THROSTLEHOW
CRAG, SCAR LATHING, HIGH GAIT CRAGS, HIGH SCARTH &
SILVERYBIELD from BROTHERILKELD, ESKDALE
Summary
Date - 24th April 2011
Distance - 9.5 miles
Ascent - 2550ft
Map - OL6
Start point - Near foot of
Hardknott Pass (NY 211011)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Throstlehow
Crag
1325
404
NY 2272 0436
Scar Lathing
1440
439
NY 2261 0494
High Gait
Crags
1877
572
NY 2300 0578
High Scarth
1598
487
NY 2153 0439
Silverybield
1296
395
NY 2219 0390
Preface
Grizzly wandered in to find Allen &
Tetley sitting in front of Dad's laptop, with books open on the
table at the side.
"Did you enjoy Fringe on Sky 1?",
Allen asked while tapping away with his paws.
"Very much pal, it gets better every
week. Quite a scary episode too", he replied. "What are
you two on with?"
"With all that Dad has had on this year,
we have not done as many walks as we would normally expect, but
we thought with all the good weather maybe we can get out into
the Lake District, and tick off some of those 25 Birkett tops we
still have to do", replied Tetley.
Allen went on, "I have pulled up the
outstanding list, and Tetley and I were just looking through to
see what we might suggest to Dad."
So Grizzly settled beside them to see what
ideas they could come up with. After a while he said, " if I
recall correctly, there is a walk that involved crossing a river,
and Birkett says that it is not possible if it is in spate. With
all the dry weather it will be low, so perhaps that is one to
consider."
"That walk is in Eskdale as it is the
River Esk that we have to cross", said Tetley. "They
are in the Western Fells, so page down Allen."
"OK pal", he replied.
"There they are, the group including
Scar Lathing", called out Grizzly.
By now Tetley was reading the description in
the book. "Birkett says it is an arduous walk, so it will be
hard for Dad, as he says he has lost some of his hill fitness
with not doing so many walks."
"Well, we will just have to ask him
very nicely", said Allen.
"You're the best at that", said
Tetley.
"OK, I will go, Allen replied. "But
not before I have had a mug of tea. I'm gasping."
It was then that Shaun with Little Eric
riding on his back as usual, came to the rescue, bringing in
flasks of freshly brewed tea.
"Your a saint", Allen called out
rushing off the get the mugs.
Meanwhile Grizzly had got the tuck tin and
called out, "biscuit anyone?"
"Too right", said Tetley.
While drinking his tea, Tetley explained to
Shaun and Little Eric the proposal.
"Sounds a great idea", agreed
Shaun. "If I remember rightly, when Dad looked at doing this
walk, he thought about taking in High Gait Crags too, as it is
nearby."
"Oh dear, that is going to make the
walk even harder for Dad. You will need to be at your persuasive
best, when you ask him, Allen", said Little Eric.
"Well no time like the present",
replied Allen trotting out of the room.
It was quite a while before Allen returned.
"Dad was on the phone, so that is why I have been so long.
The good news is he has agreed to our suggestion. He knows it
will be a hard walk, but will be glad to get these tops out of
the way, and as he pointed out it will mean 20% of our
outstanding Birketts will be done in one go."
"Roll on Sunday", said Shaun
enthusiastically.
The Walk
It is a long drive to Eskdale, so
we were up early to get ready. As we heard the boot slam shut, we
dashed out to the car, calling our goodbyes to Uncle Brian.
The route took us up the Duddon
Valley and over Birker Fell, to then take the road leading to the
Hardknott Pass. We had been along much of the route before and we
knew that the roads are very narrow in places. Dad had a shiny
new car that fills these narrow roads, so we felt some
trepidation for the drive. However despite some squeezes passing
oncoming cars, the drive was accomplished safely in both
directions.
Once again today there were
cloudless skies, and with the walk being in upper Eskdale, we
were in for some stupendous views of some of Lake Districts highest
mountains - Scafells, Esk Pike, Bowfell etc.
