Blea Rigg via Whitegill Crag

Walked on 16/04/2015

Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)

New Dungeon Ghyll – Whitegill Crag (ravine) – Blea Rigg – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Harrison Stickle – Pike Howe – New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 6.4 miles Total Ascent: 778 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 08:30

What a fantastic morning, the sky and light were excellent today and it was a great day to try out a scramble up to Blea Rigg using the Whitegill Crag ravine. If you like it steep and rough, then this is the way for you. Using this route I hardly saw a soul all morning (only from afar using the more popular paths) but I did bump into Striding Edge stalwarts Pat & Emrys on the way down – nice to see you both up there today.

Looking along Langdale from the path above Millbeck - what a beautiful and clear morning.

The way up today via the Whitegill Crag ravine. I'm not sure if the token on top of the rock has some significance!

Steep and rocky.

A wider view of Whitegill Crag.

Looking down, Lingmoor Fell across the valley.

The view from higher up...

...and from the top.

Looking across to the Langdales.

I had a bit of fun looking around for some of the items mentioned by Wainwright in the Blea Rigg chapter today - this is the sheepfold taken from 'small shelter on top of crag' (Blea Rigg 8).

...and this is the tarn a little further up on the map.

Blea Rigg summit.

The Shelter Stone on the top of Blea Rigg (Blea Rigg 12)

Codale and Easdale Tarns.

Looking in the opposite direction to the Langdale Pikes.

The miniature pool (Blea Rigg 11).

At least someone has found a use for it.

Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn.

Sergeant Man from the east.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Sergeant Man.

A beautiful pool on High Raise.

Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake from High Raise.

Bowfell, the Scafells and Great Gable from High Raise.

Fletch and Dougal looking very regal with new haircuts.

Thunacar Knott.

Hello you two.

Windermere from Harrison Stickle.

Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn (and way beyond).

What a great view from Harrison Stickle looking in the opposite direction.

Lots of families around today which was great to see.

The view from Harrison Stickle - Crinkle Crags and Bowfell beyond Loft Crag and Pike o' Stickle.

Harrison Stickle from Pike Howe.

Loft Crag and Harrison Stickle seperated by Dungeon Ghyll.

Whitegill Crag (the lower peak). The path used at the start of the walk was below the Larch plantation.

The Langdale Pikes looking radiant.

Blea Rigg

Height: 541 metres / 1775 feet Grid reference: NY 30165 07835 Category: The Central Fells

The summit of Blea Rigg

Pike O’Stickle from Blea Rigg summit

Blea Rigg

Walked on 06/01/2011

Start point: Grasmere (NY 336 073)

Grasmere – Silver How – Blea Rigg – Easedale Tarn – Easedale – Grasmere

Distance: 6.3 miles Total Ascent: 562 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 08:30

Weather: Rain at first then clearing. 3°C

This wasn’t where I intended to go today but in the northern half of the Lakes, over Dunmail Raise it was raining heavily and continued to do so all morning. Back at Grasmere it was also raining when I set off but it soon cleared with the clouds swirling on and off the high fells leaving behind a fresh carpet of snow on them. The backdrop to today’s walk was the sound of the hunt – the horn, the shouts and the dogs. I think Dougal and Casper quite fancied joining in!

Blea Rigg route map.

Early Silver How across Grasmere.

Misty Grasmere - taken from the opposite side to the first photo.

Looking back along the path from the climb to Kelbarrow.

Sunrise over Loughrigg Fell.

The mist is clinging over Rydal Water and to the side of Loughrigg.

Helm Crag from the Silver How ridge.

Casper and Dougal on Silver How.

Grasmere and Rydal Water.

Low lying mist in the valleys below.

The Langdale Pikes appear across Lang How Tarn from thick cloud with a fresh covering of snow

Dougally Doo.

Looking back to Silver How.

Looking down on Great Langdale.

Wetherlam and the Tilberthwaite Fells also have new snow, Lingmoor Fell between me and them.

Pike o' Blisco dwarfs Side Pike.

The weather is constantly changing, from sun to cloud.

A close up on the Langdales - that's the last I saw of them today.

Great Castle How.

Crinkle Crags at the head of Oxendale with rising cloud from Great Langdale.

Great Carrs in sunshine.

The icy climb.

Heading for Blea Rigg.

Wetherlam from the un named tarn below Blea Rigg.

All sorts going on here, looking down from Blea Rigg.

The frozen summit of Blea Rigg.

Looking the other way, the Langdales have disappeared in the cloud.

Which way Dougal? Heading down to Easedale Tarn.

Helvellyn revealed.

Easedale Tarn reflections.

Tarn Crag reflected.

Tarn Crag and Easedale Tarn panoramic.

Blue skies and sunshine - for now - descending into Easedale.

Easedale Circuit

Walked on 18/10/2007

Start point: Grasmere (NY 337 074)

Grasmere – Easedale – Tarn Crag – Codale Head – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Blea Rigg – Silver How – Grasmere

Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 850 metres Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Generally bright. 13oC.

Today I met up with Andy Lang nice and early for a walk around Easedale and up onto High Raise, the centre of the Lake District. It was very clear this morning but the best of the sunshine was early on and once up onto High Raise the wind was icy. On the way up to Grasmere, all the stretches of water I passed were covered in a thick blanket of mist – here comes winter.

All was frozen in Easedale before the sun came up...

...but when it did, it certainly gave a lovely golden glow.

Sourmilk Gill.

Looking into Easedale from the top falls of Sourmilk Gill.

