Sergeant Man, High Raise & Tarn Crag - Wednesday 11 June 2025
Route
Grasmere - Easedale - New Bridge - Sourmilk Gill - Easedale Tarn - Codale Tarn - Belles Knott - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Codale Head - Tarn Crag - Greathead Crag - Stythwaite Steps - Lancrigg - Grasmere
Parking
There are many places to park in Grasmere, mostly Pay & Display. Free parking is to be had in a few lay-bys on the A591. For today's walk we parked in the large lay-by south of The Travellers Rest pub at Grid Reference NY 33742 08609. The nearest postcode is LA22 9RG.
Mileage
10.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Gloriously sunny most of the day with excellent visibility
Time Taken
6hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
2725ft (831m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Paul Warren & Floki
Grasmere - Easedale - New Bridge - Sourmilk Gill - Easedale Tarn - Codale Tarn - Belles Knott - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Codale Head - Tarn Crag - Greathead Crag - Stythwaite Steps - Lancrigg - Grasmere
Parking
There are many places to park in Grasmere, mostly Pay & Display. Free parking is to be had in a few lay-bys on the A591. For today's walk we parked in the large lay-by south of The Travellers Rest pub at Grid Reference NY 33742 08609. The nearest postcode is LA22 9RG.
Mileage
10.4 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Gloriously sunny most of the day with excellent visibility
Time Taken
6hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
2725ft (831m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Paul Warren & Floki
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
Prior to the walk I met up with my walking companions Paul, Nicky & Floki at Freda & Ray's Cafe in Grasmere. As we enjoyed a very tasty Bacon Bap, Floki decided some pre-walk arsing about was in order.
Floki is no ordinary dog - between 1 December 2024 & 28 February 2025 both he and his owner Nicky completed a Winter Round of all 214 Wainwright Fells - what an achievement.
Floki is no ordinary dog - between 1 December 2024 & 28 February 2025 both he and his owner Nicky completed a Winter Round of all 214 Wainwright Fells - what an achievement.
Outside Freda & Ray's with Paul - we served together in HMS ST ALBANS between 2001 & 2003 and have remained friends ever since
Starting from Freda & Ray's we took the road towards Allan Bank seen here on the extreme right
Leaving the tarmac at the turning for Allan Bank, the route heads on a path alongside Easedale Road. The fells in the distance are Helm Crag to the left & Seat Sandal to the right.
Just before the access track for Lancrigg we turned left to cross the beck and headed into Easedale
Passing to the left of New Bridge - built in 1997 to replace the former bridge over Easedale Beck
Our first view of the impressive Sourmilk Gill. Our route from here initially heads to the left then swings around to the right below Brinhowe Crag to then pass to the left of the gill.
Looking back into Lower Easedale with Sourmilk Gill below. Helm Crag is over to the left with Heron Pike centre and Nab Scar to the right.
Up close and personal with the upper waterfall of Sourmilk Gill
The upper waterfall of Sourmilk Gill (Click Play to view)
Once past the upper waterfall the gradient eases as we approach Easedale Tarn
The glorious panorama of Easedale Tarn looking to Tarn Crag
Tarn Crag over Easedale Tarn
Looking to our onward route from the eastern end of Easedale Tarn. There are several options regarding route selection from this point on and these will be explained as the walk progresses.
The large stone boulder at the top of Sour Milk Gill that marks the site of the old refreshment hut that used to be here many years ago. The boulder actually formed part of one of the walls of the hut. Sadly the hut decayed over time, particularly in the 1930s and during the 1960s was vandalised resulting in the materials being removed from the site. For many years the hut was run by Mr "Swanny" Wilson, at one time the proprietor of the Swan Hotel, who provided "sumptuous teas at a shilling a head"
The hut circa 1908 with the large boulder forming part of the outer east wall - the bearded chap standing is Mr Wilson
The interior of the hut and the east wall boulder circa 1908 with Mr Wilson in the doorway
Approximately half way along the lakeshore of Easedale Tarn is a small cairn at Grid Reference NY 308 086. This small pile of stones marks the start of a path that heads up to Blea Rigg passing in between Looking How & Blea Crag. This is another option for the walker who wants to add another Wainwright Fell to today's tally - from Blea Rigg a very pleasant wander to the north west leads to Sergeant Man.
