Middle Fell & Seatallan

Walked on 17/11/2023

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Middle Fell – Seatallan – Greendale Tarn – Greendale Gill – Greendale

Distance: 8 km Total Ascent: 726 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 10:25

Well, 2 walks in 2 years – not bad eh! What fantastic weather this morning as well, much better than I was expecting. When I got to Wasdale the skies were clear and sunny but the cloud was building up over the high fells for the duration of the walk and it eventually caught us up on Seatallan. I can’t grumble at all with that though as it was really quite warm in the glorious sunshine. As ever, the Western side of the Lake District was very quiet and there was hardly a soul around.
Unbelievably, the last time I walked Middle Fell was 2015 and Seatallan 2014!

Wow, what a surprise in Wasdale this morning! I thought conditions would be okay but always a treat top see it this clear.

Just follow the path from Greendale.

A light dusting of snow on Scafell.

It was really quite warm in the sun as indicated by Fletcher's tongue.

The cloud was starting to build throughout the walk, at least it was clear when I made it to the top of Middle Fell, here looking across Wast Water to the Scafells from the summit cairn.

Yewbarrow and Great Gable are still clear but look at the cloud building to the right of this photo.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable beyond Yewbarrow.

It was gorgeous up here today and no-one about.

Strike a pose Fletcher.

You can never tire of this view....

...fabulous.

Looking towards the West Cumbrian coast.

Heading along the Middle Fell summit plateau.

Haycock.

Fletcher is trying to find the best route down and then which way to climb Seatallan.

The Scafells - gone!

This is a steep climb to Seatallan, Fletcher my lad.

Looking down on Middle Fell and Greendale Tarn.

Seatallan summit - we are being enveloped in cloud now.

The head of Blengdale.

We made a direct descent today rather than following the (probably) more usual route to Glade How and Buckbarrow. When I looked at the map I was close to a named, marked stone on the map (Carling Stone). I never noticed anything and have not noticed it before - I wish I had looked at the map and seen it but will make a note for next time.

Perhaps Fletcher knows which one the Carling Stone is!

Greendale Gill.

A gathering.

Seatallan

Height: 692 metres / 2270 feet Grid reference: NY 13964 08403 Category: The Western Fells

Seatallan sunset

Seatallan and Blengdale

The Tumulus and trig column on Seatallan

Greendale Tarn and Seatallan (and Casper!).

Great Gable flanked by Kirk Fell and Yewbarrow from Seatallan.

Seatallan from Stockdale Moor.

Seatallan from Cat Bields

Blengdale Horseshoe

Walked on 24/11/2014

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.

A bit overcast but still gorgeous in Wasdale

Ancient walled track above Windsor Farm

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.

Blengdale with Haycock's top in cloud and Seatallan to the right

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?

Seatallan

Little Gowder Crag and Haycock

Which way Dougal?

The Scafells finally out of the cloud

Hanging Stone (also gaining an addition!)

Aeroplane wreckage on Caw Fell

Caw Fell. It certainly looks a lot brighter to the north, looking across to the High Stile ridge.

Heading for Little Gowder Crag

Ennerdale

Hair raising for the boy

My best pal waiting patiently, taking it all in

Caw Fell

Caw Fell and Little Gowder Crag from the climb to Haycock

Steeple and Scoat Fell from Haycock

Seatallan and Blengdale

Blengdale

Haycock from Pots of Ashness

...and from the climb to Seatallan

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.

Stockdale Head

A wider view

Great Gable

Great Gable and the Scafells lit by the setting sun

Close up on the Scafells

What a handsome chappie

Seatallan

Seatallan sunset

You may well gaze in wonderment Dougal my lad!

Cat Bields - as the sun went behind the cloud it was like the lights had been dimmed considerably, so it was a case of getting down before darkness finally fell

The Screes

Greendale Round

Walked on 28/09/2013

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Middle Fell – Greendale Tarn – Seatallan – Cat Bields – Glade How – Buckbarrow – Joss Naylor Cairn – Greendale

Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 785 metres Time Taken: 4 hours Start Time: 10:00

Weather: Sunny and warm. 20oC

It was a fantastic return to summer weather today with sunshine, blue skies and with the added bonus of being unexpectedly warm. Today I joined up with Skip, Smoky and fell running legend Joss Naylor for a memorable walk around Greendale.

Early morning and the classic view along Wast Water.

Buckbarrow.

Autumn colours coming through.

Joss leads the way (actually I think Dougal was doing most of the leading today - he loved it, running with the pack!) followed by Skip and Smoky.

The view out to sea from the climb to Middle Fell.

One man and his dogs.

Looking across Buckbarrow.

The magnificent view from Middle Fell.

Dougal feeling the heat today.

