Date: 24-Nov-2010
Map: Landranger 90
Weather: Clear, cloudy, with occasional
sunshine. Dry but chilly
From Rosthwaite up the valley to Brund
Fell, then down and across to Great Crag. Steeply down to
Langstrath and steeply up the other side to Bessyboot.
Steeply down once more to the valley and return to
Rosthwaite along the beck :
9.3 miles as measured on Satmap GPS
I stayed
up in Rosthwaite the night before and it was nice avoid the
2 hour drive up from Manchester and have a leisurely
breakfast. The forecast the previous day was good, but when
I went outside to sort some kit it was a bit misty, with the
distinct smell of wood burning on the air. Disappointing but
then again the clouds always give a good contrast against
the fells and blue skies when the sun comes out. I was
feeling a bit stiff legged after yesterdays walk up to Great
End, but consoled myself with thinking I had less ascent
than yesterday - wrong yet again. I walked with Cogstar and
Dibble from the walking forum, and bang on 9am Dibble came
screeching to a halt, worried that she was holding us up.
She tore off up the start of the walk uphill leaving Paul
and I in her wake - she did calm down after a while though.
The first Wainwright of the day was Brund Fell, the highest
point on Grange Fell which includes Kings How - a better
viewpoint apparently - I'll have to return to find out that
one. The path took us steadily up a valley from Rosthwaite
and we could have walked all the way up to the hause and
turned left up to the top. But there was a good path that
turns off the main path , crosses the beck, and drops
downhill for a stretch around the small pine woodland - much
to the annoyance of some - questioning my route finding
skills, as if. We reached a large ladder stile in the wall
which was ok for us but not so good for the 2 collies, but
Dibble managed to drag them up and over. Then it was a steep
huffing and puffing uphill towards the summit of Brund Fell.
The view back down to Rosthwaite and beyond was superb and
as we got to the summit we had a grand vista once more.
looking
down to the start at Rosthwaite - Great Gable up to the
right
nearly up
to the summit of Brund Fell - Great How to the left
the last
bit up to the summit
the view
into the sun - spot the Pike of Stickle
the
Helvellyn range in cloud beyond High Tove
looking over to
Cat Bells with Derwent Water down to the right
the hause
between Brund Fell and Great Crag, or Rosthwaite and
Watendlath
blue
skies and sunshine on the way to Great Crag
Down below us in the valley was the shapely Castle Crag
sitting above the frosted fields of Borrowdale - it's a
favourite corner of the Lake District for me. Into the sun
lay the bigger hills shielded by the clouds, but we had a
good view over to the Cat Bells ridge with High Spy and Dale
Head beyond - sometimes it's hard to recognise these hills
from a different aspect. High Tove, High Seat and co were on
the other side of the valley. This walk completed the
Central Fells for me and I'm getting closer to the end of my
ticklist. It was chilly on top and we adjusted our garb
before moving off this fine summit. We made our way down a
boggy path, which thankfully remained partly frozen and
saved our boots for later. On a warmer day it would have
been a veritable bog trot. We were soon down at the hause
between Watendlath and Rosthwaite at Puddingstone Bank and
on the path we had picked out from the summit of Brund Fell.
The way ahead was fairly obvious and obviously boggy, so we
tried to tippy toe across which is of course a complete
waste of time - if it's boggy you'll sink. But we managed to
keep dry feet as the ground firmed up in the lee of the hill
and the path up to Great Crag steepened. This was another
finely chosen Wainwright with superb views and it is
relatively easy to get too. Your reward for the climb up
here are the 360deg views - the sun was shining and the only
downside of the day was coming soon - the drop down to the
valley before ascending Bessyboot.