The pointed top of Belles Knott now in view as we leave the tarn and continue up the valley path
Easedale Tarn as we start to ascend towards Belles Knott
The east ridge of Belles Knott from the path
Nicky & Paul follow me up the excellent path towards Belles Knott
Belles Knott & its east ridge - we would be climbing up there soon but accessing the summit from the south east after first visiting Codale Tarn. The ridge looks inviting from here and I made a mental note to climb that way in the not too distant future.
At Grid Reference NY 29651 08496 a cairn is reached which marks the turn off for those wanting to visit Codale Tarn & climb Belles Knott. We would be turning to the right here and returning to this spot to then continue on towards Sergeant Man. It should be noted that the paths in and around the tarn & Belles Knott are not marked on the OS Map.
The beautiful and very quiet Codale Tarn with Lang Crag beyond. Should you wish to curtail your walk here and return to Grasmere there is a path heading up on to the ridge from the far end of the tarn.
The rocky outcrop that marks the summit of Belles Knott
Easedale Tarn from Belles Knott
The path to Sergeant Man continues to rise gently as we look back to Codale Tarn, Belles Knott & Easedale Tarn
Looking south to Stickle Tarn & The Langdale Pikes with the Coniston Fells beyond
After gaining height gently the route approaches Sergeant Man
The summit of Sergeant Man with Pavey Ark over to the left and Crinkle Crags & Bowfell beyond
Approaching High Raise from Sergeant Man and the glorious view to the south west opens up - fells galore. This is one of my favourite views in the entire Lake District.
With Paul on the summit of High Raise - there are two mountains that share the name, the other is in the Far Eastern Fells above Haweswater
Looking over Langstrath from the summit of High Raise to Glaramara with the unmistakeable pudding shape of Great Gable centre left with Pillar centre
Another view south west from High Raise to Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great End, Seatallan & Great Gable
Nicky, Paul and of course Floki on the summit of High Raise - and what a backdrop
The Langdale Pikes & Sergeant Man from the path to Codale Head
The summit of Codale Head looking back to High Raise
The path from Codale Head to Tarn Crag is littered with small unnamed tarns
Heading for Tarn Crag looking over to the Eastern Fells
Codale Tarn & Belles Knott from the ridge over to Tarn Crag
Looking back to Codale Head as we near Tarn Crag
Floki adorning the lovely summit of Tarn Crag
From Tarn Crag the path descends into Grasmere via Greathead Crag
Looking over Deer Bields to Pike of Carrs, Gibson Knott and beyond to the Eastern Fells from Tarn Crag's summit
Tarn Crag's rocky eastern face
Easedale Tarn
Helm Crag
Passing a local family as we near Stythwaite Steps
Just off the path to the right are these two interesting features which Wainwright noted as "interesting boulders" (Tarn Crag 6).
The larger of the two boulders is sporting a badly fitting heather wig whilst the other has a small tree growing out of a large crack in the rock.
The larger of the two boulders is sporting a badly fitting heather wig whilst the other has a small tree growing out of a large crack in the rock.
The bridge over Far Easedale Gill at Stythwaite Steps
The Dorothy Wordsworth Memorial
The grounds of Lancrigg are said to be the place where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy created much of his famous work. The grounds inspired his poetry and is home to this memorial which marks the spot where she would sit and write the words her brother William Wordsworth was reciting to her while he walked. The transcription on the stone is in Latin and reads:
"Hoc in supercilic sedebat Dorothea Wordsworth dum ex ore fratis prope inambulantis carmina descrebit"
(Translated reads - Dorothea Wordsworth used to sit at this spot writing down the poems that her brother dictated as he walked nearby)
The grounds of Lancrigg are said to be the place where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy created much of his famous work. The grounds inspired his poetry and is home to this memorial which marks the spot where she would sit and write the words her brother William Wordsworth was reciting to her while he walked. The transcription on the stone is in Latin and reads:
"Hoc in supercilic sedebat Dorothea Wordsworth dum ex ore fratis prope inambulantis carmina descrebit"
(Translated reads - Dorothea Wordsworth used to sit at this spot writing down the poems that her brother dictated as he walked nearby)
Safely back in Grasmere and what better way to end the walk than with a nice pint of the cold stuff