TARN
CRAG, HARROP PIKE, GREY CRAG, & GREAT HOWE
from SADGILL BRIDGE, LONGSLEDDALE
Summary
Date - 19th July 2009
Distance - 7 miles
Map - OL7
Start point - Longsleddale,
Sadgill Bridge (NY 483057)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Tarn Crag on Sleddale Fell
2178
664
NY 4885 0785
Harrop Pike
2090
637
NY 5007 0781
Grey Crag (Longsleddale)
2093
638
NY 4971 0717
Great Howe (Longsleddale)
1621
494
NY 4888 0639
Preface
"There seems to be a good
forecast for tomorrow", said Shaun. "But after the
incorrect one last Thursday, when Dad got soaked, I wonder if we
will be walking".
"I'll go and see",
volunteered Tetley.
He was soon back, and full of
excitement.
"You'll be pleased Allen, as
yes we are going, and Dad is taking us to Longsleddale again to
climb a few tops, including Tarn Crag, which is one of your
outstanding Wainwrights."
"That's great" cried
Allen. "I can't wait."
The Walk
Sunday dawned and we were up early.
Dad got his kit together, and when we heard him taking it to the
car, we rushed out and settled on the front seat, eager to be off.
Shaun had been right about the weather, which for once was
glorious with plenty of sunny periods, but a cool wind at times.
Through
Kendal, we headed north along the A6, the old road to Scotland,
then once again took the narrow road signed Longsleddale. The
road is single track for most of its length to where it ends at
Sadgill Bridge, some 5.5 miles. Part way, Dad had to stop at the
conveniences. Had this had not been necessary, it is likely that
he would not have then met the
farmer in the landrover, nor the farmer with the tractor and muck
spreader!! There was no option but for Dad to reverse some
distance in each case, until it was possible to pass. Sadgill was
our start point once again and when we arrived there was just one
other car parked. Instead of crossing the bridge, we this time
headed along the track seen here stretching away into the
distance below Buckbarrow Crag. This leads to the Gatesgarth Pass
and eventually down into Mardale & Haweswater.
From the start the views were
spectacular. The air was very clear, so the fells were picked out
in high definition - you can't beat the real thing! Immediately
ahead on the left were the steep slopes of Goat Scar.
Allen then called out, "isn't
that view back to Sadgill Bridge nice?"
"Yes", concurred Grizzly,
"I think you should take it Dad."
As we strolled on, Dad met two
gentlemen, who it turned out owned the other car parked at the
start. They were from Birmingham, and had been overnighting at
the bothy, Mosedale Cottage in Mosedale, which we had seen on
that snowy walk last February with Uncle Eric from Swindale. He
stopped and chatted to them for a few minutes. When Dad said we
were from Morecambe, they asked about the Midland Hotel, which
has just been completely restored. Dad's not been so he was not
really in a position to give an informed view. Continuing we
passed another group of walkers, as the path climbed, from where
Dad got a nice shot of the waterfalls.
After this steeper climb the track
levelled and once through the gate we reached the junction of
paths. If we had continued ahead a further two miles, it would
have brought us to Mardale Head and Haweswater Reservoir. However
our route was right crossing the stream and on the bridleway that
leads eventually through lonely Mosedale and then down to
Swindale.
It had been dry so far underfoot,
but now this rather indistinct path was rather wet and boggy. At
one point a sheep barred (what an awful pun!) Dad's way, but
because it looked so comfortable, he took pity, and walked in a
small circle to avoid disturbing it.
The path climbed gently to come to
the fence with its gate and stile. Here we left the bridleway and
climbed steeply right on a narrow path parallel to the fence.
Eventually, when the fence turned away left, Dad kept on along
the path to the summit of Tarn Crag.
"Hooray", shouted Allen,
"that's another Wainwright ticked off."
"Me too", called out
Little Eric.
This odd looking structure stands
just a 100 yards from the actual summit.
It is in fact an old survey tower,
used by the engineers of Manchester Corporation, when
constructing the Longsleddale tunnel conveying the Haweswater
Aqueduct south. At the nearby summit cairn, we leapt out and
settled for our picture.
Descending we rejoined the fence,
following it down into the boggy hollow of Greycrag Tarn,
although actually there is not in fact a tarn, just bog. Near the
path these pretty yellow flowers were in bloom (we are sorry but
we do not know what they are called).
A little further on was a large
area of cotton grass.
At the fence corner we followed it
left, Dad splashing through the boggy terrain towards Harrop Pike.
This shot taken a little later on the return, shows the area to
be crossed.
As you can see its summit is a
broad rocky knoll, topped by an impressive cairn.
"Ooh that's very tall"
said Little Eric.
"No problem", said Allen,
getting the rope he carries with him.
He slung it up around a protruding
stone, secured it, and then we were able to climb up for our
picture.
Whilst up there we enjoyed the
superb views of the Shap Fells, all of which we had climbed, and
the distant Pennines. Safely down, Allen stowed his rope, then we
retraced our route to the fence corner.
Now along the clear path to Grey
Crag and its summit cairn. Again there were great views from here,
non more so than that of Longsleddale, that we had driven along
this morning.
From Grey Crag a clear path was
taken that meandered over the grass and through the rocky
outcrops to a stile in the fence. Once over, we continued along
the path, which swung left along the spur of Great Howe. It was
here that we met the only other walker today, a lady from
Yorkshire. Dad chatted, as he does, and she mentioned that it had
been pouring with rain when she set off, so we were in the best
place today. Walking on at a brisk pace Dad soon reached Great
Howe, a grassy knoll just right of the path being the summit,
where Dad took our final picture of the day. You can see a loop
of Allen's rope behind his left shoulder.
All that now remained was the at
times rough and steep descent to Sadgill. In the words of Wallace
and Gromit it had been another "Grand Day Out". All the
tops are now climbed in this area, so we guess it is unlikely we
will be here again for a while. To Dad's relief the drive back
along the valley was clear, only meeting a farmer on his quad
bike near Garnett Bridge.
And finally the summit tally today
- Allen bagged Tarn Crag & Great Howe, while Little Eric
bagged them all.