Outline of Route
Stockdale, near Sadgill - Grey Crag - Tarn Crag - Branstree - Harter Fell - Kentmere Pike - Shipman Knotts - Stockdale (Grid ref. NY 491053)
Total Distance 9.6 miles, Total Ascent 3400 feet, Equivalent Distance 16.4 miles
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Escape Routes
Details of Route
It has always been my practise to ascend Grey Crag via Great Howe from Sadgill. I now find, from Bob Allen's book "Walking the Ridges of Lakeland", that the farmer at Sadgill does not take kindly to this. I have consequently changed my starting point for this walk and followed the route, which is new to me, described by Bob Allen in his book.
Turn right, about half a mile before reaching Sadgill, along a rough road signposted to Stockdale. There is an area used for parking on the left, opposite the first of the buildings of this hamlet. Continue, on foot, past the shop on your right, through a gate past the Outdoor Pursuits Centre and on, alongside Stockdale Beck, until you reach two gates, one facing you and one to your left. Go through the one on the left and walk along by a fence, subsequently a wall, on your right. When you reach a broken-down wall across your path, cross it and turn right following it until it returns you to Stockdale Beck. You will notice a survey pillar, it look to all intents and purposes like a trig. column, up on the fell to your left, which is on your route, and eventually a second comes into sight, which is not. Keep to the sketchy path along near the beck then aim for a gate, about twenty yards from the beck, in the wall that crosses your path. Cross the gate and turn left where another sketchy path leads across the field, sloping gradually away from the wall, to a point where two walls meet. They are a little bit broken down and can be crossed. Find your way to the pillar, nearby. Note that Wainwright's guide shows only one pillar and it's not the one you are heading for. Continue going west, there is a path, though hard to follow, and gradually curve to the right around and up the fellside. At this point I came across the path coming up from Sadgill and followed it up to the top of Great Howe. Here I pondered the relative merits of the two routes. The one from Sadgill is unremittingly steep, no great problem for me with my eight stone frame, and there is an interesting little gulley to negotiate. The route from Stockdale is much more gradual, but it is twice as long. Perhaps if we all behave, and don't annoy the farmer at Sadgill, he'll have a change of heart and allow us once again to use that route. It's definitely the one I prefer, but chacun a son gout.
After the trek up from Stockdale the views from Great Howe are a revelation. Don't be tempted to bypass it on the way to Grey Crag and miss these. The slightly worn track heading northeast to Gray Crag is clear to see and easy to follow. Navigation from here onwards is easy, provided there is reasonable visibility, but this area should be avoided altogether in hill fog. The path leads to a junction of two fences, where a lower section of fence allows one to cross it with relative ease, and on to Grey Crag. From the summit, at the southern end of the felltop, the views to the south and east are excellent with many of the Shap fells and valleys well defined (photo). From here, set off northwards to the corner of a dog-leg fence then follow the fence northwestwards over some rough, boggy and hag-ridden ground - I'm referring to peat hags, of course. Once onto Tarn Crag and on easier ground aim for the summit. There is a glimpse of Kidsty Pike and Rampsgill Head through Gatescarth as a taster for what's coming. The survey post, a strange stone and concrete structure (photo), is some yards away from the summit, but is bound to have aroused your curiosity as it will have been prominently in sight since Great Howe.
Head north and then along by the fence, crossing it to the eastern side - where the going is slightly easier - when another fence meets it, blocking your way. Once down in the depression decide which side of the wall you wish to ascent - in windy conditions you may wish to use it as a windbreak - and go through the gate, or not, as appropriate. Now follow the wall to Branstree's summit. This section, from Tarn Crag to Branstree, is a long slog. The terrain has far more in common with the Shap fells than Lakeland. It is worth having one last look at bleak and boggy Mosedale to the east, before reaching the summit, to compare it with the Lakeland terrain that opens up to the west. It's also worth going downhill to the northwest from the summit for a look at Haweswater and the eastern spur and flanks of High Street (photo) before heading southwest down towards the summit of Gatescarth Pass. This is an easy descent on grass which contrasts with the rugged flanks of Harter Fell across Gatescarth.
The ascent of Harter Fell is easy but interesting with stunning views along Haweswater (photo) and down into Mardale. It's worth taking the final stretch up to the summit about twenty yards from the fence for a better sight of the valley below and a look at the alternative routes to High Street via Rough Crag, or Mardale Ill Bell's north ridge (photo), both described in another of my routes.
Follow the path by the fence from the summit, not the path down to Nan Bield, and gradually the views of Kentmere open up with the shapely Froswick and Ill Bell on the other side (photo). The fence is replaced by a wall as one approaches Kentmere Pike. There's little to keep you at this summit, so continue downhill. Here I recently came across half a dozen fell ponies (photo). making the detour from the main path, alongside the fence which has reappeared, to Goat Scar from where the views both up (photo) and down (photo) Longsleddale are excellent. Further downhill, after Shipman Knotts (photo), the going gets rougher and in places quite steep. Kentmere valley looks fine from here (photo). When the crest of the Kentmere - Sadgill pass is reached turn left through the gate and head towards Sadgill. When a gate is reached, with a ladder stile a few yards to the right, cross the stile and follow the beck downhill. There is no clear path to start with, just stay near the beck and don't cross it. A path appears further down leading to a gate through Till's Hole farmyard and via the farm road to the main road. Turn right here and follow the road to the Stockdale turnoff and back to the car park.
Rev. 23 September 2007
