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