So, booted up, Dad shouldered his
rucksack with us safely tucked inside, and strolled the short way
towards the pass. Then, at the telephone box we walked left along
the track to Brotherilkeld Farm. The dominant fell behind is Hard
Knott. We have a painting of this by Judy Boyes, on the wall at
home. Whilst the buildings are the same, she has prettied the
painting with flowers and lambs.
The path is diverted round the
farmyard and then continues above the River Esk, skirting
pastures on the right. Here as in other places too, the fields
were full of our beloved Herdwicks, some with ever so tiny new
born lambs like this one, taken later in the day near Taw House.
Pasture gave way to open fell, and
the view ahead was dominated by the massive triangular shape of
Esk Pike (2903ft).
The good path was to take us as far
as the small hill dwarfed by Esk Pike, below which is Lingcove
Bridge. A graceful stone arched packhorse bridge, that spans
Lingcove Beck, just above its confluence with the River Esk.
In his map reading role, Shaun
called out, "our route is across the bridge and on up the
path rising more steeply beyond."
Soon the first objective
Throstlehow Crag was in view, showing its craggy side. Dad at
first considered crossing the rough ground in front, but what had
seemed from a distance to be a path, was not. The ground too
looked to be boggy, and beyond there seemed to be no clear way
through the rocks. Instead he decided to continue on the path to
the brow thereby gaining as much height as possible, before
striking right to climb steeply up between the crags. The only
drawback was that we then had to turn back right again and cross
a rise, to then climb to the highest point on the front crag,
where of course we hopped out for our obligatory picture.
All the fells today were not high
in stature, but nevertheless without exception involved steep
ascents to their summits. Birkett was quite right when he stated
that this was an arduous walk, made more so too, by the fact that
apart from the route to Lingcove Bridge, and the later return
path to Scale Bridge, all the walking was over rough grassy,
rocky and trackless energy sapping terrain. Dad admitted that he
was pretty tired when he got back!
As we sat at the summit, Little
Eric exclaimed, "wow!, what a fantastic view."
"Yes", replied Tetley.
"That is Scafell Pike (3210ft), then Broad Crag (3054ft),
with the triangular shaped top of Pen (2500ft) in front, with the
massive Ill Crag (3067ft), to its left", showing off his
knowledge.
"What's the fell in the
foreground?", asked Little Eric.
Shaun jumped in with the reply,
"that is our next objective Scar Lathing, and according to
Birkett the ascent has to be made via the green ride up the
centre."
"My that looks steep",
mused Allen.
How true his words were too!
We descended the rough ground and
headed over the bog to the feet of the fell, to then climb up on
the right side. This Dad thought afterwards was a mistake, as he
then had to negotiate the craggy area to gain the central ascent.
It was indeed every bit as steep as Allen had thought, and when
we reached the summit Dad let out a sigh of relief. Picture time
for us, and as we sat there we once again enjoyed the magnificent
prospect of the Scafells. Awesome!!!
However of more immediate import,
was the climb to the next top High Gait Crags, seen here below
with Low Gait Crags in front and part of Long Crag on the right
in the immediate foreground. This was not on Birkett's planned
route, but was for us the best opportunity to bag this unclimbed
summit.
Shaun left us sitting at the summit
and moved away to scrutinise the map. "I know that you
planned to gain the ridge by climbing right between Long Crag and
Low Gait Crags. However looking at the map and the ground ahead,
it seems that it might be better to climb where there looks to be
a narrow stream, and then continue to the right of the main bulk
of Low Gait Crags."
Tearing his eyes from the view, Dad
came over to look at the map too. "I think you are right
Shaun, as that route seems to be fairly grassy. There will still
be a steep slope to climb right afterwards, but that too from the
map looks to be mostly grassy. Taking this route too, will avoid
the rocky crossing of Low Gait Crags."
The debate over, Allen said, "come
on Lads, we had better get back in the rucksack so we can get
going."
Descending, we crossed a path that
seemed to head round Great Moss, to then follow the planned route,
which turned out to be a good option. At the ridge, we turned
left to climb on between crags, to reach the furthest bump,
adorned with a neat and impressive cairn that is the summit, seen
here backed by the massive bulk of Ill Crag.
"A cairn", called out
Grizzly with glee.
"Come on Dad, take our picture",
added Allen, as we scrambled on to it.
