Height: 841 metres / 2759 feet Grid reference: NY 36930 13404 Category: The Eastern Fells

The summit of St. Sunday Crag

Gavel Pike and the Far Eastern fells from St. Sunday Crag

Cofa Pike to the left and Saint Sunday Crag from Fairfield
Height: 841 metres / 2759 feet Grid reference: NY 36930 13404 Category: The Eastern Fells
The summit of St. Sunday Crag
Gavel Pike and the Far Eastern fells from St. Sunday Crag
Cofa Pike to the left and Saint Sunday Crag from Fairfield
Walked on
Start Point: Deepdale Bridge (NY 399 144)
Deepdale Bridge – Deepdale – Greenhow End – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Pike – Lord’s Seat – Deepdale Bridge
Distance: 7.3 miles Total Ascent: 915 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:15
Weather: Overcast with showers, 8°C
The promised clear weather never materialised today, in fact it was the opposite as the clouds and clag closed in as the day went on. I was looking forward to this one as a new route for me, I must go back and do it on a fine day as I think the views would be brilliant from Greenhow End. This route will feature in a future edition of Trail Magazine.
Fletcher, full of smiles! On Sunday 9th November I took the dogs out but it was hammering it down in the south Lakes.
We ended up back at Burney for a quick fell walk. We were completely sodden! On with today's walk...
Place Fell from Deepdale Bridge. There was a glimmer of light and it was looking (dare I say it?) promising.
Dougal...down...wait...down...wait...wait...wait...good lad! Dougal posing on the old stone bridge crossing Coldcove Gill
Mart Crag reflected in a small tarn. Above Mart Crag (in the mist) is Greenhow End, today's route of ascent
A bit damp and a bit steep climbing up Greenhow End, looking back into Deepdale. There wasn't much to take photos of for a good while after this. Dougal was recognised on Fairfield by a couple of StridingEdge fans, I helped a chap get the right path from Fairfield to Cofa Pike and Dougal was again recognised on the climb to St. Sunday!
Walked on
Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the-Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Deepdale Hause – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1419 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 06:45
Weather: Sunny and clear. 13C
I was up early this morning to make the most of the expected good weather to come for the day. I wasn’t disappointed and it turned into a fantastic and memorable day on the fells with incredible clarity and an inversion over the Lake District as well. When I set off from Patterdale this morning (in the dark!), the temperature gauge was showing -1C but once the sun rose it was really warm and I ended up completing the walk in shirt sleeves.
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
Even the normally dull as ditchwater Great Mell Fell looks good today, taking on a special interest in the inversion.
There is a big inversion to the south too looking over the cross shelter. In fact the whole Lake District is surrounded by the inversion.
Looking to the south west from the path to Nethermost Pike. That distant fell (Black Combe), in solitary peeping out in the clouds intrigued me - I wonder what it would be like to be stood on the top of it? Actually, I have had a similar experience on Hard Knott with Connie (here) and you never know whether you will actually ever get above the cloud.
Walked on
Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Hause Gap – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Patterdale
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1410 metres Time Taken: 7 hours
Weather: Sunny spells, icy wind. 3ºC.
The snow has begun to thaw and it was all a bit dull and overcast when I set off from Patterdale this morning. Once up to the Hole-in-the-Wall though, there were regular sunny spells and the crossing of Striding Edge is a s fantastic as ever in winter conditions. I lengthened the walk by climbing to Fairfield after the Helvellyn ridge but the wind was mighty strong and cold up there and it made walking quite difficult at times. The days are pretty short at the moment and the descent was mirrored by the setting of the sun.
NOTE: This walk was done in winter conditions and it can be extremely hazardous up on Striding Edge in this weather. Just because I did it with my dog doesn’t mean to say you can. Please make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions.
It was all a bit overcast when I set off into Grisedale. Here the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall can be seen running diagonally right to left with the wall visible in the centre.
I caught up with group from Sheffield on the crossing of Striding Edge. They were much hardier than me as they had camped out at Red Tarn last night.
