ARNISON
CRAG, BIRKS, GAVEL PIKE, ST SUNDAY CRAG & COFA PIKE
from PATTERDALE
Summary
Date - 30th July 2011
Distance - 10 miles
Ascent - 3060ft
Map - OL5
Start point - Car park opposite
Patterdale Hotel (NY 396159)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Arnison Crag
1424
433
NY 3936 1496
Birks
2040
622
NY 3817 1448
Gavel Pike
2572
784
NY 3734 1343
St Sunday Crag
2758
841
NY 3693 1340
Cofa Pike
2700
823
NY 3586 1207
Preface
Tetley & Grizzly strolled in to find
Allen, tapping away at Dad's laptop, with Shaun and Little Eric
looking over his shoulder.
"What are you on with pal?", asked
Grizzly,
"Dad has told us that he intends to do
the first of the remaining eight walks that are required to
complete the Birketts, but before deciding, he needs to know what
the weekend weather is like", replied Allen, as he accessed
the Met Office website.
He brought up the forecast for Saturday and
Sunday, and we read the details eagerly.
"Saturday is the best day",
concluded Shaun,
"And a real summery day too",
added Tetley.
"Yes, I know, go and tell Dad",
said Allen. "Just make sure that the tea and biscuits are
ready when I get back."
It was not long before he returned smiling.
"OK, so we are going on Saturday as you have probably
guessed."
Yes, but where are we going?", said
Grizzly, rather exasperatedly.
"Patience pal, I was just coming to
that. As the day is to be so good, he has decided that we will
get one of the more strenuous walks out of the way, and tick off
Gavel Pike and Cofa Pike. We will also visit Birks and St Sunday
Crag, so that will be two more Wainwrights you will tick of
Little Eric. It maybe three, if we take in Arnison Crag as well,
but that just depends upon which route we take up Birks."
"Whatever that will be just great",
cried Little Eric, "and I will explore a part of Lakeland I
have never been to before."
"For the rest of us, getting Cofa Pike
out of the way will be a real step forward", added Shaun.
"So, come on get the tea poured",
called out Allen, "I'm gasping for a drink.
The Walk
As the forecast had
indicated, it was a lovely summer day, with some cloud, little
wind, and in fact rather too warm for walking by the afternoon.
For about the first time since April on our Lakeland walks, we
did not take the M6 north, instead we headed towards Windermere.
At the village of Ings, we took the narrow road right, that cuts
the corner to Troutbeck, for the delightful drive up and over the
Kirkstone Pass. The steep slopes of Red Screes were sharply
defined in the early morning air.
Passing the inn, and
as the narrow road wound its way down, Little Eric called out,
"there's the Kirk Stone, from which the pass gets its name."
"That's right",
replied Shaun. "It certainly does have the appearance of a
church tower."
Beyond the foot of the
pass, the road led on passing beside Brothers Water, that was
mirror smooth, providing superb reflections. Passing Hartsop
ringed by fells rising on all sides, we thought about our many
adventures in the past climbing these.
Tetley said, "Do
you see that prominent hill ahead on the left, Little Eric."
"Yes pal",
he replied.
"That is Arnison
Crag, which paws crossed, Dad will take us to, so you can bag
another Wainwright."
Soon we arrived at
Patterdale, where there is plenty of parking opposite the
Patterdale Hotel. As we turned in Dad remarked, "since we
were last here the entrance has been properly surfaced. Good thing too, as
it was extremely rough and uneven."
Dad was soon ready and
we got ourselves settled in Dad's rucksack.
"You've got the
picnic?", said Little Eric.
"Of course pal,
it's safely stowed in my rucksack", replied Allen.
We took the path to
the right of the Patterdale Hotel that curves to join the main
route. This led through a gate, beyond which we climbed on to
another gate. This is the path up Grisedale. It was now decision
time for the ascent of Birks. Going on ahead a path soon climbs
left up Thornhow End.
"That looks
extremely steep", remarked Shaun.
"It is, but we
are not going that way", replied Dad. "For Little Eric's
sake, we are taking the route via Arnison Crag, so he can tick it
off."
"Thanks Dad",
cried Little Eric. "That crossing of paws worked Tetley!"
So, we did not go
through the gate, but climbed up left by the wall. A hill loomed
ahead, and Little Eric said is that "Arnison Crag."
"Unfortunately
not pal", replied Shaun, looking closely at the map. It's
actually Oxford Crag."
Nevertheless it is
worthy of note, as from its summit, we looked back in awe, to
this superb view over Ullswater. The steamers tied to the pier,
were soon to depart on their daily journeys, round the lake.
Close by this Herdwick
ewe and its lamb were standing surveying their domain. Well at
least we have got the sheep picture out of the way early in the
walk!
Climbing on, after a
little while the wall veered away right, and here we took the
narrow path leading left that soon led to the cairn on the summit
of Arnison Crag.
"Great, that's
another Wainwright ticked off", cried Little Eric, as with
his pals he scrambled on to the cairn for the obligatory picture.
Top right can be seen the path to the 'Hole-in-the-Wall', giving
access to Striding Edge and Helvellyn. The wall running across
the lower slopes of Birks, encloses Glenamara Park. It loops
round at Trough Head, continuing as the wall we had climbed by to
here.
Afterwards, raising
our eyes to the view in this direction, it was dominated by Birks,
our next objective, with rising beyond the tops of Gavel Pike
& St Sunday Crag, both to be visited too. Descended to the
path and walked to Trough Head, at the top of the wall enclosing
Glenamara Park. Looking back Arnison Crag, stood proud and we
asked Dad to take this picture to include in the story.
Running from the
enclosing wall, is a ruined wall. This was followed, continuing
on when the wall turned up the fell. Soon then we found the path
that cuts back up Birks. This was to bring us again by the ruined
wall, which was followed virtually to the ridge. Joining a path
crossing this it was just a short walk left to the cairn on Birks.