With Joss Naylor on Middle Fell.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable beyond Yewbarrow.

The Scafells.

Haycock, Scoat Fell and Red Pike.

The view from the steep climb to Seatallan.

Middle Fell and Greendale Tarn.

I think Joss quite liked Dougal-Doo -'Mr Dougal' as he called him!

The view from Seatallan.

The summit of Seatallan.

Looking on Stockdale Head with Caw Fell to the left, Haycock to the right.

Seatallan silhouette.

Heading for Cat Bields. You can see a haze layer out to sea and around Black Combe.

Seatallan from Cat Bields, Great Gable to the distant right.

Cairn on Glade How.

A panoramic view from Buckbarrow.

Joss at the Joss Naylor cairn - he rebuilt this cairn in 2002 to mark the interment of the Queen Mother.

Colourful Greendale.

The view from the descent.

The Screes.

Greendale Gill.

Greendale Round

Walked on 14/11/2011

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Middle Fell – Seatallan – Greendale Gill – Greendale

Distance: 4.2 miles Total Ascent: 732 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:30

Weather: Sunny and bright. 9C

What a beautiful morning it was and although quite hazy down below it did look as though it would be clear higher up and I wasn’t disappointed. The haze layer seemed to roll across from the east during the walk so I think it was a good idea to get out early. Nice to bump into StridingEdge fan David up on Middle Fell today too.

Greendale route map.

Buckbarrow from Greendale.

The path to Middle Fell.

Climbing higher.

Greendale and Greendale Gill.

Buckbarrow from the climb to Middle Fell.

Middle Fell summit ahead.

First sight of the Scafells - wow, beautiful.

The summit of Middle Fell.

The view across Greendale to Haycock, Scoat Fell and Red Pike.

Dougal, ready for action.

Red Pike with Low Tarn visible.

Scafells close up.

A fabulous view from Middle Fell - Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Yewbarrow and The Scafells in view.

Casper is 8 on the 15th - Happy Birthday Casper!

Middle Fell.

Heading along Middle Fell ridge.

It is hazy down below but the views from up here are fabulous.

Dougal and Casper have found someone else to walk with - he must have sandwiches! The steep climb to Seatallan lies ahead.

At the foot of the climb.

Middle Fell and Greendale Tarn and a big layer of haze beyond.

A view of lovely Scoat Tarn flanked by Scoat Fell and Red Pike with Pillar putting in appearance directly above the tarn.

Haycock and Pots of Ashness.

Distant Great Gable.

Spreading haze.

Looking from the summit plateau of Seatallan.

Looking in the other direction, the trig column and cairn clumped together over on the south western side.

The cairn and trig column.

A prefect view of the Scafells from the descent.

That bank of haze seems to be moving closer.

Layers of hazy fells.

Descending to Greendale Tarn below Middle Fell.

Greendale Tarn.

It was lovely down here and unseasonably warm.

The peace was broken by the shouts of three shepherds working the fells with a dozen dogs, one up on Seatallan, one on Middle Fell and one in the Greendale Valley. I think they would have had a couple more willing volunteers as well if they were given half a chance.

Seatallan.

Middle Fell from Greendale.

Yewbarrow and Great Gable.

The view.

Greendale Round

Walked on 26/05/2010

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Middle Fell – Greendale Tarn – Seatallan – Cat Bields – Glade How – Buckbarrow – Joss Naylor Cairn – Greendale

Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 785 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 10:15

Weather: Generally overcast, some sunny spell and showers. 13C

Today was the day of the StridingEdge.net summer 2010 walk around Greendale. I chose a date earlier than usual to try and capture some ‘guaranteed’ decent weather for it, however that didn’t quite materialise! That aside, it was an enjoyable walk with great company and it was good to be able to chat to followers of the site. Up on Buckbarrow, the icing on the cake was bumping into the legendary Joss Naylor who was taking his dogs for a stroll!

Greendale route map.

Wasdale.

Reflected giants.

Buckbarrow from the start of the climb to Middle Fell.

Onward and upward for the group.

Buckbarrow from Middle Fell.

The summit of Middle Fell.

The massed ranks of the StridingEdge walking party on Middle Fell. There are at least one and a half dogs missing in this photo!

The weather rapidly closed in whilst we were on Middle Fell with Seatallan up to the left now covered by cloud. Here, Casper leads the way.

Greendale Tarn...

...a suitable place for a lunch stop.

After lunch, it was onwards once more to Seatallan.

Yewbarrow and The Scafells from the climb.

No, it's definitely not that way.

The only glimpse of Great Gable and Kirk Fell today.

It is a steep climb to Seatallan.

Haycock and Scoat Fell from the northern end of Seatallan.

Casper and Dougal have a rest. Who are all those people? wonders Dougal.

