Height: 733 metres / 2405 feet Grid reference: NY 14027 10985

The Ennerdale Fence runs right over the summit of Little Gowder Crag.

Heading for Little Gowder Crag
Height: 733 metres / 2405 feet Grid reference: NY 14027 10985
The Ennerdale Fence runs right over the summit of Little Gowder Crag.
Heading for Little Gowder Crag
Walked on
Start Point: Greendale (NY 144 056)
Greendale – Blengdale Forest – Sampson’s Bratfull – Stockdale Moor – Caw Fell – Little Gowder Crag – Haycock – Pots of Ashness – Seatallan – Cat Bields – Glade How – Buckbarrow – Greendale
Distance: 13 miles Total Ascent: 1067 metres Time Taken: 6 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:30
Weather: Sunny spells, 8°C
I knew this would be a long one today so hopefully I would time it right to use the daylight to best advantage. The going over Stockdale Moor is a bit of a trudge to say the least and it seems to go on forever – the highlight was coming over Seatallan to the sunset, it was just fantastic. This route will feature in a future edition of Trail magazine.
There was an interesting crossing of the River Bleng as the stepping stones at Sergeant Ford are long gone and it appears there is no way across without getting your feet wet. I used the downstream side of the water gate downstream of this crossing, it worked a treat.
Sampson's Bratfull gains an addition. Stones dropped from the apron of a giant as he strode across the moor so legend has it - I bet he got his feet wet!
There are lots of antiquities and old cairns on Stockdale Moor. It is tough going along here with the tussocky and boggy grass, it gave the curse-o-meter an airing anyway - did you hear me?
Yewbarrow lit up by the sunshine. Such are the short days at this time of year I could feel the sun setting as I climbed Seatallan as the skies were reddening, the shadows growing longer and the temperature noticeably dropping.
Walked on
Start point: Bleach Green, Ennerdale (NY 085 153)
Bleach Green – Bowness – Great Borne – Starling Dodd – Little Dodd (Ennerdale) – Red Pike (Buttermere) – High Stile – High Crag – Memorial Bridge, Ennerdale – High Level Traverse – Shamrock Traverse – Pillar – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Haycock – Little Gowder Crag – Caw Fell – Ennerdale Fell – Crag Fell – Bleach Green
Distance: 18 miles Total Ascent: 2183 metres Time Taken: 10 hours Start Time: 06:00
Weather: Sunny and warm. 15°C
It’s a good while since I have done a full day walk and today seemed like a good opportunity to do a circuit of lovely Ennerdale. The weather was superb, a bit fresher than of late and the air was clearer for it. It was a great day out amongst my favourite fells and it was relatively quiet up there too, although it was good to chat to StridingEdge fans on Scoat Fell and then on Steeple.
A great panoramic view from High Stile - Red Pike and Dodd to the left, Crummock Water and Grasmoor to the right.
Instead of descending Gamlin End, I decided to go for a route 1 steeper than steep descent to Ennerdale direct (for masochists only this one, a real leg trembler!). I can see the Memorial Bridge from here (to the left of the tree line) where I want to cross and then the route of ascent is up and above the rocky knoll then to the right following the line of the beck before cutting diagonally left beneath Pillar Rock.
You see yon precipice--it almost looks Like some vast building made of many crags, And in the midst is one particular rock That rises like a column from the vale, Whence by our Shepherds it is call'd, the Pillar. Extract from 'The Brothers', William Wordsworth 1800
Time for lunch (even though it is only 10.30!) and a seat with a fantastic view of Pillar Rock towering above. Now all I have to do is climb up there. To be continued...after my lunch...
Looking back across to High Crag from the climb to Pillar. The route I used in descent is the diagonal scree run to the right.
The route to airy Steeple and Dougal and Casper have spotted yet another StridingEdge fan to greet us.
Walked on
tart point: Greendale (NY 144 056)
Greendale – Blengdale Forest – Sampson’s Bratfull – Stockdale Moor – Caw Fell – Little Gowder Crag – Haycock – Pots of Ashness – Seatallan –Middle Fell – Greendale
Distance: 12 miles Total Ascent: 1150 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Clear with a cool breeze. 10°C.
It turned out to be great weather today and it felt very spring like at times, although the wind was cold on the tops. I completed a walk around Blengdale climbing to Caw Fell by the little visited Stockdale Moor, an interesting way to go just to find out exactly what ‘Sampson’s Bratfull’, marked on the map, was! It was very clear today allowing widespread views as far as Scotland and over to the Isle of Man.
Here's a view that won't be like this for long looking at the recently planted trees in the foreground; Haycock and Seatallan from Blengdale Forest.
Sampson's Bratfull - stones dropped from the apron of a giant as he strode across the moor, so legend has it. It is the site of an ancient barrow, the area being littered with antiquities and signs of ancient settlements. This view is looking to Ponsonby Fell.
Angus and Casper take a breather on the summit of Caw Fell with Pillar, Steeple and Scoat Fell to the left of Little Gowder Crag, centre, and Haycock to the right.
Looking across Ennerdale from Haycock to Herdus and the Loweswater Fells, Scottish mountains clearly visible today across the Solway Firth.
Walked on
Start point: Bleach Green, Ennerdale (NY 085 153)
Bleach Green – Bowness – Brown How (Ennerdale) – Herdus – Great Borne – Gale Fell – Starling Dodd – Little Dodd (Ennerdale) – Red Pike (Buttermere) (357) – High Stile (358) – High Crag (359) – Haystacks (360) – Looking Stead – High Level Traverse – Shamrock Traverse – Pillar – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Haycock – Little Gowder Crag – Caw Fell – Ennerdale Fell – Crag Fell – Bleach Green
Distance: 23.6 miles Total Ascent: 2864 metres Time Taken: 10 hour 20 minutes
Weather: Mainly sunny with lots of snow (!) showers. 7-11°C, valley level – much colder on the tops.
Today’s walk is a long, high level circuit of the beautiful Ennerdale Valley with virtually the whole route being completed at an elevation in excess of 500m. I have had this one on my list of ‘to do’ walks for a while so it was satisfying to complete the walk on a mainly clear day. The photo’s here actually belie the conditions somewhat as the clouds came in when I was crossing from Haystacks to Pillar and there was an icy blizzard. The snow showers continued to come and go throughout the rest of the walk and conditions remained very cold.
Looking from High Stile across Bleaberry Tarn and Red Pike to Mellbreak and Crummock Water. Loweswater is visible in the distance.
Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell at the head of Ennerdale from Haystacks. The clouds were ominously creeping up behind me now and minutes later this view was obliterated by a blizzard.
Thankfully it had cleared up again by the time I reached the High Level Traverse of Pillar. This is a view of Pillar Rock from Pillar.
Walked on
Start point: Bowness Knott Car Park (NY 109 153)
Bowness Knott Car Park – Lingmell (Ennerdale) (225) – Tewit How – Haycock (226) – Little Gowder Crag (227) – Caw Fell (228) – Ennerdale Fell (229) – Bowness Knott Car Park
Weather: Overcast, some showers, brightening later.
Today’s walk is a circuit Ennerdale with the high point being Haycock. I could see the clouds were at a low level when I set off and was in the clag most of the day (again!), although there was a surprise clearing of the mist on Caw Fell.
Lingmell from Char Dub. The path used in ascent can be seen diagonally right to left on the right of the fell.
To the left - clear, to the right - mist! Ennerdale Fell is at the top of the wall in the distance with Whoap to the left.