Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat & High Tove - Thursday 19 July 2018
Route
Keswick - Rakefoot - Walla Crag - Bleaberry Fell - High Seat - High Tove - Watendlath - Surprise View - Ashness Bridge - Ashness Landing Stage - Friars Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty in Keswick - both free & pay/display
Mileage
13 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & woodland paths with some road walking between Surprise View & Ashness Jetty. It should be noted that the section between Bleaberry Fell & High Tove is notoriously wet however we completed this walk during a very dry spell therefore no boggy conditions were encountered.
Weather
Warm and sunny with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
8hrs
Total Ascent
4379ft (1335m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Keswick - Rakefoot - Walla Crag - Bleaberry Fell - High Seat - High Tove - Watendlath - Surprise View - Ashness Bridge - Ashness Landing Stage - Friars Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty in Keswick - both free & pay/display
Mileage
13 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & woodland paths with some road walking between Surprise View & Ashness Jetty. It should be noted that the section between Bleaberry Fell & High Tove is notoriously wet however we completed this walk during a very dry spell therefore no boggy conditions were encountered.
Weather
Warm and sunny with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
8hrs
Total Ascent
4379ft (1335m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
The fells of Bleaberry Fell, High Seat & High Tove are generally regarded as ones to be avoided because of their well-known swamp like features and resemblance to a swimming pool rather than a glorious fell walk. Agreed, the ridge between the 3 fells is notoriously boggy but my advice is to enjoy this walk after a prolonged period of dry weather. That is exactly what we did today. Add into this a visit to the beautiful hamlet of Watendlath and a return via the delightful valley floor - it was safe to say we were in for a treat on this glorious weather day.
The walk started from Keswick and after parking our car on High Hill we meandered through the town and headed out to Rakefoot to begin the ascent of Walla Crag - a delightful walk that, provided you look back during the ascent gives excellent views of Skiddaw & Blencathra. From the summit of Walla Crag the path can clearly be seen leading over to Bleaberry Fell and it is a pleasant amble over fairly level terrain before the steepness increases markedly to reach the summit plateau.
On a good weather day like we had today the walk over to High Tove via High Seat could be seen stretching away in the distance. The terrain was very dry and was a welcome change from when I came the opposite way from Ullscarf back in September 2017 - I could hardly stay on my feet that day through the bog. Today though was completely different and we were soon on High Seat's summit which gives awesome views over to The Dodds & Helvellyn as well as back to Blencathra & Skiddaw. It was a similar story regarding the terrain as we made our way over to High Tove - the notorious Pewits were dry and made a pleasant transit in order to attain the summit.
From High Tove there is an option to nip over to bag the Wainwright of Armboth Fell - it is about a mile round trip over fairly level ground. We gave it a miss today and instead headed west to locate the gate that would lead us to the path that would deliver us to Watendlath. The path is firstly a grassy swathe that drops down to a gate from where the gradient steepens on a flagged path that would be quite lethal in the wet or ice. The gradient then eased to then zig zag down the fell side to reach Watendlath where we enjoyed a pleasant half hour in the cafe there.
The climbing was now all over and after crossing the packhorse bridge we walked through the valley alongside Watendlath Beck to reach firstly Surprise View and then Ashness Bridge. Crossing the B5289 we then headed along the lake shore of Derwent Water to pass under Falcon Crag to reach Friars Crag and ultimately Keswick. All that was left to do now was to enjoy a debrief in The Lake Road Inn. Don't let the horror stories put you off - it is when you walk these fells that make the difference - they are a delight.
The walk started from Keswick and after parking our car on High Hill we meandered through the town and headed out to Rakefoot to begin the ascent of Walla Crag - a delightful walk that, provided you look back during the ascent gives excellent views of Skiddaw & Blencathra. From the summit of Walla Crag the path can clearly be seen leading over to Bleaberry Fell and it is a pleasant amble over fairly level terrain before the steepness increases markedly to reach the summit plateau.
On a good weather day like we had today the walk over to High Tove via High Seat could be seen stretching away in the distance. The terrain was very dry and was a welcome change from when I came the opposite way from Ullscarf back in September 2017 - I could hardly stay on my feet that day through the bog. Today though was completely different and we were soon on High Seat's summit which gives awesome views over to The Dodds & Helvellyn as well as back to Blencathra & Skiddaw. It was a similar story regarding the terrain as we made our way over to High Tove - the notorious Pewits were dry and made a pleasant transit in order to attain the summit.
