Height: 494 metres / 1621 feet Grid reference: NY 48889 06390
Grey Crag and the survey post on Great Howe
Longsleddale from Great Howe
Great Howe (Longsleddale)
Branstree
Start point: Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale (NY 483 057)
Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale – Gatesgarth Pass – Branstree – Tarn Crag (Longsleddale) – Harrop Pike – Grey Crag(Longsleddale) – Great Howe (Longsleddale) – Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale
Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 767 metres Time Taken: 3 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00
Weather: Cold, wet and windy. 6C
Today I had a walk in Longsleddale, one of the remotest valleys around and I certainly saw no-one today. It was wild on the tops today with a strong wind and some heavy showers which coupled with boggy terrain made the going arduous at times – nice to be out for a longer walk once more though and I enjoyed it.
Branstree route map.
Longsleddale from Sadgill - it all looks a bit ominous ahead.
Beautiful Longsleddale and the River Sprint.
Following the track, Goat Scar to the left and Buckbarrow Crag to the right.
The head of Longsleddale.
Buckbarrow Crag.
Looking back into Longsleddale, the wind picking up and blowing some rain in now.
Cleft Ghyll.
The top of Branstree is in cloud, looking across Wrengill Quarry. Once through the quarry the wind really started to pick up and the cloud was almost down to Gatescarth Pass.
Casper puts the handy dog water bowl to good use on the summit of Branstree.
Out of the clag once more on Selside Brow heading for Tarn Crag with more layers on than an onion, plus the obligatory hat and gloves.
Boggy...
...peat hags, typical terrain in these parts, looking into Mosedale.
Branstree looks pretty clear of cloud now looking back from the climb to Tarn Crag.
Mosedale.
The survey post on Tarn Crag, the wind is whipping up the water in that puddle.
Tarn Crag summit.
The cairn on Harrop Pike is clearly visible from the descent of Tarn Crag.
The cairn on Harrop Pike.
Dougal is getting used to the windswept look.
The summit of Grey Crag.
Dougal and Casper on Grey Crag.
Three old men of the fells.
Grey Crag and the survey post on Great Howe.
Tarn Crag from Great Howe.
The easy gully leading back to Sadgill.
A great view of Longsleddale from the descent.
Sadgill Bridge.
Branstree
Start point: Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale (NY 483 057)
Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale – Gatesgarth Pass – Branstree (364) – Artlecrag Pike – Selside Pike (365) – High Howes (Mardale) (366) – Tarn Crag (Longsleddale) (367) – Harrop Pike (368) – Grey Crag (Longsleddale) (369) – Great Howe (Longsleddale) (370) – Sadgill Bridge, Longsleddale
Distance: 10.1 miles Total Ascent: 972 metres Time Taken: 3 hour 45 minutes
Weather: Overcast and hazy, a warm 17°C.
Today’s walk was a visit to some of the far eastern fells that I haven’t visited for a good while, starting from Longsleddale. Longsleddale is a lovely valley which is very quiet and Sadgill seems very remote at the end of the long valley road. The weather promised much but failed to deliver any sunshine although it was warm. Indeed, there were more than a few spots of rain towards the end.
Branstree route map.
Longsleddale from Sadgill Bridge.
Looking back to Sadgill on the way to Gatesgarth Pass, the River Sprint meandering down the valley.
Harter Fell from the summit tarn on Branstree.
Selside Pike from Artle Crag.
A glimpse of Haweswater from the survey column between Branstree and High Howes.
Where HAVE you been?!
The survey tower on Tarn Crag, Windermere is in the centre distance.
Harrop Pike.
Bannisdale from Grey Crag.
Grey Crag from yet another survey column on Great Howe.
Goat Scar across Longsleddale from Great Howe.
Longsleddale from Great Howe.
Sadgill.
Angus in the River Sprint beneath Sadgill Bridge.