A tricky crossing over the icy rocks. Crampons and an ice axe were essential today. The Dixon memorial is to the right.
Here's a view looking down the climb to show conditions when the mist was down and the equipment required to get up here!
Once at Hause Gap the wind really picked up and the climb to Fairfield was pretty tough. This view is through to the Coniston fells. This is where I took my crampons off too as they were more of a hindrance rather than a help.
The Helvellyn ridge recently walked. Crampons back on again for the steep and icy descent to Cofa Pike.
Walked on
Start point: Deepdale Bridge (NY 399 144)
Deepdale Bridge – Gale Crag – Hartsop Above How – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Pike – Birks – Arnison Crag – Deepdale Bridge
Distance: 10.3 miles Total Ascent: 1431 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Clear and cold, especially on the highest tops. 9oC.
After a cold and frosty night, it was a really clear day today with lovely blue skies and autumnal colours all around Deepdale. The Hartsop above How ridge is a fine walk and the return across Fairfield and St. Sunday Crag makes a lovely circuit of the valley. Angus and Casper managed to get recognised again on St. Sunday Crag by a StridingEdge fan, and (by default) so did I!
A pair of Beardies on Hartsop above How. Down below in Dovedale, I could see foxhounds and hear the constant shouts and blowing horn of the huntsmen. Not sure what they hunt these days, though!
Shooting into direct sunlight, not a good idea - but I liked the way the sun lit up Windermere and Morecambe Bay from Hart Crag.
Walked on
Start point: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (NY 403 134)
Cow Bridge – Gale Crag (322) – Hartsop Above How (323) – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag –Gavel Pike – Birks (324) – Arnison Crag (325) – Cow Bridge
Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 1385 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny with a strong breeze. 8oC in the valley rising to 12oC. Icy cold on the tops.
I had a great high level ridge walk today along the Hartsop above How ridge, up to Hart Crag and Fairfield and then back down along the Saint Sunday ridge. It was a pleasant surprise to see the sunshine, but it was deceptively cold on the tops with a bitter wind blowing. With hindsight I would have been better off starting and finishing at Deepdale Bridge and walking the full Hartsop above How ridge.
Walked on
Start point: Patterdale (NY 390 160)
Patterdale – Pinnacle Ridge – Gavel Pike (72) – Saint Sunday Crag (73) – Cofa Pike (74) – Fairfield (75) – Seat Sandal (76) – Grisedale Tarn – Patterdale
Weather: Sunny and warm.
Another fine and warm day today for a climb up to Saint Sunday Crag using a new route (for me) to the summit, Pinnacle Ridge, a serious and quite challenging technical grade 3 scramble.
The route begins following the Grisedale Valley path until the far edge of Elmhow Plantation is reached.
Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike and Helvellyn from the entrance to the Grisedale Valley. Following the zigzag path up the slopes of St. Sunday Crag from Elmhow Plantation, a grassy terrace is reached. From here it is a right turn to traverse across the horizontal terrace. On reaching a scree fan, Pinnacle Ridge can be seen above with a large, smooth prominent slab clearly visible. This is known as 'The Cannon'.
...and again - don't slip! Past The Cannon, the ridge continues over further prominent pinnacles until a difficult rock pitch is reached.
Climbing the difficult rock pitch. Once this is climbed, its virtually home and dry to reach the lower slopes of Saint Sunday Crag. This is truly an exhilarating way to reach the summit.
Looking down Pinnacle Ridge to the Grisedale Valley below. Once onto St Sunday ridge, it is eastwards first to the 'thumb' of Gavel Pike offering a great view of Ullswater.
Fairfield from Saint Sunday Crag summit. A descent to Deepdale Hause then another ascent to Cofa Pike before the final rocky ascent to Fairfield - a flat, bouldery plateau.
Bowfell, The Scafell range and Great Gable from the bouldery summit of Fairfield. From Fairfield it's a steep descent westwards and then a very steep ascent to the summit of Seat Sandal which offers good views over Grasmere.
Walked on
Patterdale – Birkhouse Moor (140) – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike (141) – Dollywaggon Pike (142) – Seat Sandal (143) Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale
Walked on
Ambleside – Nab Scar (39) – Heron Pike (40) – Stone Arthur (41) – Great Rigg (42) – Fairfield (43) – St Sunday Crag (44) – Birks (45) – Patterdale – Kirkstone Pass – Ambleside