From High Tove there is an option to nip over to bag the Wainwright of Armboth Fell - it is about a mile round trip over fairly level ground. We gave it a miss today and instead headed west to locate the gate that would lead us to the path that would deliver us to Watendlath. The path is firstly a grassy swathe that drops down to a gate from where the gradient steepens on a flagged path that would be quite lethal in the wet or ice. The gradient then eased to then zig zag down the fell side to reach Watendlath where we enjoyed a pleasant half hour in the cafe there.
The climbing was now all over and after crossing the packhorse bridge we walked through the valley alongside Watendlath Beck to reach firstly Surprise View and then Ashness Bridge. Crossing the B5289 we then headed along the lake shore of Derwent Water to pass under Falcon Crag to reach Friars Crag and ultimately Keswick. All that was left to do now was to enjoy a debrief in The Lake Road Inn. Don't let the horror stories put you off - it is when you walk these fells that make the difference - they are a delight.
Yes I know it is only 5 minutes into the walk but when a cafe avails itself you just have to stop and sample the fare!
From near the Cafe a sign points the way towards the farm at Rakefoot
Glorious views over Derwent Water to the North Western Fells
On the path above Rakefoot leading to Walla Crag - Skiddaw & Blencathra provide a glorious backdrop
A Northern Fells panorama
Heading for Walla Crag
For a modest summit Walla Crag provides fantastic views - here we are looking over to Cat Bells, Coledale & Newlands
On the summit of Walla Crag
The summit of Walla Crag - not a bad view is it?
From Walla Crag a myriad of paths head in various directions - our route to Bleaberry Fell can be seen meandering its way over the fell side - firstly towards Brown Knotts and then to Bleaberry Fell which is left of centre. The path heading off to the right leads to Ashness Bridge.
The steep and rocky incline to Bleaberry Fell's summit
The summit shelter on Bleaberry Fell looking to the Skiddaw Range & Blencathra
Heading for High Seat
Looking back to Bleaberry Fell from the transit to High Seat. You certainly take your chance with the area around here - the bogginess is written in folklore. It was all dry as a bone today - certainly the best time to be up on these fells.
The cairn on the summit of High Seat - Derwent Water & Bassenthwaite Lake to the rear.
A High Seat panorama complete with a furry photobomber
The Trig Point on the summit of High Seat - Blencathra to the left with Clough Head to the right
A little further round to the east on High Seat - this time looking to The Dodds & the Helvellyn Range
Not a bad lunch stop today on the summit of High Seat
Heading for High Tove over the bone dry Pewits - different story after rain believe me
Looking back to High Seat from The Pewits
The summit of High Tove looking to Armboth Fell & the Helvellyn Range
High Tove looking back to High Seat
From High Tove's summit a gate leads to a grassy path heading for Watendlath
Once through this gate the path steepens markedly most of the way to Watendlath
Watendlath Tarn
After a while the gradient relents and the path then zig zags across the fell side. Ether Knott is the fell to the centre of shot.
Fold Head Farm in Watendlath.
The farmhouse was used by Sir Hugh Walpole as the fictional home of 'Judith Paris' - one of his Herries Saga of four novels published in the early 1930s.
The farmhouse was used by Sir Hugh Walpole as the fictional home of 'Judith Paris' - one of his Herries Saga of four novels published in the early 1930s.
I know, I know - two cafe stops in the space of one walk. This one in Watendlath is a delight.
Rockin Robin pays us a visit in Watendlath and clearly likes "eau du Rucksack"
The beautiful packhorse bridge over Watendlath Beck
Watendlath Tarn
Did he put this in himself? I doubt it although someone else may have on his behalf. I know HRH is a frequent visitor to nearby Rosthwaite.
From Watendlath a path heads north to follow Watendlath Beck through the valley
Glorious walking now along the valley floor with Ether Knott up tp the left
Reecastle Crag
Watendlath Beck
A handy triangle on the valley floor points the way over the bridge back to Keswick
Surprise View
Ashness Bridge
Heading along Derwent lake shore back to Keswick with the Skiddaw range for company
Falcon Crag above Derwent Water
The walk passes through Hope Park before arriving in Keswick
No thanks - two cafes was enough!