Again the views were magnificent,
so we all rested a while to enjoy them, and take the opportunity
to have a snack and drink.
Seemingly rather distant we could
see to the south-west our next summit, High Scarth. Dad said,
"rather than return south, I am going to take a more direct
route towards it."
Shaun replied, "looking at the
map, it seems that whichever way we go, it will be a hard walk."
"Can't be helped Lad, but I do
not regret getting this summit done", said Dad.
Soon after we set off we saw one of
our lovely Herdwicks, that moved away gracefully over the ground,
then stopped and looked back as if saying - this is my kingdom,
you are only visitors.
As we descended we came closer to
the flat and perennially boggy expanse of Great Moss. Scafell (3162ft)
and Scafell Pike (3210ft) form the backdrop.
"There's Pen again, to the
left of Scafell Pike", said Tetley. "One of the tops we
still have to climb."
"Looks like it will be a bit
of a scramble to the top", added Little Eric.
Eventually the rough trek was
accomplished, and with Scar Lathing away to the left we reached
the River Esk, exactly where Birkett suggests crossing. This was
accomplished with easy boulder hopping today, but we could fully
appreciate his comments that such a crossing would not be
possible when the river was in spate.
"Time to take a rest Dad, and
have another snack", said Grizzly.
"Absolutely", Dad agreed.
"That was hard going from High Gait Crags, so I am ready for
a rest, before we head up High Scarth."
It was lovely sitting in the warm
sunshine by the river, and we could have sat there all day, but
all too soon it was time to get going again. We settled ourselves
in Dad's rucksack once more, and shouldering it Dad headed up
High Scarth that was immediately above. Not as steep as the
previous tops, but just a long haul, and of course the summit
with its cairn was the furthest away.
"Just one to go",
remarked Tetley, as with his pals he settled back in the rucksack
after the summit picture.
So walking south we headed down and
two sections completed, Dad suddenly stopped dead.
"What's the matter?, asked
Allen
"I've left the GPS at the
summit", replied Dad disconsolately. "Still there is
nothing for it but to climb back up. At least we had not got down
to the valley."
We were soon at the cairn and sure
enough there it was lying beside. There was in fact some benefit,
as it made Dad look more closely at the descent, and after the
first section he turned more east to reach the valley floor, with
the line of fells across on the other side. Taking rough aim for
the one Dad considered to be Silverybield, we crossed the valley
path and the rough boggy ground beyond to start the ascent. The
GPS was helpful here, and guided us towards it.
Suddenly a cairn came into view and
Shaun called out, "that must be the summit."
As we approached Dad checked the
grid reference and said, "no this is not the summit. It's
that next rise over there."
The top was flat and rocky where we
sat for our final summit picture.
The valley behind is the one we had
walked up in the morning to Lingcove Bridge, while to the north
was this spectacular view to Esk Pike. We could also look back
and reflect on some of the earlier sections of the walk. In the
immediate foreground is Scar Lathing with rising behind Low and
High Gait Crags.
"Well that's the last one",
said Dad with relief.
"Yes", agreed Allen.
"I don't suppose we will be coming back here any time soon."
Although it was the wrong direction,
descending a little to the north, was the easiest way to regain
the valley path that then led unerringly down. It was so good to
have a clear path to follow, instead of the trackless terrain,
even if it was rocky and rough in places. At first it meandered
over the higher ground, before finally descending via the zig-zags
to Scale Bridge. A short distance further the path divided, and
here we took the left fork to cross pastures full of Herdwicks
some with lambs. Away across Eskdale rose Harter Fell, providing a dramatic backdrop to the
valley. We thought back to our adventure last October when we had
climbed this and ticked off also two other Birkett tops.
Soon we came to Taw House, where a
permitted path goes left through a gate across the field. Through
the larger gate beside, some of our lovely Herdwicks were keeping
an eye on us.
The path over the field leads to a
stile and footbridge over the River Esk to Brotherilkeld.
Here we turned right to follow the
access track, and then along the narrow road to the car. It had
been a hard walk and we were all tired after it, but the views
had been stupendous, and five summits had been achieved that were
bagged by us all. Another part of Lakeland explored.