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.

High Raise

Walked on 21/09/2012

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

New Dungeon Ghyll – Tarn Crag – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Harrison Stickle – Pike Howe – New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 5.5 miles Total Ascent: 752 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes Start Time: 07:50

Weather: Brightening with long sunny spells later. 12°C

It was very quiet up on the fells today, I hardly saw a soul all morning. The weather was ever improving with sunshine and loveliness all around by the end of the walk.

First of all, an invitation for you if you are around in the Lakes on the weekend of the 10th & 11th of November…

Greenup Round

Walked on 19/03/2012

Start point: Stonethwaite (NY 262 137)

Stonethwaite – Great Crag – Low Saddle of Coldbarrow Fell – High Saddle of Coldbarrow Fell – Ullscarf – Greenup Edge – Low White Stones – High Raise – Sergeant’s Crag – Eagle Crag – Stonethwaite

Distance: 9.1 miles Total Ascent: 941 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:50

Weather: Some bright spells, cold wind. 10C

It started off brightly enough today but the clouds were soon rolling in and the wind was once again mighty cold. There was some fresh snow visible on High Crag showing just how cold it was and the going to Ullscarf from Dock Tarn was made that bit tougher by the boggy going underfoot.

Greenup route map.

Eagle Crag from Stonethwaite Bridge.

Looking back to Stonethwaite from the climb to Willygrass Gill.

Above the woods with a view to Grey Knotts and Fleetwith Pike, Honister lit up by the sunshine.

Greenup.

Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag, between them is High Raise with Pike o' Stickle just about in view to the right.

Skiddaw in the distance from the heathery walk to Great Crag.

Great Crag summit.

The route ahead - over Dock Tarn to Low Saddle, High Saddle and Ullscarf.

Down at Dock Tarn, Dougal and Casper camouflaged as rocks.

Looking across to Great Gable and High Stile from the climb of Coldbarrow Fell - this is a real boggy mess across here.

Bowfell at the head of Langstrath.

Water in a line - a puddle, Watendlath Tarn, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake.

It was really quite a cold wind up here and the cloud was rolling in from the west over Bowfell and the Scafells, Sergeant's Crag and Eagle Crag in the foreground.

Blea Tarn below, from Low Saddle.

Looking the other way, to High Saddle and Ullscarf.

Low Saddle and Great Crag from High Saddle.

Ullscarf summit, looking to High Raise.

Fleetwith Pike and the High Stile ridge.

After a boggy trudge along Greenup Edge, High Raise seemed near enough so I decided to squeeze that in today as well. This view is from Low White Stones looking to Helvellyn and Fairfield.

Up on High Raise I bumped into three StridingEdge fans from Chorley who were walking from Langdale, it was good to have a chat up there today...and Dougal and Casper enjoyed their biccies and sarnies (given, not stolen I hasten to add!).

A touch of sunshine in Langstrath...we're not going that way today boys!

Sergeant's Crag ahead.

High Raise and Pike o' Stickle from Sergeant's Crag.

Dougal works out the route to get to Eagle Crag.

High Raise and Sergeant's from Eagle.

Dougal and Casper - complete with evidence of their bog trotting - on Eagle Crag.

A bit of sunshine down in Borrowdale now.

The steep descent by the wall.

A nice place for the dogs to swim.

Eagle Crag from Stonethwaite Beck.

The Langdale Pikes

Walked on 04/03/2008

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

New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Pavey Ark – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 822 metres Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Sunny and bright, lots of snow. 7ºC.

What a fantastic day today, the best of the winter by far I think. I knew it was going to be good when I went through Coniston and the snow was down to a low level and the sky was clear. We were nice and early, climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll to meet the sunrise half way up which gave a lovely red hue on the snow. When I reached the dam on Stickle Tarn, I thought I must have died and gone to heaven – this is how winters should be!

Stickle Ghyll.

Climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll into the fabulous sunrise.

Pike Howe across Stickle Ghyll.

Harrison Stickle and Stickle Ghyll.

Lingmoor Fell.

There was a strong, icy wind at Stickle Tarn.

Harrison Stickle from the dam on Stickle Tarn.

Pavey Ark.

Harrison Stickle, Stickle Tarn and Bright Beck.

The Coniston fells across Stickle Tarn.

Casper with snowy nose.

