door to the summit of Combe Door Top and then to Dovenest Top a little further on. All 3 summits are worth visiting for the views alone - particularly on such a good a day as today.
From Dovenest Top the route descended in to Great Hollow before rising out of it to climb steeply to reach the summit of Rosthwaite Cam from where there are superb views down to Tarn at Leaves, Bessyboot and right down Borrowdale to Derwent Water and on to Skiddaw & Blencathra. Unlike last time we were here, we made the short journey up on to Bessyboot, the Wainwright summit of Rosthwaite Fell from where we descended, pathless for the most part to the valley floor and Combe Gill. Once down at the gill a good path leads through woodland to eventually reach the road at Mountain View - from here it is a short walk along the road back to Seatoller.
All that was left to do was have a customary debrief, this time in the adjacent Glaramara Hotel. Another fantastic day out and lots of laughs with great company - this was one of our best days out on the fells.
Heading along the path from Seathwaite Farm towards Stockley Bridge
The first of todays fells - Black Waugh & Aaron Crags on Seathwaite Fell as seen from Stockley Bridge
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
Heading up Seathwaite Fell with the Borrowdale Valley providing the backdrop.
The path from Stockley Bridge to Sty Head can be seen below.
The path from Stockley Bridge to Sty Head can be seen below.
Base Brown with High Spy to the right
Glaramara from the ascent of Seathwaite Fell - we would be over there this afternoon
Deb & Phineas on the Wainwright Summit of Seathwaite Fell
Fudge getting a few laps in on Seathwaite Fell - Great Gable in the background
Seathwaite Fell summit plateau - L-R Lingmell, Seatallan, Yewbarrow, Great Gable & Green Gable
Great Slack - the highest point on Seathwaite Fell
Sprinkling Tarn & Great End
Just a glorious day therefore why not have a swim in the tarn - silly not to really
The author - fully immersed
Leaving Sprinkling Tarn - next stop, Allen Crags
The path from Sprinkling Tarn towards Esk Hause - the path to the right returns to Seathwaite via Ruddy Gill & Grains Gill
Esk Hause above the shelter with Ill Crag peeping out to the right. The lower slopes of Esk Pike are to the left.
The path to Allen Crags
The summit of Allen Crags
Bowfell, Ore Gap & Esk Pike from Allen Crags
Our route from Sprinkling Tarn over which can be seen, amongst others Great Gable & Green Gable.
Windy Gap is between the Gables with the scree slope of Aaron Slack descending down to Sty Head
Windy Gap is between the Gables with the scree slope of Aaron Slack descending down to Sty Head
Great End from Allen Crags
Phineas having a breather on Allen Crags
Now begins the glorious transit over the ridge between Allen Crags & Glaramara - a lovely, long rollercoaster of a walk
Crossing the ridge the Langdale Pikes come into view
The serene & peaceful High House Tarn
If you are not careful Lincomb Tarn is easily missed - would have been a shame not to have had a swim in it.
Here Alan has his second dip of the day - again with his hat on!
Here Alan has his second dip of the day - again with his hat on!
A final look at High House Tarn before we carry on along the ridge to Glaramara - Bowfell, Ore Gap & Esk Pike provide the superb backdrop
A short and enjoyable scramble leads to the summit of Looking Steads on Glaramara
My walking companions on the summit of Glaramara looking to the Langdale Pikes
(L-R Angie, Deborah, Martin, Alan, Michael & Sharon)
(L-R Angie, Deborah, Martin, Alan, Michael & Sharon)
From Glaramara's summit is a steep, 20 foot rock groove scramble which requires a bit of care but is thoroughly enjoyable
With the scramble over we now headed to Combe Head
Fudge on the summit of Combe Head
Looking into The Combe from Combe Door - our transit back to Seatoller is to the right
Combe Door Top from near Combe Door
The summit of Combe Door Top
The summit of Dovenest Top
From Dovenest Top the route drops down into the depression of Great Hollow .......
..... to climb again towards Rosthwaite Cam
Looking back to Dovenest Top, Combe Door & Combe Head from near Rosthwaite Cam
The summit of Rosthwaite Cam
Looking to Tarn at Leaves & Bessyboot
Looking back to Rosthwaite Cam & Tarn at Leaves from Bessyboot
The summit of Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot)
Dropping down to Combe Gill from Bessyboot - this part of the route is pathless for the most part
Debrief in the Glaramara Hotel in Borrowdale - what an absolutely cracking day out that was