Tuesday 29th April 2008

Start point: Truss Gap, Swindale (516 132)

Truss Gap - Langhowe Pike (OF) - Great Ladstones (OF) - Glede Howe (532) - Seat Robert (533) (OF) - High Wether Howe (534) (OF) - Fewling Stones (OF) - Truss Gap

Distance: 6.2 miles     Total Ascent: 410 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Sunny spells. 12oC.

Route Map

This wasn't a walk I was particularly looking forward to doing as I find the Shap fells to be quite desolate and boggy - but what a surprise, it turned out to be a great walk and I really enjoyed it today. Spring was definitely in the air - the lamb's were bounding around, the birds were singing and even that rarest of commodities was there at times - the sun was shining! This is definitely a walk I will repeat in the future and I am thankful I never did it when I came here a couple of weeks ago when the rain was bouncing. Then, I opted to climb Great Mell Fell instead and I'm glad I did as I don't think this would be an easy area to navigate in mist, there being many grassy knolls complete with no paths, walls or any other feature to aid navigation.

The footbridge across Swindale Beck - the start of the walk is across it and then left, doubling back on the opposite bank.

Gouther Crag from the footbridge. Casper has already been in and is raring to go!

Langhowe Pike and Swear Gill shrouded in gorse walking along the Old Corpse Road from Mardale, the puddle making a handy mirror. This is a fantastically graded path, lovely to walk along. I think it would be a good round starting from Mardale and following this path to complete a circular walk - one for the future.

All is getting brighter now and the sweet smelling gorse is everywhere, here looking back along the path into Swindale before the abrupt turn back along the ridge.

Seat Robert from Langhowe Pike.

Casper, the fell assassin, on Langhowe Pike.

Heading for Rowantree Crag in the foreground, beyond are Gambling Crag and Seat Robert. 

Looking south-west from Rowantree Crag.

Crossing boggy ground heading for Great Ladstones.

Looking to High Street, Kidsty Pike and High Raise from Great Ladstones.

Glede Howe, the next objective, is directly above this prominent cairn on the knoll below Gambling Crag.

The flat summit of Glede Howe.

Kidsty Pike and Rampsgill Head from Glede Howe.

It was an easy climb along the ridge to get up to Seat Robert and fortunately the sun came out once more as I arrived at the top.

Below is Haskew Tarn, Selside Pike in the middle distance with Kidsty Pike and High Raise beyond.

Casper lies next to the Ordnance Survey 'ring' on the summit of Seat Robert.

Casper has a look into Wet Sleddale from Seat Robert.

Looking back to Seat Robert from the ridge to High Wether Howe.

Seat Robert from Haskew Tarn.

Looking back along the ridge, almost at High Wether Howe.

The summit of High Wether Howe.

Seat Robert from High Wether Howe.

Descending the ridge to Fewling Stones.

The view to the east from Fewling Stones.

Selside Pike at the head of Swindale from Fewling Stones.

Mosedale.

Beastman's Crag.

Cascades on Gouthercrag Gill.

Gouther Crag from the descent into Swindale and the rain clouds are gathering above.

Back into Swindale and I crossed the stepping stones upstream of the bridge used at the start of the walk.

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