Height: 572 metres / 1877 feet Grid reference: NY 23000 05786

Dougal and Casper on High Gait Crags
Height: 572 metres / 1877 feet Grid reference: NY 23000 05786
Dougal and Casper on High Gait Crags
Walked on
Start Point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 016)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield – Esk Pike – Ore Gap – Bowfell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Stonesty Pike – Little Stand – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 1013 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 07:30
Weather: Lovely, 21°C
It was perfect summer weather for a walk up to Esk Pike from Cockley Beck – this is definitely the quiet way to do these fells and I didn’t see anyone until 3 Tarns and then one or two on Crinkle Crags. By the end I was completely boiled, but hey – not complaining! This walk will feature in Trail magazine later this year.
Looking across Pike de Bield to the Scafells. Further along from Pike de Bield is a large cairn (marked 'memorial cairn' on 2nd edition Wainwright's), the brass plaque on it says 'Gerry Charnley 1929 - 1982.
Langstrath from Esk Pike summit. Esk Pike and Bowfell were swirling in and out of the mist all morning and it was a shock to hit the cold air.
The dark outline is the south ridge of Esk Pike (just climbed) and beyond is the finest view of the Scafells of all, taken from Bowfell.
Walked on
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 017)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield – Esk Pike – Ore Gap – Bowfell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Adam-a-Cove – Moasdale – Cockley Beck
Distance: 9.3 miles Total Ascent: 1013 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 06:40
Weather: Sunny spells, warm. 19ºC
Today’s weather promised much but ended up being a mixed bag with clouds swirling in and out throughout the walk. Despite this it was really still and warm and very clear making it a good day to explore this quiet and remote area at the head of Eskdale.
A great sheet of cloud was moving across from the east by the time I reached the head of Moasdale, Esk Pike and Bowfell ahead.
On the summit of Pike de Bield. It was interesting to see how the clouds were forming around Scafell as I climbed.
The route to Esk Pike from Pike de Bield, clear for now but by the time I got there it was enveloped by clouds.
Shelter Crags and Crinkle Crags from the descent to Three Tarns...and there are three tarns again too!
Walked on
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 016)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags (254) – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield (255) – Esk Pike (256) – Ore Gap – Bow Fell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Stonesty Pike (257) – Little Stand (258) – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Weather: Mainly clear interspersed with cloud and a biting wind on the tops. Snow above 600m.
Today’s walk was a l o n g walk from Cockley Beck to Esk Pike and Bow Fell. The long, boggy run in along Moasdale was helped by the spectacular views (the best?) of Bow Fell, Esk Pike and the Crinkle Crags. The Sca Fells were in cloud all day so I didn’t get to see to much of them , unfortunately. I really rated this walk – thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.