The Scafells were in and out of the clouds.

Heading to the cairn on Cat Bields from Seatallan.

Cat Bields. It was around this time we had a shower and heard the thunder rumbling. Later it was reported that four walkers had been struck by lightning further north in Buttermere and in Borrowdale.

Sunshine on Glade How looking back to Cat Bields.

On the summit of Buckbarrow we bumped into the legendary fell runner Joss Naylor who stopped for a chat. I asked him about the nearby cairn that has become known as the 'Joss Naylor Cairn' and he told me that it was on the site of an ancient cairn and there was reputedly a body beneath!

Portrait of a legend.

The Joss Naylor Cairn looking to Middle Fell.

Looking the other way to Wast Water.

Heading back to Greendale.

Wast Water and The Screes.

A panoramic view of Wast Water and the Screes.

Greendale Gill. The path used to climb Middle Fell earlier is clear to see from here.

Greendale Gill from further down.

Casper and Dougal get a well earned drink in Greendale Gill, Middle Fell behind. We got a well earned drink in The Screes (the pub not the rock formation!).

Haycock

Walked on 15/09/2009

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Seatallan – Scoat Tarn – Scoat Fell – Haycock – Pots of Ashness – Greendale Tarn – Greendale

Distance: 8.9 miles Total Ascent: 1130 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny and warm.19C.

The glorious weather continued today and it ended up being really warm once the breeze died down a bit. This was a walk made up as I went along – I knew I wanted to go to Scoat Tarn as I have walked around it but never been down to it, and to Haycock as I haven’t been there for a while. It ended up as a sort of skinny figure of eight on the map and there seemed to be a lot of ups and downs on this walk and there were certainly no paths to follow for the traverse around to Scoat Tarn.

Haycock route map.

The path into Greendale. The climb to Seatallan is adjacent to Tongues Gills, the zig-zags across the gill can be seen directly ahead climbing the fell side.

Crossing Greendale Gill.

Looking back to Greendale from the climb.

Buckbarrow

Cloud on Great Gable.

The Ravenglass Estuary and the River Irt. The cairn in the foreground is on Glade How.

That made me jump!

Kirk Fell and Great Gable.

The Scafells from Seatallan.

Making a decision on the route before the descent from Haycock. I decided to contour around to Scoat Tarn nestling below Red Pike, directly above Caper in this photo.

Haycock. The grassy rake running diagonally left is the one I used in descent, the path I followed is the faint one form the 'Y' junction to the right.

Looking back to Seatallan.

Heading towards Red Pike.

Passing beneath Haycock.

Seatallan from Little Lad Crag.

Scoat Tarn.

There was a cool breeze blowing here today so I didn't fancy a swim.

Seatallan from Scoat Tarn.

Red Pike - the summit is tantalisingly close but I must press on.

Pillar from Scoat Fell.

Steeple.

Close up on Steeple.

Scoat Fell, the summit cairn along the wall.

Steeple is tantalisingly close from here too, but time is against me today.

Ennerdale and Ennerdale Water. You are going the wrong way Casper!

Heading for Haycock and the deceptive dip between the break in the walls in this photo is much worse than it looks from here. I met the first people I had seen all day on the descent and it was great to meet a couple of StridingEdge fans enjoying the sunshine.

Steeple, Scoat Fell and Pillar (just) from Haycock.

Looking down on Scoat Tarn with Red Pike above and the Scafells beyond.

Middle Fell, Greendale Tarn (the way back for me today) and Seatallan from the top of the descent.

Caw Fell on a glorious day.

Reflected Haycock.

Pots of Ashness.

Yewbarrow and the Scafells above Nether Beck.

The Scafells.

Greendale Tarn.

Warm enough for a swim here but the water looked a bit too murky.

Greendale Gill.

The descent into Wasdale.

Autumnal Buckbarrow.

Blengdale Horseshoe

Walked on 26/02/2007

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.

Early (ish) morning in Wasdale.

Buckbarrow.

Middle Fell.

Buckbarrow from further along the road.

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.

Haycock, Scoat Fell and Seatallan from the Sergeant Ford crossing of the River Bleng.

Seatallan.

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.

Seatallan from Stockdale Moor.

...and again, the Scafells now coming into view.

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.

Heading for Little Gowder Crag, a really cold wind blowing across here now.

A glimpse of Ennerdale Water and Ennerdale from Haycock, the wall leading from Little Gowder Crag.

Steeple and Scoat Fell from Haycock, Pillar just visible above the wall at the top of Scoat Fell.

Red Pike above Scoat Tarn with the Scafells beyond.

Steeple from Haycock.

Looking across Ennerdale from Haycock to Herdus and the Loweswater Fells, Scottish mountains clearly visible today across the Solway Firth.