Beginning the climb of the Tarn Crag ridge - the second peak from the left is the summit.

Autumn in Far Easedale.

Easedale Tarn with reflected contrail.

Casper summits Tarn Crag - hot work in the sunshine!

Looking over to Helvellyn from Tarn Crag, Gibson Knott and Steel Fell in the foreground.

Looking into the sun, Grasmere and Windermere under a thick blanket of mist.

Easedale Tarn.

Codale Tarn from the Tarn Crag ridge with the Coniston fells beyond.

The Helvellyn massif from Codale Head.

On the skyline are Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Scafells with the pointed Sergeant Man in the middle distance.

Great Gable and Pillar beyond the Glaramara ridge from High Raise.

Scafell Pike and Great End above Langstrath.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from High Raise, Derwent Water covered in mist. High Raise is the central point of the Lake District and there are great views from here.

A close-up of Skiddaw and Derwent Water.

Great Gable.

Bowfell.

Casper finds a comfortable place to sit on High Raise.

Fleetwith Pike in the centre with the High Stile ridge behind.

Looking back to the grassy dome of High Raise from Sergeant Man.

Descending Sergeant Man.

Stickle Tarn and Harrison Stickle from the ridge to Blea Rigg.

Looking down on two tarns - Codale and Easedale.

Heading for Blea Rigg, Windermere beyond.

Harrison Stickle from Blea Rigg.

Looking across to Crinkle Crags.

Having a rest on the way to Silver How.

Seat Sandal and Fairfield over Helm Crag.

Great Langdale.

Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes.

Grasmere and Rydal Water from Silver How.

The Vale of Grasmere, Helvellyn to the left and Fairfield to the right.

The view from the summit of Silver How.

Reflected island on Grasmere.

Helm Crag from the descent.

Helm Crag in Autumn.

Blea Rigg

Walked on 09/01/2007

Start point: Grasmere (NY 337 074)

Grasmere – Easedale – Easedale Tarn – Blea Rigg – Silver How – Grasmere

Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 650 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes.

Weather: Windy and surprisingly warm. 11°C

The cobwebs were well and truly blown off today for my first long walk of the year. It was good to get out again, even though I knew the weather was not going to be the best. It was more than a bit blustery at times, but at least I never got wet on the deserted central fells today!

It's looking a bit grey over Tarn Crag from Easedale. The falls on Sour Milk are in the centre.

...and looking back to Easedale from the falls.

The falls are in spate today after all he rain of the last week or so.

I had intended crossing Sour Milk Gill here, above the falls, but there was no chance with it being this full. Tarn Crag is in the distance.

A bit of sunshine over the east ridge to Tarn Crag.

Tarn Crag over Easedale Tarn.

No chance of crossing Sourmilk Gill here on the edge of Easedale Tarn either, the stepping stones were completely covered. A change of plan was required!

Looking back to Easedale Tarn to Seat Sandal and Fairfield.

Walking towards Belles Knott.

Codale Tarn, left and Easedale Tarn, right, split by Belles Knott.

As soon as we got onto the Blea Rigg ridge, the wind really whipped up and made walking difficult at times. This is a great view of Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn but it is hard to convey just how windy it was..

...but Angus can do a pretty good job!

Another view of Codale Tarn and Easedale Tarn from higher up, the eastern fells mainly clear for now.

Easedale Tarn.

On the summit of Blea Rigg.

Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike across Langdale from Blea Rigg, Lingmoor Tarn visible below the summit.

Looking along the ridge to Silver How with Windermere beyond, Elter Water to the right.

Looking across to Seat Sandal and Fairfield.

Great Langdale.

Angus looking into Great Langdale - still doing a great job of showing conditions up here!

Looking to Great Langdale from the large tarn below Lang How.

Water, water, everywhere. Grasmere, Rydal Water, Loughrigg Fell and Windermere.

Fairfield, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur above Grasmere from Silver How.

Angus and Casper on Silver How looking to Windermere.

Looking back to the Langdale Pikes from Silver How with Sergeant Man the distant bump to the right.

Descending to Grasmere through the Juniper trees.

Silver How

Walked on 30/09/2004

Start point: Grasmere (NY 338 078)

Grasmere – Easedale Tarn – Blea Rigg (174) – Castle How (175) – Swinescar Pike (176) – Lang How (177) – Silver How (178) – Grasmere

Weather: Rain with low lying cloud.

Today’s walk was a damp traverse of the Langdale Edge and Silver How; the cloud was so low that there was no chance of a decent view today from the tops except for a brief clearing of the cloud towards the end of the walk.

Sourmilk Gill in full spate.

The power...

...and the glory...

Easedale Tarn.

The Matterhorn shape of Belles Knott above Easedale Tarn.

The cloud lifts briefly to give a glimpse of Lingmoor Fell across Great Langdale from Lang How.

A wet Silver How from Lang How.

One of the many grassy knolls reflected in a tarn beneath Lang How.

Looking across Brigstone Moss from the summit of Silver How.

Helm Crag from the descent back into Grasmere.

Grasmere below Silver How.

Grasmere Epic

Walked on 11/03/2004

Grasmere – Steel Fell (186) – Calf Crag – Greenup Edge – Ullscarf (187) – Long Crag – Sergeant’s Crag (188) – Eagle Crag (189) – Sergeant’s Crag – Low White Stones – High Raise – Thunacar Knott (190) – Sergeant Man – Blea Rigg (191) – Silver How (192) – Grasmere

A raw and bitterly cold day, icy wind on the tops with lots of snow.