Tuesday 22nd June 2004

Start point: Patterdale (NY 390 160)

Patterdale - Pinnacle Ridge - Gavel Pike (72) - Saint Sunday Crag (73) - Cofa Pike (74) - Fairfield (75) - Seat Sandal (76) - Grisedale Tarn - Patterdale

Route Map

Weather: Sunny and warm.

Another fine and warm day today for a climb up to Saint Sunday Crag using a new route (for me) to the summit, Pinnacle Ridge, a serious and quite challenging technical grade 3 scramble.

The route begins following the Grisedale Valley path until the far edge of Elmhow Plantation is reached.

Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike and Helvellyn from the entrance to the Grisedale Valley.

Following the zigzag path up the slopes of St. Sunday Crag from Elmhow Plantation, a grassy terrace is reached. From here it is a right turn to traverse across the horizontal terrace. On reaching a scree fan, Pinnacle Ridge can be seen above with a large, smooth prominent slab clearly visible. This is known as 'The Cannon'.

Ullswater from the horizontal terrace.

Climbing 'The Cannon', left, and the view from the top of The Cannon, right.

Onwards and upwards from the Cannon

...and again - don't slip!

Past The Cannon, the ridge continues over further prominent pinnacles until a difficult rock pitch is reached.

Climbing the difficult rock pitch.

Once this is climbed, its virtually home and dry to reach the lower slopes of Saint Sunday Crag. This is truly an exhilarating way to reach the summit.

Looking down Pinnacle Ridge to the Grisedale Valley below.

Once onto St Sunday ridge, it is eastwards first to the 'thumb' of Gavel Pike offering a great view of Ullswater.

Ullswater from Gavel Pike.

Then an easy ascent to the summit of Saint Sunday Crag itself.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the slopes of Saint Sunday Crag.

Fairfield from Saint Sunday Crag summit.

A descent to Deepdale Hause then another ascent to Cofa Pike before the final rocky ascent to Fairfield -  a flat, bouldery plateau.

Seat Sandal and Grisedale Tarn from the descent to Deepdale Hause.

Looking back to Saint Sunday Crag and Gavel Pike from Cofa Pike summit.

Bowfell, The Scafell range and Great Gable from the bouldery summit of Fairfield.

From Fairfield it's a steep descent westwards and then a very steep ascent to the summit of Seat Sandal which offers good views over Grasmere.

Seat Sandal summit.

From Seat Sandal, a steep descent to Grisedale Tarn and follow the Grisedale Valley path back to Patterdale.

Saint Sunday Crag from Grisedale Valley. Pinnacle Ridge is up there somewhere.

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Previous Walk 21st June 2004 Crinkle Crags < > Next Walk 23rd June 2004 Wansfell