~Eagle Crag~
15th April 2023
Molly on top of Eagle Crag
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Today, the team of 3 set off walking from the bus stop in Rosthwaite, Borrowdale at 10:50hrs. We had parked at the rugby club in Keswick (presently £5 for the day) and caught the 77A Borrowdale Rambler to get around any parking issues in Borrowdale. This is a special walk on a fabulous day for walking and Peter 'n I decided to start with a hearty breakfast at Basecamp North (see RRR later) on the A66 - they open at 0900hrs, so we didn't leave home(s) until 0700hrs, an hour later than the normal starting time.
The Cumbria Way
In truth, I had intended to buy tickets to Stonethwaite, but got muddled; in the event this was a better start point for today's walk with us almost immediately on The Cumbria Way and heading for the foot of Langstrath Beck at Smithymire Island. All bus journeys remain at £2 per passenger, unless you have a bus pass, in which case it will probably cost you less.
Eagle Crag
This will be Molly's 214th Wainwright summit if all goes to plan. After much thought, I decided this would be the best way up but I was aware that Molly might need a shove or two on the steep sections high up. Readers should refer to Wainwright's Book Three; Eagle Crag p.3 - we are on Route A. Eagle Crag provides a beautiful sight in the evening light when viewed from Stonethwaite.
Footbridge at Smithymire Island
I'm not entirely sure where or what is Smithymire Island; there is a prominent spur of land between the meeeting waters of Langstrath Beck and Greenup Gill - this could be the island, even though it isn't one. Molly hasn't turned round and given up, she is just making sure the rest of us are heading the same way.
Steep Ascent
It's steeper than it looks; it's about 400ft of ascent until we reach the first crag; walkers should note that this is not a footpath and not shown on OS maps, however it is a permissible and recommended route (by Wainwright) of ascent and much used.
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Views down Stonethwaite Beck to Borrowdale
Back in June 2020 and I can't remember the rules on travel etc. at the time, me n' Molly reached Sergeant's Crag from High Raise and should have continued onto Eagle Crag but the day was a scorcher and I decided we should head down to the pools of Langstrath for a dip, missing the opportunity to bag Eagle Crag on that occasion.
Peter and Molly
Just here is a fence with a stile; others have forced the fence wire and Molly could crawl under. You will notice the muddy path and the paths up here were largely muddy after a rather wet six weeks or so.
Borrowdale
An obvious benefit of gaining height are the expanding views into Borrowdale and Langstrath.
Langstrath
Molly n' me on top of Eagle Crag 1,650ft asl
So, Molly completes the set of Wainwright Summits. Her first one was Binsey, it's been a great adventure all along the way, interrupted by Covid and The Restrictions (maybe a name for rock group in the future?). I think we really ought to have finished a couple of years ago, but that's how it goes sometimes. I never made a great plan for completion; we just got down to a dozen or so and I picked off the ones which I was certain shouldn't be the last and more by accident than design, Eagle Crag was left to last.
Molly the Collie on No.214
Sergeant's Crag
A simple ridge route to Sergeant's Crag is on offer and is all done on the right-hand side of the wall as we look here. The stile doesn't come into play on our route. It's often wet under foot.
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Molly leads the way and we enjoy the view to the north on this short journey to the next fell top.
Molly on top of Sergeant's Crag 1,873ft asl
Well, I suppose this is No.1 on another trip around the fells.....
Peter on top of Sergeant's Crag
All we need to do now is find a way down into Langstrath Beck.
Langstrath
Well, we made it up as we went along, losing height gradually as we progressed towards the footbridge at the confluence of Stake Beck and Langstrath Beck. In the event, we found the well-worn path of The Cumbria Way before we reached the bridge.
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Blackmoss Pot
Playpool for the masses in the warmer weather. Pity they don't know how to tidy up after themselves.
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We cross the footbridge to gain the track on the south-west side of Stonethwaite Beck.
The Langstrath Country Inn
We had a bus to catch on the main road (B5289), so no time to pause for light refreshments.
The Bus Stop
Fellwalker Tony took this photo of Eagle Crag from Grange Fell at about the right time.
Walkers: Peter, Me n' Molly
Time taken: 5hrs 20mins over distance of about 10 miles.
Route: Rosthwaite, Cumbria Way to Smithymire Island, Wainwright recommended "Route A" up Eagle Crag. Ridge route to Sergeant's Crag and descent route between Blea Crag and Brown Crag to the Cumbria Way. Return down the valley and along to Stonethwaite and the main road for the bus.
Weather and Conditions: A perfect day for fellwalking; light winds, plenty of sunshine, not too warm.
Greetings: Very few, I had hoped for a welcome group on Eagle Crag to take our group photo, but we saw nobody else on the way up or on top. The first chap was a runner; the second was on his 'phone. I don't think we had anything resembling a conversation until we passed a farming group near Stonethwaite who greeted us and liked the look of Molly.
Refreshments: Basecamp North on the A66 near Penruddock is a good place, but not easy to see at 60mph on the fast road. Opens at 9am and was busy fifteen minutes later; get there early. The premises boast a well-stocked farm shop and the breakfast is generous and service excellent. Dogs welcome.
A near miss...almost Eagle Crag 25th June 2020
Nearly all photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2023 ©
Take me back to the start ....