Height: 564 metres / 1850 feet Grid reference: NY 52601 08666 Category: The Outlying Fells
On the summit of Great Saddle Crag looking along the Wet Sleddale Valley
Great Saddle Crag
Wet Sleddale Horseshoe
Start point: Wet Sleddale Reservoir dam (NY 555 114)
Wet Sleddale Dam – Lunch House – Gray Bull – Sleddale Pike (422) (OF) – Great Saddle Crag (423) (OF) – Ulthwaite Rigg (424) (OF) – Sleddale Hall – Wet Sleddale Dam
Distance: 8.8 miles Total Ascent: 708 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Grey, rain shower at the end. 15°C.
A return to the Shap Fells again today for a remote and boggy walk around the aptly named Wet Sleddale Horseshoe. If anything, this seemed even more remote than the previous walks I have done in this area so there was no chance of bumping into anyone on this grey Monday morning!
Wet Sleddale Horseshoe route map.
Wet Sleddale Reservoir dam.
Looking back to the reservoir from an orange field.
One of the many Grouse Butts in the area - they can be seen following the path as far as the eye can see.
The Lunch House - a resting place for people using the Grouse Butts.
Gray Bull - a 9 foot cube of pink granite marked on the OS map - and Grey Dog - a 3 foot Bearded Collie!
Angus on a windswept Sleddale Pike.
Great Saddle Crag - a mini-Blencathra!
On the summit of Great Saddle Crag looking along the Wet Sleddale Valley.
Peat Hags on the way to Ulthwaite Rigg. We encountered a lone stag on here and there were eerie stag calls echoing around the valley for the rest of the walk.
Looking along Sleddale Beck to the reservoir from Ulthwaite Rigg.
The now defunct Sleddale Hall.
Looking back along the valley.
The stepping stones crossing Sleddale Beck - I got a boot full here on the slippery, wet stones.
A vibrant Wet Sleddale valley.