Looking north to Sergeant Man from the climb to Pavey Ark.

The summit of Pavey Ark.

The Helvellyn range from the summit.

Casper in the sunshine which belies the cold wind up here.

Harrison Stickle from Pavey Ark.

High Raise from the summit wall.

Looking back to Thunacar Knott from the path to Sergeant Man - only two sets of footprints up here this morning.

Icicles on Sergeant Man with a view to distant Windermere.

Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike from Sergeant Man.

Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle with the Coniston fells beyond.

Helvellyn and Fairfield to the east.

Bowfell from a cold looking summit.

The mist was swirling on and off the summit of High Raise.

Looking northwards to Skiddaw it looks as though there is less snow up that way.

The northern and coldest side of High Raise.

Great End and the Scafells.

Bowfell.

Esk Pike and the Scafells.

Great Gable looks like it is on fire with the great plume of cloud emanating from the top.

Cold wind shelter on Thunacar Knott.

Bowfell from the summit of Thunacar Knott.

Pike o' Stickle and the Crinkle Crags.

Heading for Pike o' Stickle.

Monochrome.

Looking across Mickleden to Bowfell, Rossett Gill to the right.

Crinkle Crags across The Band.

Lingmoor Fell and the Coniston fells across Mickleden and Oxendale.

Looking to Loft Crag and Windermere from the descent of Pike o' Stickle. Harrison Stickle is on the left.

Bowfell and Pike o' Stickle from Loft Crag.

Harrison Stickle.

Crossing Dungeon Ghyll.

Pike o' Blisco with Coniston beyond from the descent to Great Langdale.

Loft Crag and Gimmer Crag.

Almost back to valley level.

The Langdale Pikes from Chapel Stile.

High Raise

Walked on 28/06/2005

Start point: Stonethwaite (NY 262 137)

Stonethwaite – Eagle Crag (374) – Sergeant’s Crag (375) – High Raise – Low White Stones (376) – Lining Crag (377) – Stonethwaite

Distance: 7.9 miles Total Ascent: 837 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny and warm, 26°C.

It was a warm one today, 22°C when we set off and getting warmer all the time. Every step was a step towards heaven, one of those days you dream all winter about. The climb up to Eagle Crag is very steep from Stonethwaite and the sun beating down did nothing to ease that, once up there it is a great walk with lovely views along Langstrath to the Scafells.

High Raise route map.

Stonethwaite Beck from Stonethwaite Bridge.

Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag at the head of the Stonethwaite Valley.

Langstrath Beck, Angus has a shakedown after cooling off.

Borrowdale from Eagle Crag.

Langstrath from Eagle Crag.

It was so hot today - Angus found this muddy pool which had the consistency of melted chocolate - nice!

Sergeant's Crag from Eagle Crag.

Looking across a reedy tarn on Sergeant's Crag to the Scafells.

High Raise from Low White Stones.

Greenup from Lining Crag.

Looking back to Lining Crag.

The farm at Stonethwaite.

The Langdale Pikes

Walked on 10/03/2005

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

New Dungeon Ghyll – Thorn Crag – Loft Crag – Pike O’Stickle – Thunacar Knott – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Pavey Ark – Harrison Stickle – New Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 8.2 miles Total Ascent: 1017 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 50 minutes

Weather: Warmer than of late with the tops in and out of mist all day.

A return visit to old favourites The Langdale Pikes today – it’s a little while since I’ve done them so this round made a nice change today. With it being Easter soon, this area becomes very busy so I thought I’d better get out while the place was virtually deserted…

The Langdale Pikes route map.

3D image of the walk route.

Pike O' Blisco and Great Knott across Oxendale from the ascent to Thorn Crag.

Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike across The Langdale Valley.

Pike O' Stickle from Loft Crag.

The mist hangs on Loft Crag from Pike O' Stickle.

The Langdale Pikes from the back, on the way to Thunacar Knott. Thorn Crag - extreme left, Loft Crag - left of centre and Pike O'Stickle, right.

The frozen summit tarn on Thunacar Knott.

High Raise summit looking along Langstrath. Happy Birthday Angus - 9 yesterday!

Bow Fell and Esk Pike.

Easterly view from Pavey Ark.

Looking along Great Langdale to Windermere from Pavey Ark.

Harrison Stickle from Pavey Ark.