Red Pike and Scoat Tarn.

Another breather for these two on Haycock.

Blengdale - the ridge walked so far is to the right from the forest.

The best view is the other way Angus!

The Scafell range from Haycock - Great End with a touch of snow lingering, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Scafell and Slight Side.

Haycock across Pots of Ashness at the start of the steep climb to Seatallan.

Great Gable flanked by Kirk Fell and Yewbarrow from Seatallan.

Caw Fell and Haycock above Stockdale Head.

Casper on Seatallan.

The view to the west from Seatallan.

Middle Fell, the next objective, and Greendale Tarn.

Scafell from Middle Fell.

Scafell Pike.

Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Scafell.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable across Yewbarrow.

Angus and Casper on Middle Fell.

Lingmell and the Scafells at the head of Wast Water.

Tired Casper?

A bit blowy again for Angus on Middle Fell, Yewbarrow and Great Gable beyond.

Blue sky over the Scafells from the descent of Middle Fell.

The Screes across Wast Water looking colourful.

Greendale Round

Walked on 02/11/2006

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Middle Fell – Seatallan – Greendale Gill – Greendale

Distance: 4.2 miles Total Ascent: 732 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Clear and cold, hardly a breath of wind today. 8oC.

It was another cold and clear day today – if possible, it was better than yesterday as there was no wind to chill the bones. This was a lovely round with stunning views and the fells were ours alone for the entire walk.

Morning light on Wast Water looking to Yewbarrow, Great Gable and Lingmell.

The Scafells from Greendale.

Middle Fell.

Buckbarrow...

...looking Autumnal.

Climbing up to Middle Fell...spot Casper? and Angus?

Clear view from Middle Fell today.

Yewbarrow.

Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell across Wast Water.

Looking north to Red Pike from the summit of Middle Fell.

Casper and Angus are enjoying it - it's colder than it looks though, the tops are below freezing.

Sellafield with the Isle of Man looming large behind.

Scafell Pike.

The Scafells.

Angus in golden light...

...and Casper.

It's getting brighter as the sun gets higher.

Haycock.

Haycock and Scoat Fell.

The view from the ascent of Seatallan.

Scoat Fell and Red Pike.

Closer up on Red Pike. Scoat Tarn is in the hollow towards the top left.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Seatallan.

Lank Rigg and Caw Fell.

Haycock across Pots of Ashness.

The summit plateau of Seatallan is like a lawn.

The Tumulus and trig. column on Seatallan, the Scafells still in view.

Descending Seatallan.

Greendale Tarn and Middle Fell.

...and from further down.

Greendale Tarn - not quite as warm or green as it was here

Cascades on Greendale Gill.

Illuminated by the midday sun, the Scafells now appear golden.

Seatallan

Walked on 29/06/2004

Start point: Greendale (NY 144 056)

Greendale – Buckbarrow (79) – Glade How (80) – Cat Bields – Seatallan (81) – Greendale Tarn – Middle Fell (82) – Greendale

Weather: Mist and rain.

Today’s walk is to some of the unfashionable fells overlooking Wast Water; Buckbarrow, Seatallan and Middle Fell. When I completed this round last year, it was teeming with rain and I really wanted to do theses fells in nice, clear weather. However….

I parked at Greendale by the side of the road and followed the tarmac west to Harrow Head. The path to Buckbarrow isn’t obvious from the road; it is a grassy track between the wall and Gill Beck immediately before the road triangle at Harrow Head. If you walk slightly past Harrow Head and look over the wall, you will see the hidden Tosh Tarn.

Gill Beck waterfall on the ascent to Buckbarrow.

Tosh Tarn from further up the path. At the top of the path, the crags to the right of the summit are worth climbing for the view of Wast Water - if it is clear! From this point, the summit is across the dip on a rocky knoll.

Wast Water through the mist from Buckbarrow. From Buckbarrow, head north for Glade How where there is a prominent cairn. From Glade How, the next target is Cat Bields which lies to the north west and here lies another cairn which marks the ascent of Seatallan.

Cairn on Glade How..

and Cat Bields

Seatallan summit - no views today then! The large pile of stones is an ancient burial mound, reputed to be 1000 years old. From Seatallan, I headed east to the hause marked on the map at 465 metres. From here I made a slight detour south to Greendale Tarn, back to the hause for the easy ascent to the summit of Middle Fell.

Greendale Tarn. Beware of the bogs on Middle Fell - I fell in up to my waist on here!

Middle Fell summit...

and Wast Water appears through the mist on the descent, right. A long descent from Middle Fell, the path meets up with the one from Greendale Tarn and from here it's a direct descent southwards to Greendale.

Buckbarrow from the descent of Middle Fell.

Cascades, Tongues Gills from the descent of Middle Fell.