Tarn Crag, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg & Silver How - Sunday 20 January 2019
Route
Travellers Rest - Low Mill Bridge - Thorney How - Lancrigg - Stythwaite Steps - Cockly Crag - Tarn Crag - Codale Head - Sergeant Man - Blea Rigg - Little Castle How - Swinescar Pike - Lang How - Silver How - Grasmere - Travellers Rest
Parking
The Traveller's Rest Pub Car Park on the A591 - Grid Ref NY336089. Nearest postcode is LA22 9RR.
(Please discuss parking with the pub staff - they are happy for you to use the Car Park as long as you visit the pub on completion of your walk). Their parking fee (currently £5) can be deducted from the purchase of drinks.
Mileage
10.8 miles
Terrain
Quiet lanes and good mountain paths although in snow some of the paths were buried therefore ensure you are able to navigate competently. We wore microspikes from the ascent of Tarn Crag to the descent of Silver How.
Weather
Snow on the ground with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
2434ft (742m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Travellers Rest - Low Mill Bridge - Thorney How - Lancrigg - Stythwaite Steps - Cockly Crag - Tarn Crag - Codale Head - Sergeant Man - Blea Rigg - Little Castle How - Swinescar Pike - Lang How - Silver How - Grasmere - Travellers Rest
Parking
The Traveller's Rest Pub Car Park on the A591 - Grid Ref NY336089. Nearest postcode is LA22 9RR.
(Please discuss parking with the pub staff - they are happy for you to use the Car Park as long as you visit the pub on completion of your walk). Their parking fee (currently £5) can be deducted from the purchase of drinks.
Mileage
10.8 miles
Terrain
Quiet lanes and good mountain paths although in snow some of the paths were buried therefore ensure you are able to navigate competently. We wore microspikes from the ascent of Tarn Crag to the descent of Silver How.
Weather
Snow on the ground with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
2434ft (742m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
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Walk Description
A lovely early morning misty glow at the start point - The Travellers Rest just outside Grasmere
Helm Crag through the low cloud
Silver How - we would be over there in a few hours
Stepping Stones over the River Rothay
This was a lovely start to todays walk as we head along the road to Thorney How - very atmospheric looking back to Seat Sandal & Stone Arthur
Thorney How
The property is an ex farm dwelling which became a Youth Hostel in 1932. It passed into private ownership in 2011 and whilst no longer a Youth Hostel, it still provides accommodation, food, drinks and an on site bunkhouse.
The property is an ex farm dwelling which became a Youth Hostel in 1932. It passed into private ownership in 2011 and whilst no longer a Youth Hostel, it still provides accommodation, food, drinks and an on site bunkhouse.
Just along the lane from Thorney How is Lancrigg, a very nice Country House Hotel which is a perfect stopping off point whether on the way to/from Helm Crag. When guiding on the Coast to Coast I often detour slightly off the main route & bring groups here as the bar is open all day and the grounds are glorious. We were just passing through today and as it was early did not stop for a drink - the geezer wasn't waving at us by the way!
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)
Squirrel carving in the grounds of Lancrigg
Heading into Far Easedale
Gibson Knott above us as we head for Stythwaite Steps
Crossing the bridge over Far Easedale Gill at Stythwaite Steps
Just off the path to the left 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.
Climbing out of Far Easedale towards the east ridge of Tarn Crag
Tarn Crag peeps up as we head along the east ridge
A beautiful inversion in the valley near Grasmere as we look back towards Nab Scar
Looking over Gibson Knott to Seat Sandal, St Sunday Crag & Fairfield with Helm Crag to the right
Tarn Crag to the left is now in full view as we climb to the ridge
Easedale Tarn sitting below Great Castle How & Blea Rigg - this would be our return route
It wasn't that cold today really
Looking up to Angie & Fudge who are atop Tarn Crag
An Eastern Fells panorama
The summit of Tarn Crag
The very pretty Codale Tarn
Looking over Blea Rigg to the Coniston Fells. The light was just fantastic today as we head for Codale Head.
Off now to Codale Head - just look at that view
The little chap loves nothing better than a good old prat about in the white stuff
Approaching Codale Head
On the summit of Codale Head looking to Sergeant Man
The snowy summit cairn on Codale Head
These were the first people we had seen all day as we approach Sergeant Man
Leaving Sergeant Man for Blea Rigg
Stickle Tarn below with Pavey Ark to the right
Footsteps in the snow as we start the long transit to Blea Rigg from Sergeant Man
A tale of two tarns - Codale & Easedale
Stickle Tarn, Harrison Stickle & Pavey Ark
Approaching the summit of Blea Rigg
Another view of Easedale Tarn this time from Blea Rigg
The summit of Blea Rigg
Another look at the summit of Blea Rigg - this time from below
Looking back along the ridge to Blea Rigg
The long but delightful transit to Silver How which is away in the distance
Approaching Silver How
The summit of Silver How
Looking down on Grasmere Water from Silver How
The steep descent back to Grasmere from Silver How