Monday 15th June 2009

Start point: Seathwaite (NY 235 122)

Seathwaite - Hanging Stone - Base Brown - Blackmoor Pols - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Borrowdale Yews - Seathwaite

Distance: 5 miles     Total Ascent: 780 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Sunny spells. 17oC.

Route Map

I was up at the crack of doom today for a quiet walk around Gillercomb. The weather threatened to clear all the time but the tops remained in cloud mostly, even though further north in Buttermere the sun was shining and it was the same down at valley level too.

Setting off from Seathwaite towards Base Brown it was spotting with rain.

Crossing a pretty dry River Derwent, Seathwaite Fell is prominent.

Clearing sky over Base Brown.

Seathwaite and Borrowdale from the climb.

The view from Sourmilk Gill, Casper hiding amongst the rocks.

The moon setting over Base Brown - Casper seems to know the way!

Borrowdale sunrays.

Fallen Stone, Base Brown.

Hanging Stone - don't sneeze Casper.

The Hanging Stone from the other side.

Wainwright's boulder that has come to rest on  a number of small ones.

Seathwaite Fell from he steep climb to the top of Base Brown.

Casper unfurls his tongue as a victory celebration for reaching the top.

Green Gable from Base Brown.

Brandreth and Grey Knotts across Gillercomb, the route of return.

Looking back to Base Brown from the climb to Green Gable.

Ennerdale and Buttermere from Green Gable shortly before I got enveloped in cloud making it pretty cold up here and time to get a jacket on.

Ennerdale.

Green Gable across Gillercomb Head from the climb to Brandreth, Great gable in mist beyond.

The summit of Brandreth. I'm sure that roll of fence posts has been here for years.

Following the fence to Grey Knotts.

Haystacks, High Crag and High Stile in the sunshine.

Pillar and High Stile across an un-named tarn on Grey Knotts.

Looking east over a different tarn towards Glaramara, Combe Head is the prominent point.

At last, a clear view of Haystacks, the High Stile ridge, Buttermere and Crummock Water from the east

Casper has a look too with the Honister mine working visible on Fleetwith Pike.

Base Brown and Green Gable from the eastern - and recognised - summit of Grey Knotts.

Dale Head across Honister.

Base Brown across Gillercomb.

A panoramic view along Gillercomb, select on the image to see a larger version.

Base Brown and Green Gable.

Seathwaite and the view along Grains Gill.

The John Bankes memorial stone ('John Bankes Esquire 1752' it used to read).

Down at valley level the sunshine was glorious and it was really warm. Casper was in this pool on the River Derwent first, closely followed by me! What better way to spend a few minutes on a Monday morning than having a dip in here?

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