We don't include our summit picture, but this of Dollywagon Pike,
Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn and Striding Edge.
The onward scene was
now set out before us. St Sunday Crag was ahead and Gavel Pike
left. Walking on, the path descended slightly, joining the main
path from Thornhow End, that by passes Birks's summit. This was
followed, until we took the path left contouring the slope of the
mountain, which would lead to Gavel Pike.
After a while, Allen
remarked, "that gentleman who we saw descending from St
Sunday Crag, has stopped and is looking quizzically in our
direction."
"I guess he
thinks we have gone the wrong way. It is understandable as he is
not aware of our intention to visit Gavel Pike", replied Dad.
A steady trudge
finally brought us to the cairn, and the first of the Birkett
fells ticked off today!
Set out below was the
lonely valley of Deepdale, whose head leads up to Deepdale Hause,
which we would reach later. When considering this walk, one of
the options had been to walk up this valley, but looking down we
could not see any clear path. Turning to look in the opposite
direction, indeed the way we are looking from the cairn, a narrow
path could be seen for the easy climb of about 200ft to St Sunday
Crag. This craggy fell seems to be named from St Dominic, who
from the 15th century was also known as St Sunday.
St Sunday Crag is a
popular mountain, so we were somewhat surprised to find we had
the summit to ourselves, and we quickly hopped out and settled
for our picture. Within minutes however there were lots of people,
so we had timed our initial arrival just right. Dad chatted to a
couple who we had seen on Gavel Pike soon after we had left. They
said it was a good route up the mountain. Like us, they were
going on to Cofa Pike, then to Fairfield, Hart Crag and back over
Hartsop above How. Sitting just a little way below the summit we
sat and had our lunch. The place was buzzing now as even more
walkers had arrived. Dad chatted to another young couple, who
noticed us, and said they thought it was great that Dad took us
walking.
Duly refreshed, and
settled in Dad's rucksack again, we headed down the rough eroded
path towards Deepdale Hause. All the time looking left, we could
see the final objective of the day Cofa Pike, a tumbled mass of
rocks that towered up some 500ft above the hause.
"Oh dear",
said Little Eric rather downheartedly, "it looks awfully
rough and steep and I cannot see any path."
"Despite
appearances, there is a path all the way to the summit and beyond,
according to the book", replied Shaun.
"It's got to be
done, so there is nothing for it but to put best foot forwards",
said Dad striding out along the path from the hause.
The rough path climbed
steadily, becoming a bit of a scramble through the rocks, but the
path was never in doubt, and finally at long long last we were at
the cairn on the summit, and this mountain was climbed. The
second Birkett summit of the day - only 11 to go. The first
couple Dad had chatted to on St Sunday Crag, had by now almost
reached Fairfield, and seeing us on the top, called out "well
done". Dad called back and we all waved. Here we are on the
summit.
Of what there is no
doubt at all is that Cofa Pike is a magnificent viewpoint.
Looking east it stands above the beautiful valley of Deepdale.
While to the west lies
Grisedale Tarn.
After lingering looks
at the wonderful views, returned down to the Deepdale Hause, and
then took the path left to descend to Grisedale Tarn. Whilst we
saw many walkers today, it was nothing like as many as on
Helvellyn, where according to one of a group of ladies, there
were gangs of people and an endless stream crossing Striding Edge.
Glad we weren't there, then! Once down the initial steep section
the view opened out again. High on the ridge to the left towered
Cofa Pike, while below nestled Grisedale Tarn, backed by Seat
Sandal.
Just above the tarn,
with this beautiful view, we stopped to have another picnic,
finding a convenient rock to sit on.
"All done Lads?",
asked Dad after a while.
"Yes, we are
ready for the off again", replied Grizzly.
Walked over the boggy
ground to gain the path and so begin the long descent down
Grisedale. A little way and off to the right is a large rock that
is known as the Brothers' Parting Stone. The stone is where
William and Dorothy Wordsworth parted from their brother John
Wordsworth, 29 September 1800.John Wordsworth went to
command the Earl of Abergavenny. He was drowned when his ship was
wrecked off the coast of Dorset in 1805. In June 1805, William
and Dorothy Wordsworth visited this place again, and the poet
wrote Elegaic Verses in Memory of My Brother. Canon H D Rawnsley
arranged for some lines from these verses to be inscribed on the
rock in 1882. Unsurprisingly after all these years, they are
hardly readable.
Dad took us across to
see it, intending too to take a photograph to show Uncle Brian.
However the lens on his camera that had been playing up, finally
decided not to work at all, so no picture of the stone or
anything else today. Well at least it made for a quicker descent.
It is a long long way down but we ploughed steadily on. By now it
was very warm and there was no shade at all, so Dad's arms were
wet with sweat. Eventually we reached the point where the beck
from below High Crag joins Grisedale Beck. Here we walked across
to take the bridge over the latter, and continue down the right
side of the valley. This path eventually led to an unmade road,
then a narrow road leading to the main road in Patterdale, where
going right it was a short walk to the car. By now it was 16.30,
so Dad just drove home.
Dad went to Ray and
Sandra's for fish chips and peas, for his tea. Ray said "was
it dusty where you have been walking, as it is lodged under your
eyes". Dad had not realised this, but was not surprised as
the paths were very rough with plenty of loose stone.
A good day, and we
were all glad to finally have got this walk out of the way and
Cofa Pike especially, ticked off.
Thanks Dad from us all.
Oh, and finally the
boring stuff stats. Little Eric bagged all the tops - all are
Birketts and include 3 Wainwrights. The rest of us bagged the 2
Birketts, Cofa Pike and Gavel Pike.