the view
over to Bleaberry Fell
looking
down on Seathwaite from Great Crag
Bessyboot
across the valley. Langstrath up to the left
Eagle Crag with
Langstrath lit up in a shaft of sunlight
walls and
some falls off Great Crag
Honister
Pass is central to the picture, Bessyboot to the left
Eagle
Crag ahead - see where the sheep have been
whatever they
are waiting for they don't look very happy
To get over to Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot as chosen by
Wainwright) we had to lose all the height we had gained and
then ascend up a very steep, seemingly impossible route. The
drop down to Stonethwaite off Great Crag was OK though, even
though it was steep, it was on the sunny side of the valley
and the footing was good - but torture for the knees. We
were soon down to the valley where we had to walk back to
Stonethwaite to cross over the beck, before turning back
towards the south west. There was still some doubt about my
route planning but I knew we would be ok. We walked past
frosty fields with several green patches dotted around. -
these were where the sheep had been resting. They weren't
resting when we passed though as they were already penned in
for the tups! Over the bridge and past the cottages and The
Langstrath Inn, where the food is meant to be excellent, but
I've yet to sample it. I wasn't sure where the footpath
started to cut up the hillside to Bessyboot, but when we
reached a convenient campsite toilet block, gates led us
across the lane to the start of a very steep ascent up
through the trees. The path was very well laid, a long
staircase up, with me at the back as usual plodding steadily
upwards. We paused often to gaze back down to the valley and
north to Skiddaw, which was wearing it's very own weather
system. I knew it would be worth it when we got to the top
as steep sided hills always give good views down over the
valleys. As we climbed above the treeline Paul shouted down
'I feel like a Hobbit' - I only heard 'I feel like a --it' -
not very polite in company I thought. As we got higher the
path dipped down beside some falls towards the top of the
steep part, which must be wonderful in summer when the sun
is shining down. We came out onto higher ground and
the gradient eased off as the path wound around towards the
summit of Bessyboot. Wainwright obviously chose this crag
rather than the higher Rosthwaite Fell for the views it
affords. It was fantastic looking back across the valleys
and north up Borrowdale,east to a snowy looking Helvellyn
and west up to the Honister Pass with Fleetwith Pike
prominent. All the big boys to the south were in cloud
except for Great Gable, but we were in the clear merrily
snapping away - some cracking pictures today even though I
say it myself.
the view back
down to Langstrath from the climb up Bessyboot
just
coming
getting
higher - Ullscarf across the valley
we walked
down steeply the other side through the trees
glorious
views back down the Langstrath valley towards Castle
Crag
Hobbit
country, mind where you step
some
small falls at the top of the climb, after this you're
almost there
We finished gazing around and dropped down towards the
Tarn at Leaves - strange name that one - and we found some
shelter for a quick lunch break. It didn't take long to get
cold fingers so we didn't wait too long before setting off
again heading down into the Seathwaite valley. Dibble was in
a bit of a rush to get home, so we let her push on and said
our goodbyes. We stayed and enjoyed the spectacular light
thrown onto Castle Crag and the valley below - we must have
broken the 'Guiness Book of Records' for most shots taken
from a single spot. The low afternoon sun was casting
wonderful long shadows in the fields - still frosty and
likely to be for a good while yet. The route down beside
Rottenstone Beck was steep but we stayed on the southern
side and stopped often to admire the surrounds, so easing
the journey down. We could see Dibble legging it along at a
good pace and once we were down in the valley we walked
around the base of Thorneythwaite Crags down to the road.
Here we crossed over to meet up with the Allerdale Ramble
path, crossing the Nichol Dub to walk along the woodland
path. We passed a field full of sheep with three yellow rams
in it - they looked like they'd had a good time of it
despite the cold. We followed the river around to
Longthwaite then re-crossed the water by a bridge, wandering
across fields back to the start at Rosthwaite. A great walk
after only 5 pints the night before, and well worth the
effort, especially the route up Bessyboot - as always the
reward for your efforts are the views all around - assuming
it's not raining of course.
to the west
Fleetwith Pike marks the Honister Pass, with Dale Head to
the right
magnificent
360deg views - this to the north
Tarn at
Leaves
on our
way down we start to get great light
and
we took loads of these
steep enough
down to below Thorneythwaite Crags
looking
north with beautiful late afternoon sunlight
almost
down to the Borrowdale road
a last look at
the fells in the fading light
Where now:
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