BLEABERRY FELL,
HIGH SEAT & SHOULTHWAITE GILL
from below SMAITHWAITE BANK, THIRLMERE
Summary
Date - 1st March 2009
Distance - 5.5 miles
Map - OL4/OL5
Start point - Layby below
Smaithwaite Bank (NY 307191)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Bleaberry Fell
1932
590
NY 2856 1957
High Seat
1995
608
NY 2870 1804
Preface
"It's
Sunday tomorrow, so are we going to Yorkshire to walk with Uncle
Bob", enquired Shaun.
"No",
replied Dad. "Uncle Bob is not available, so we are going to
the Lakes, to climb Bleaberry Fell and High Seat".
"Yippee",
cried Allen, "that will be two of my outstanding Wainwrights
done".
The Walk
To
reach the start we drove to Ambleside and then over Dunmail Raise
and alongside Thirlmere. Just beyond the end of the lake, Dad
turned left to cross the huge dam of the reservoir, and then
right again to a layby opposite where the path starts for the
ascent to Raven Crag.
As we
arrived the rain came down so we sat patiently in the car for a
while until it cleared off. To be frank the weather was showery
for most of the walk and only really cleared up on the latter
part. While it was wet at times from the sky Dad can testify that
it was nearly always wet underfoot, such is the nature of the
ridge along which we were to walk. It is not the first time that
we were glad to be inside his rucksack!
Setting
off along the road, we then walked the bridleway that skirts by
the woods below The Benn. This continued although not exactly as
shown on the map to come to a gate and bridge over Shoulthwaite
Gill. We crossed this and then started the steep climb up to and
below Goat Crag. It was still raining, and for Dad it was one of
those days where it was a real effort to make the climb. We said
that we would not mind if he had wanted to turn back, but Dad
replied that he would not disappoint Allen & Little Eric, so
on he plodded.
Below
the crag Dad got above the path and amongst the rocks, which were
slippery so it took a while to carefully cross them. Once clear
we rounded the crag and then made the rest of the climb to the
summit of Bleaberry Fell. As we leaped out to have our picture
taken, another couple reached the summit and asked about us. The
lady kindly offered to take our photo with Dad. It was nice as it
was Little Eric's 1st birthday, oh, and Dad's birthday too.
There
were good views at times and nice effects of the light on the
hills to the north. Here the sun shines on High Rigg while the
rain pours down in the valley behind.
The
next objective was High Seat, and we could see it clearly to the
south. This ridge is always wet and the track was very muddy as
it wound its way through bog. Dad gets his trousers dirty at the
best of times but nothing compared to today. What would Uncle
Brian say. Soon then the trig point was reached and Dad took the
our photo.
Looking
across to Borrowdale it was raining heavily, and we thought back
to our walk there in August last year, when we endured similar
conditions. That day it lived up to its reputation as being the
wettest place in England, and it seemed that today was no
exception.
Again,
as with that day last August it was sunny in Keswick, just a few
miles down the valley.
Here
is the trig point with the cairned outcrop called Man, backed by
the fells known as the Dodds.
We did
not linger here too long, and after climbing to the outcrop
called Man nearby, crossed the stile and headed east down towards
Shoulthwaite Gill. Not before however, Dad took this dramatic
picture of Blencathra.
Here
it was tussocky boggy ground, but Dad is well used to this,
having done all those walks in Yorkshire with Uncle Bob! Some of
the weather we had seen over Borrowdale crossed over here too -
rain, hail and even a few flakes of snow. Overall a cold day
really and completely different to the dry weather in Morecambe,
according to Uncle Brian, when Dad rang him. Ahead Dad could see
a gate in the fence, so we headed for this, having first crossed
the stream that forms Shoulthwaite Gill.
This
turned out out be the best decision, as it brought us to the
forest road rather than the bridleway on the other side of the
gill. Dad was not happy about walking that due to the
difficulties crossing Mere Gill. The forest track was quite dry
and a joy to walk on after the rest of the terrain. This brought
us to the top of the path from where the final ascent is made to
Raven Crag. This was just great as we were able to make a
straight descent to the car, so avoiding a long loop round.
After
all the effort he deserved the tea stop today. He went to Darryls
in Windermere for two mugs of tea, scone with butter and jam and
chocolate flapjack. All for £3.85! Not a fancy place but great
value. So ended Little Eric's and Dad's birthday walk.