Rosthwaite Fell via Combe Gill

Walked on 29/02/2016

Start point: Strands Bridge (NY 249 135)

Strands Bridge – The Combe – Combe Door – Combe Head – Stonethwaite Fell – Rosthwaite Cam on Rosthwaite Fell – Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell – Big Stanger Gill – Stonethwaite – Strands Bridge

Distance: 7.1 miles Total Ascent: 762 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Cold wind, wintry. 4C

Today’s walk was up to Glaramara (or it was supposed to be – read on to find out why it didn’t quite turn out that way!) via Combe Gill. It is certainly a quiet way to climb but then again it is normally fairly quiet on the fells when conditions aren’t particularly good in winter.

Looking back to Borrowdale at the start of the walk.

Glaramara and Combe Gill ahead.

Looking back to distant Derwent Water and Skiddaw.

There was a cold, raw wind today and I was hoping for some shelter once in the combe.

In The Combe, Combe Gill ahead.

Combe Gill - the climb is to the right of the ravine and is easier than it looks.

Looking back from the climb...

...and from higher up.

At Combe Door the weather suddenly became very wintry, here looking to the Langdales through the rapidly moving clouds.

Combe Head.

The view from Combe Head.

Anyone who has been here knows that Glaramara is only a stone's throw away yet I didn't really fancy going for it today...

...and these were the main reason. It was so cold - I had full winter kit on, these two had jackets on but Glaramara can wait for a warmer day. It will still be there in summer!

Close up on the Gables.

Stonethwaite Fell (Dovenest Crag).

Looking back to Combe Head.

Rosthwaite Cam from Stonethwaite Fell.

A view across to Fleetwith Pike from Rosthwaite Cam.

Tarn at Leaves with Bessyboot, the summit of Rosthwaite Fell, the high point in the centre ground.

Bessyboot above frozen Tarn at Leaves.

Looking back on the route just walked from Bessyboot.

A face in the crowd - colourful Herdwicks in Borrowdale.

From a walk around Torver Back Common on 4th March...Coniston Old Man in full winter coat.

Long Moss.

Winter on Torver Common.

Coniston Water and snow laden skies.

Stonethwaite Fell

Height: 632 metres / 2073 feet Grid reference: NY 25573 11369

Stonethwaite Fell summit to the left

Fleetwith Pike from Stonethwaite Fell

Glaramara via Combe Gill

Walked on 01/10/2012

Start point: Strands Bridge (NY 249 135)

Strands Bridge – The Combe – Combe Door – Combe Head – Glaramara – Stonethwaite Fell – Rosthwaite Cam on Rosthwaite Fell – Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell – Big Stanger Gill – Stonethwaite – Strands Bridge

Distance: 6.4 miles Total Ascent: 815 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 07:30

Weather: Showers, strong wind on the tops. 14C

It wasn’t the best forecast to go for a walk in the wettest valley in the country but I thought I came away relatively unscathed today! Yes there were lots of showers but I enjoyed the route up, the scramble of Combe Gill. That is more than I can say for the route of descent…

Glaramara route map.

Falls on Combe Gill with distant Combe Head just peeping into view.

The path towards Combe Gill.

Daybreak over Borrowdale.

The divergence from the main path - left to Combe Gill, right to Thornythwaite Fell.

A good place for a geography lesson - moraines, drumlins and a hanging valley.

Combe Gill - the route is to the right of the ravine.

Panoramic of The Combe.

Walking The Combe.

Combe Gill.

The view back along to Borrowdale.

The ravine.

This section towards the top is the crux. Chucking it down now!

Looking back down from the top of Combe Gill.

Yes, up there!

Rosthwaite Fell and a view to distant Skiddaw and Derwent Water.

Combe Door.

High Raise and the Langdale Pikes from Combe Head.

Glaramara.

Looking along Borrowdale from Combe Head.

Glaramara from the cairn on Combe Head.

A bit wet and wild today.

The approach to Glaramara.

The 20' rock step. Dougal bounded up here today, Casper had to be given a little helping hand...he is getting on a bit now you know.

Glaramara summit in mist.

Passing Combe Door again.

Heading for Rosthwaite Fell.

Rosthwaite Cam and Dovenest Crag (called Stonethwaite Fell by Birkett).

Stonethwaite Fell summit to the left.

Fleetwith Pike from Stonethwaite Fell.

Fining a way to Rosthwaite Cam.

Rosthwaite Cam from the south. From the previous photo to this one, the rain was like stair rods and the wind so strong I could hardly stand up...

