~Western Excursion Part Two~
3rd March 2011
Big Walk Day! It was always the plan to find a walk that would start and finish at the pub. The priority was to include Buckbarrow and Seatallan as these would be new to me, but they tend to make up a relatively short walk in many folk's books, so I spent some time working out a route to use up most of the day.
Seatallan Summit
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
The Strands Inn
The start point was the pub and the initial route was past the campsite and then onwards to Harrow Head. Start time: 0800hrs.
Buckbarrow
Buckbarrow has a very attractive frontage, I've viewed it many times, but never been on the fell itself.
Buckbarrow
I'm three quarters of the way up and I can see the route I took across the fields from Nether Wasdale.
Buckbarrow Summit(s)
Buckbarrow has three bumps which, by Wainwright standards, could be the summit. I'm on the one which provides the best views of Wasdale, the next one in the centre of the photo is the one I thought AW intended as the summit - the one behind is higher but doesn't have the views. Visit them all and you can't go wrong. The Book only offers Buckbarrow four pages, the minimum treatment. I think it deserves at least six.
Wasdale View
What a day! It's sunny and warm. A little hazy to the south and east and at lower levels, but I'm heading north and upwards.
The Scafells
From Buckbarrow to Middle Fell (l) and The Scafells. Sunrays and sunhaze.
Seatallan
The route to Seatallan. I wonder why Wainwright does not offer a "Ridge Route" between parent and son, Seatallan and Buckbarrow? It's a bit of a trudge up to Seatallan, but there are plenty of trudgier trudges, this isn't too bad.
Seatallan Summit
Not a bad fell top, plenty of space, views and a good shelter.
Great Gable
The view from the top: Kirk Fell and Great Gable with a bit of Yewbarrow closer to the camera.
View to The Scafells
Showing the symmetry of Scafell Pike.
Haycock
The route to Haycock crosses the rocky area, known as Pots of Ashness. The climb up to Haycock summit from the dip is 1000ft!
Haycock
The way up uses a grassy rake which you may be able to see on the left flank of the fell.
Seatallan
The uneven slope gives two shadows. The valley is home to the River Bleng, how many of you have walked alongside the River Bleng?
Harter Fell
Like I said, it's rather hazy in the valleys and further south.
Haycock Summit
That was hard! The climb up the grassy rake is a tough one. The summit of Haycock is the bump on the right.
Scoat Tarn beneath Red Pike (Wasdale)
Scoat Fell
The next target is Scoat Fell. It's still quite warm, no wind. The route to Scoat Fell needs no navigational skills, follow the wall.
Caw Fell and Iron Crag from Haycock
A Fellwalker!
Four and a half hours in, I meet another walker. A chap from London enjoying a holiday based in Buttermere.
Steeple from Scoat Fell
I decided it would be rude not to make the short journey across to Steeple, so I politely made my way across and back again.
Steeple Summit
Scoat Fell Summit
Maybe the only Lakeland fell summit with the cairn on a wall. Scoat Fell is not often climbed directly, I assume, but my descent route was really enjoyable and therefore it would make a good route up. First up is the field of broken rocks.
Paraglacial Action, perhaps
Red Pike (Wasdale)
Not for me today, I'm taking Scoat Beck down to the tarn.
Scoat Tarn
Seatallan directly behind and Middle Fell to the left.
Scoat Tarn
Split Boulder, Scoat Tarn
Nether Beck
The long valley of Nether Beck is an interesting place, with waterfalls lower down and boulders all over the place higher up. The route from Netherbeck bridge to Scoat Fell summit is 4.25 miles.
Nether Beck
The Scafells from Nether Beck
Observant viewers may notice glacial striations in the rock near the camera. Wastwater has come into view.
Yewbarrow
Wastwater
My route back to Nether Wasdale now hits tarmac. I take the turning to Greendale where a footpath leads across fields back to base.
Buckbarrow
Refreshment Opportunity
Walkers: Just Me
Time taken: 8hrs 30mins over a distance of about 14.5 miles.
Route: Nether Wasdale, Harrow Head, Buckbarrow, Glade How, Seatallan, Pots of Ashness, Haycock, Steeple, Scoat Fell, Scoat Tarn, Nether Beck, Wasdale Road, Greendale, Nether Wasdale
Weather and conditions: Sunny all day.
Greetings Count: Two, one on Scoat Fell and one in Nether Beck.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Nothing to report, but the pub will be reviewed at the end of my stay.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 ©
Take me back to the start ....