~Haycock to Red Pike~
19th March 2022
Greendale Tarn
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Fisherground Camping & Greendale Parking
A long-awaited change in the weather motivates the writer to head for the Lakes for a two-night stay at Fisherground Campsite in Eskdale. The last time I pitched up there was 17 years ago with son, Andy and one of his mates. They have an impressive list of rules, most of which suit the majority of visitors. The short drive around to Wasdale on Saturday morning led to Greendale, a small hamlet to the west of the lake. The wind increased during the night and it was quite gusty at the start of the walk, so what might it be like on the summits?
Greendale Gill
This route matches Wainwright's Haycock 5 as found in Book Seven "The Western Fells".
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By my standards, this is an early camping trip. I can only find one earlier date, way back in 2011 when a visit to Sykeside at Brotherswater was one day earlier. Fine ravine scenery accompanies walkers up Greendale Gill.
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The approach to Greendale Tarn is a pleasant stroll across the sleeping grasses. Green will return to Greendale Gill before too long.
Haycock (left) and Scoat Fell dead ahead appear in the distance. We walk around the east shoreline of the tarn.
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Seatallan |
Winscale Hows |
We take the feint path towards Seatallan, popularly used by walkers linking said fell and Middle Fell. Soon, close to an old sheepfold, we turn north and cross Winscale Hows.
Haycock from Winscale Hows
Whilst contouring around the base of Seatallan, Haycock's southern slopes come into view. This walk then crosses the col between fells at "Pots of Ashness".
Pots of Ashness
Exactly what these Pots are, who knows? I think the "Pots" are the boggy depressions to the right of this view. High Pikehow are the area of crags over to the left at the foot of Haycock.
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It's Windy!
As you might have expected the wind speed increases as altitude is gained.
Seatallan
When I write my memoirs and list my six least favourite fells, Seatallan will sit comfortably in that set. I'm glad I've climbed it twice: once for my first Wainwright round and once for the Molly 'n Me Wainwright round and just now, that is quite enough. Blengdale is down there and nobody goes for a walk in Blengdale, well somebody did once many years ago. Apparently. But nobody walks there anymore.
Molly on top of Haycock 2,618ft asl
The final push up Haycock is up about 800ft of "grassy rake". To put that into perspective, our weekly dash up Pendle Hill from the Downham Road offers 730ft of ascent. It's now reached the point at which walking has become "arduous", a term favoured by the Mountain Weather Information Service. A short refreshment break is taken behind the wall with the incessant noise of air rushing through the stones.
To Scoat Fell
Last time we were on this ridge (29th August 2020) it was just as windy and yet also colder! Today I have gloves with me but don't need them, back then I didn't have gloves and wished I had brought a pair.
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Scoat Fell Wall |
Scoat Fell Summit 2,760ft asl |
The actual highest point on Scoat Fell is the top of the wall and you will often see a dog's ball among the summit stones. A couple of summiteers were pottering around with their phone "app" trying to determine the highest point. I found it quite amusing, it's all much the same up here and as I have said, the top of the wall is the highest point. How did you find the top before GPS and phone-based nonsense?
Steeple
No, we didn't. And no we didn't go as far as Pillar either, for just the same reason as we didn't go to Pillar in August 2020.
Red Pike (Wasdale)
But we did head for Red Pike, this boulder field being the only significant challenge.
Red Pike Summit 2,707ft asl
I met a couple of walkers from Preston up here and the chap recognised Steve Birkinshaw as he ran up to the summit. He held the record for the fastest round run around the 214 Wainwright Summits (from 21 June 2014 to 20 June 2019) at 6 days 13 hours. My personal best for all 214 stands at 39 years, but I am hoping to make improvements in this regard.
Yewbarrow
The nearest fell is Yewbarrow; further away is the Scafell Range. We are heading down to Low Tarn.
Low Tarn
Brimfull Beck
We descend down Brimfull Beck to the first footbridge which takes us on to a footpath in Over Beck. This leads all the way down to Overbeck Bridge and Wastwater.
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Wastwater
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Road Walking |
Wastwater |
It took 40 minutes to complete the walk along the road back to Greendale. Generally safe with not too much traffic; pleasant views along the way.
Greendale Parking
Ted Glen lives in the first cottage which he built himself and Mrs.Goggins has moved in with him. Postman Pat has been replaced by DP Dave and Amazon Allan who do his job in half the time without all the chatter and fuss. Pat has retired and spends much of his time tidying the roadside and litter-picking, the Post Office is now "The Old Post Office" offering B&B accommodation. Pat's son Julian is now Julia and has moved away.
Walkers: Molly and Me.
Time taken: 7hrs 30mins over a distance of about 13 miles.
Route: Greendale, Greendale Gill, Greendale Tarn, Winscale Hows, High Pikehow, Haycock. Wall walk to Scoat Fell and hence to Red Pike. Descent to Low Tarn and Brimfull Beck for Over Beck and the road walk back to Greendale.
Weather and conditions: Sunny and breezy, very windy on the tops.
Photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2022 ©
Take me back to the start ....