Height: 696 metres / 2283 feet Grid reference: NY 43272 13701 Category: The Far Eastern Fells

Rampsgill Head from Rest Dodd

Rest Dodd from The Knott
Height: 696 metres / 2283 feet Grid reference: NY 43272 13701 Category: The Far Eastern Fells
Rampsgill Head from Rest Dodd
Rest Dodd from The Knott
Walked on
Start point: Hartsop (NY 409 131)
Hartsop – Brock Crags – Satura Crag – Rest Dodd – Hayeswater – Hartsop
Distance: 4.4 miles Total Ascent: 562 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 09:50
Weather: Constant showers. 13°C
The weather was a little different to last time I was out, the rain was light but pretty well constant today and most of the tops were hidden beneath the murk. This was a made up on the go walk, I hadn’t intended coming here at all today but it sufficed given the conditions and being a fair weather walker I didn’t get as far as I had intended at the start either.
Walked on
Start point: Hartsop (NY 409 131)
Hartsop – Brock Crags – Angletarn Pikes – Satura Crag – The Nab – Rest Dodd – Hayeswater Gill – Hartsop
Distance: 7.4 miles Total Ascent: 846 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 09:15
Weather: Overcast with spots of rain. 15ºC
After endless days of sunshine and warm weather, this morning was dull and threatened rain constantly. It was good to be back on the high fells and I made it back before the rain eventually came. I ended up doing a few direct routes to places rather than following the paths today for a bit of a change.
Walked on
Start point: Martindale Old Church (NY 434 184)
Martindale Old Church – Beda Fell – Angletarn Pikes – Angle Tarn – Brock Crags – Satura Crag – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Rampsgill Head – Kidsty Pike – High Raise – Red Crag – Martindale Old Church
Distance: 10.6 miles Total Ascent: 1048 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 40 minutes
Weather: Long sunny spells. 13C.
Today I was joined by StridingEdge stalwarts Andy Lang and Gary Jones for a circuit of Martindale. The occasion was to take in my final two Wainwrights to complete my third time round them, namely Beda Fell and High Raise. After the early mist lifted, the sun shone making it a great end to the walk and of course to completion of the 642!
As we climb higher the mist completely circles Hallin Fell, here with Winter Crag in the foreground.
Bannerdale just before the mist started pouring over the tops from the south and obliterated everything for a while.
Angle Tarn in sunshine but Angletarn Pikes in mist again, showing how quickly conditions were changing.
Walked on
Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)
Hartsop – Brock Crags – Satura Crag – The Nab – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Hayeswater – Hartsop
Distance: 8.9 miles Total Ascent: 1178 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Overcast with some sunny spells. 9ºC.
It was a bit of an unplanned walk today; I didn’t really know where I was going until I got there and I only ended up at Hartsop due to roadworks at Troutbeck ‘forcing’ me over Kirkstone Pass rather than sitting in a lengthy queue. As it turned out, I was glad I went over that way as there were some decent sunny spells and still a bit of lingering snow even though it was quite warm – all in all a rather pleasant days walking.
Walked on
Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)
Hartsop – Brock Crags – Satura Crag – The Nab – Rest Dodd – The Knott – Hayeswater – Hartsop
Distance: 8.9 miles Total Ascent: 1178 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 35 minutes
Weather: Overcast, turning to rain. 6oC.
I thought we might be up in the snow today, but that has all gone apart from a smattering on the highest fells; today it was cold but the precipitation was rain. The day started off promising enough but soon ended up being a bit miserable. We managed to catch sight of a distant herd of Red Deer in Martindale Deer Forest which was a nice sight, but I don’t think Angus and Casper were too bothered.
Gray Crag with Hayeswater now in view. Above Hayeswater is High Street. At the bottom of the photo is the filter house which marks the start of the zigzags to Brock Crags.
Brothers Water and the Hartsop above How ridge from Brock Crags. Behind with a sprinkling of snow is Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Fairfield.
Gray Crag again - this time the cloud was pouring over Threshwaite Mouth; this spelled the beginning of the end for the fine weather.
The Nab, the many loathsome peat hags evident. Beyond is Loadpot Hill with the merest glimpse of Ullswater.
Heading for the summit of The Nab. This is the preferred route walkers are now asked to follow - out and back along the ridge.
Having a rest on The Nab - where are all the deer? The greying skies over Rest Dodd show the weather worsening and it was now raining. The steep climb up to Rest Dodd and then over to The Knott was done in rain and mist - so no photos of that section! When we reached the wall that can be seen above Casper's head, we caught a glimpse of the Red Deer herd down below in Ramps Gill.
Walked on
Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)
Hartsop – Gray Crag (110) – Thornthwaite Crag (111) – High Street – The Knott (112) – Rest Dodd (113) – The Nab (114) – Satura Crag – Angle Tarn Pike South (115) – Angletarn Pike North (116) – Brock Crags (117) – Hartsop
Weather: Overcast, some rain later.
Another walk chosen by my 13 year old son today, principally to take in some wildlife; the promise of wild ponies on Thornthwaite Crag, a Golden Eagle over Riggindale and deer in the Martindale Deer Forest spurring him into action. Of course, there was also the lure of walking in the footsteps of Roman soldiers across High Street.
From the car park through the hamlet of Hartsop, we followed the old mine road along Hayeswater Gill and over Wath Bridge.
Threshwaite Mouth from the Hayeswater Gill path. We decided to ascend Gray Crag by the direct route - straight up the sickeningly steep nose leading directly to the summit.
The Eastern Fells from the summit of Gray Crag, Catstycam is the conical peak on the right. From the summit, it is a simple stroll along the grassy undulations to Thornthwaite Crag, sometimes referred to as Thornthwaite Beacon due to the distinctive 14 feet high column on its summit.
Thornthwaite Beacon. From the beacon the path U-turns on to the Roman road and follows the gentle rise to the summit of High Street.
Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Windermere from the Roman road on High Street. We then left the Roman road to cross the wall which traverses the summit plateau and headed for the trig. column that marks the highest point.
The summit of High Street looking to Fairfield and Dollywagon Pike. From the summit, we headed over to the Eastern side of the fell to look over Haweswater and along Riggindale with binoculars out trying to spot the Golden Eagle. Oh dear, no wild ponies and no eagle!
A view along Riggindale to Haweswater. After returning to the Roman road, it was a simple climb to the summit of The Knott.
The Knott summit with Rest Dodd near left and The Nab to the right. From The Knott, a steep descent/ascent following the wall took us to the summit of Rest Dodd.
Rampsgill Head from the summit of Rest Dodd. Again from Rest Dodd, it was straight over the nose and onward over the difficult peat hag terrain of the Deer Forest to The Nab.
Rest Dodd from the summit of The Nab. Then it was back along the same peaty path to the wall - at last we were rewarded with the sight of a deer herd. We then followed the wall over to Satura Crag and then skirted Angle Tarn to ascend the northern top of Angletarn Pikes quickly followed by the southern top as the rain set in.
Angle Tarn from the southern summit of Angletarn Pikes. Skirting around the other side of Angle Tarn, we ascended directly to the summit Brock Crags with views over Hartsop and Brothers Water.
Walked on
Hartsop – Hayeswater – The Knott – Rest Dodd (144) – The Nab (145) – Satura Crag – Angletarn Pikes (146) – Brock Crags (147) – Hartsop