...but as if by magic the strong wind then blew it all away. This is a great view of High Stile and Fleetwith Pike from Rosthwaite Cam.

Bessyboot overlooking Tarn at Leaves.

Would you believe it? The sun came out as I was passing Tarn at Leaves.

Bessyboot, the summit of Rosthwaite Fell.

The strange array of rock spurs to the north west of Bessyboot summit.

The route crosses the ravine at this small cairn.

The descent to Stonethwaite is going to be a steep one.

Another 'fixed' path - absolutely unusable when it is wet like this and completely annoying. I had a heavy fall descending here when I was forced to use this horrible stone stairway. What is the point of making a path that cannot be used in the wet?

Big Stanger Gill.

Amen to that.

Stonethwaite.

Rosthwaite Fell from Stonethwaite.

Glaramara

Walked on 26/06/2007

Start point: Strands Bridge (NY 249 135)

Strands Bridge – Thorneythwaite Farm – Seathwaite – Stockley Bridge – Seathwaite Fell – Great Slack on Seathwaite Fell – Sprinkling Tarn –Allen Crags – High House on Allen Crags – Lincomb Head on Glaramara – Looking Stead on Glaramara – Glaramara – Combe Head –Stonethwaite Fell – Rosthwaite Cam on Rosthwaite Fell – Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell – Strands Bridge

Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 1025 metres Time Taken: 4 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Overcast with sunny spells. 15oC.

At least it was dry today but there was really rather a chilly wind on the tops today; it felt more like Autumn than summer. I parked at Strands Bridge this morning rather than the more popular Seathwaite, preferring to do the flat section first rather than last as I find it makes a good warm-up and the alternative car parking place was a lot quieter. Casper’s fame must be widening too as we were recognised by a party of walkers on Combe Head who were big StridingEdge fans – sorry, no Angus today!

Is this the right way? Following the Allerdale Ramble to Seathwaite from Strands Bridge, Base Brown ahead.

Base Brown looming large over Seathwaite.

Seathwaite Fell ahead.

Stockley Bridge.

Allen Crags along Grains.

Borrowdale from the steep climb to Seathwaite Fell.

Glaramara from Aaron Crags. The great cleft is Red Beck.

Great Gable from the Wainwright summit of Seathwaite Fell.

Looking north from Seathwaite Fell with a glimpse of Derwent Water.

Casper has a dip in the summit tarn on Seathwaite Fell, Great Gable and Green Gable beyond.

Great Gable.

Lingmell with the vertical Piers Gill clearly visible.

Casper on Great Slack, the highest and true summit of Seathwaite Fell with Great End behind.

Reflected Great End.

A peep into Wasdale - Yewbarrow with Seatallan behind and Red Pike right.

Bow Fell and Esk Pike from Allen Crags.

The Gables over Sprinkling Tarn, Pillar distant centre left.

The Langdale Pikes and Windermere.

Casper checks out the way ahead to Glaramara from Allen Crags.

The Glaramara ridge.

Harrison Stickle and Pike o' Stickle.

Bow Fell.

Great End.

Bow Fell and Esk Pike from Lincomb Head.

Seathwaite Fell with Great and Green Gable behind.

Looking over to the north-western fells.

Skiddaw, Blencathra and Derwent Water from the summit of Glaramara.

The Combe and Rosthwaite Fell from Combe Head.

The rocky turret of Rosthwaite Cam.

Fleetwith Pike from Rosthwaite Cam.

Great Gable with one or two people on the top by the look of it.

The sunshine lights up Bessyboot and Tarn at Leaves from Rosthwaite Cam.

Tarn at Leaves. Bessyboot, the summit of Rosthwaite Fell is beyond the tarn to the left.

Fleetwith Pike and High Stile from Bessyboot.

Falls on Combe Gill.

Rosthwaite Fell

Walked on 27/06/2006

Start point: Strands Bridge (NY 249 135)

Strands Bridge – Thornythwaite Fell (478) – Combe Head (479) – Stonethwaite Fell (480) –Rosthwaite Cam on Rosthwaite Fell (481) – Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell (482) – Strands Bridge

Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 889 metres Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Overcast with showers but warm and still. 15oC.

It was still overcast again today with the odd shower for company – some summer weather we are having at the moment! This is a great little round, visiting the often missed (due to more exalted company) Thornythwaite Fell which offers fine views of Borrowdale and to the higher fells. It was a special occasion for Angus today too…