Waterfall below Thorn Crag.

Looking along Oxendale at the end of the walk, the cloud has cleared now.

The Lion & The Lamb

Walked on 24/08/2004

Start point: Grasmere (NY 337 076)

Grasmere – Easedale – Easedale Tarn – Tarn Crag (140) – Codale Head (141) – Sergeant Man (142) – High Raise (143) – Calf Crag (144) – Gibson Knott (145) – Helm Crag (146) – Grasmere

Weather: Sunny at first, rain later.

Today’s walk is a circuit of Grasmere Common, taking in the ever popular Easedale Tarn and the high point of High Raise.

Car parking for this walk is in the village of Grasmere, the popular car park for walks in this area on the Easedale Road has now been transformed into a mini housing estate!

Setting off in bright sunshine (surprising as it was pouring down earlier), I followed the Easedale Road up to Easedale, over the bridge and through an iron gate onto the well defined rocky path.

Helm Crag from Easedale. The path follows the stream with Sourmilk Gill waterfalls visible ahead and ascends adjacent to them. The falls were in full spate due to the amount of rain over the past few days.

Sourmilk Gill waterfalls. Continuing upwards, the still well defined path leads to the lovely and popular Easedale Tarn.

Helm Crag from Easedale Tarn. Visible up to the right is Tarn Crag; I crossed Sourmilk Gill where it exits the tarn and followed the path around the tarn and then a diagonal ascent through the bracken to Tarn Crag.

Tarn Crag from Easedale Tarn. The summit of Tarn Crags is not easy to determine at the best of times as there are many rocky knolls, it was made harder as the mist descended over the top as I arrived. The highest point is up to the right as you arrive on the summit plateau.

Tarn Crag summitCodale Tarn, right. Carrying on westerly along the plateau, Codale Head can be seen ahead with Codale Tarn down to the left. There is an easy ascent to the large cairn; the remains of an old fence leads the way to the summit from half way up.

Codale Tarn, right. Carrying on westerly along the plateau, Codale Head can be seen ahead with Codale Tarn down to the left. There is an easy ascent to the large cairn; the remains of an old fence leads the way to the summit from half way up.

High Raise from Codale Head. To the south-west lies the attractive pyramid of Sergeant Man and it is an easy traverse to reach it.

Sergeant Man from Codale Head

Codale Head and Sergeant Man from the walk to High Raise.

Bright Beck from Sergeant Man. The clouds were lifting now giving fabulous glimpses of Bright Beck and the Langdale Pikes. From Sergeant Man, High Raise was an easy, if somewhat boggy, stroll - there is a trig column on the bouldery summit. From High Raise summit the views were clear - it looked as though it was raining elsewhere, especially over Keswick.

Pike O' Stickle from the summit of High Raise.

Looking across the Langstrath Valley to Glaramara with the High Stile ridge beyond. From High Raise I headed towards Codale Head again; I missed the path here and ended up descending a bit too far to Ferngill Crag. Once I realised my mistake, I contoured across to Broadstone Head and across the Greenup Edge/Far Easedale pass and an easy ascent to the summit of Calf Crag. Here the heavens opened as I arrived and from here on it was a monsoon all the way.

Looking along Far Easedale to Helm Crag from the walk to Calf Crag. Heron Pike is in the distance.

Loughrigg in the centre distance from the summit of Calf Crag. From Calf Crag, it is a pleasant walk along an undulating ridge to reach Gibson Knott, the summit being marked by a large cairn.

Helm Crag from the summit of Gibson Knott. Helm Crag can now be seen in the distance and it is another undulating walk to reach it followed by a sharp climb at the end. Once on Helm Crag ridge, the first large piece of rock is known as 'The Howitzer' due to its appearance from Dunmail Raise. The top of these rocks is the true summit of Helm Crag.

Steel Fell and Dunmail Raise from The Howitzer. Further along the ridge there are two lumps of rock, one large and one small. These are referred to as 'The Lion and The Lamb' due to their appearance from below.

The Howitzer

The Lion and The Lamb on the summit of Helm Crag. Carrying on along the ridge, the obvious path descends toward Grasmere. Taking the path at the gap in the wall, down past the houses, across the road to another path which takes you to Easedale and the original path at the start of the walk. From here it is an easy walk back to Grasmere.

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.