To celebrate Boris scrapping the “stay local” rules of Lockdown 3.0, Brendan suggested a trip to the Lake District for a much needed hike. There just aren’t enough mountains in Winsford for my liking.
In the week approaching March 29th, I was getting really excited as the weather seemed to be turning beautiful just for us. The forecast had predicted blue skies and highs of 21℃. So of course, you can imagine my dismay when I was making my way into Cumbria I was driving through this shit.
Sometimes, you just have to laugh at yourself, right? I feel like a bloody broken record when I have to explain the typical bad weather I have to put up with on hikes.
Anyway.
Here’s the route we walked. We moved clockwise and started at Seathwaite Farm. Our route would include four Wainwrights (Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts) – as well as a visit to Taylor Gill Force.
Seathwaite is the traditional starting point for climbing Great Gable, as well as being an alternative starting point for Scafell Pike if you fancy a gentler ascent than the hike from Wasdale Head. There are lots of places to park on the side of the road but of course, it makes sense to arrive as early as you can!
Lovely day for a hike! … What a disappointment.
On the bright side, Brendan had promised us warm coffee from his new machine in the boot. Brendan’s Bistro was open for business…
…until he realised the machine didn’t work. Another disappointment.
He did show us his new toy though – a drone!
It made me really jealous. I’m considering buying one this summer… Anyone wanna offer a donation?? I’ll put your name on the side of the thing, like sponsorship on a tiny F1 car… Anyone…? No…?
Taylor Gill Force
The Kili girls (Sam & Emily), Brendan, Chris and I walked through the farm and crossed the bridge over the River Derwent.
Ahead was Sourmilk Gill. There is a path up besides this waterfall that takes you to a fifth Wainwright called Base Brown. Brendan is in the process of Peak Bagging the Wainwrights but he forgot. We instead turned left and walked upstream towards Taylor Gill Force.
The going was muddy. The path is difficult to follow in places. The feet struggle to stay above ground at times.
To our left the path on the other side of the River Derwent led up the valley towards Scafell Pike. Our route to Taylor Gill Force led us into the murky, spooky woods on the right.
Eventually, the waterfall loomed into view as the path became very rocky.
I would NOT like to descend on this path – I’m sure I’d learn how well I performed a backwards summersault/tumble.
If this scrambly path doesn’t float your boat, there is in another route up to Great Gable. Stick to the Scafell Pike path and take the right-hand path at the junction by Stockley Bridge.
The skies teased us with a flicker of light. The flicker flickered out fairly quickly and the foreboding gloom returned. I found myself fantasising about being in Winsford where it was sunny. I could have been tanning ffs.
Wainwright #1: Great Gable (899m)
From the top of the waterfall we followed the stream up to Styhead Tarn. The ground returned to being boggy.
And again, we kept losing the path – if there even is one. But we knew to just stick close to the river.
Chris marvelled at the amazing mountains that possibly loomed over us.
It’s strange when you can’t see your destination. If I could see the summit, I don’t know if I’d feel more intimidated. But then with not knowing how far you have to go, you’re constantly getting disappointed when more mountain continuously, almost endlessly emerges out of the fog…
Soon we joined up with the path from Stockley Bridge and the incline levels out. We approached the misty shores of Styhead Tarn – where the water disappeared into nothing.
Time for a food stop.
As we ate, the brisk wind blew some cloud away.
And promptly blew is back again.
Fuelled up we headed up from the Tarn in the direction of the Windy Gap – the gap between Great Gable and its sister peak Green Gable.
The path was pretty steep here. Not good on the old knees.
Whilst crossing the water, I misjudged a rock and gave my foot a bath.
Halfway between Styhead Tarn and Windy Gap, the stairs turn into shale.
I have no idea why Emily was so happy. The shale was horrible. It was two steps forward, one step back. Like hiking in snow. Draining. You feel so slow.
After what felt like ages (it was 20 minutes) on the shale, we made it to Windy Gap. It wasn’t that windy.
At Windy Gap you can head northwards up Green Gable or southwards up Great Gable.
It got rocky again. But it was doable. Only minor scrambling.
After just under 4 hours, we made it to the top of Great Gable.
We stuck around at the top, hoping that the cloud would miraculously decide to suddenly clear, and we’d be able to enjoy the stunning views of Wasdale, Wast Water, the Scafells and the rest of the Lake District.
But guess what. We were – you’ve guessed it – disappointed by the weather.
We headed back down.
Wainwright #2: Green Gable (801m)
As we reached Windy Gap, something incredible (if a little infuriating) happened.
WHY COULDN’T THIS HAVE HAPPENED 20 MINUTES EARLIER?
I used to get annoyed by it. Then I used to laugh about it. Now I just get pissed off about it. Dear Mother Nature, would it be so wrong to let me have a view to enjoy at the top of a mountain?????????
I’m being a little ungrateful. The sun was out and the clouds were inverted. The five hour wait made the amazing views just that extra bit special. I pretty much skipped up to the top of Green Gable.
Food for the eyes…
and beer for the belly.
Emily and Sam posed for their customary high kick photos. Chris and I decided to give it a go.
Just as graceful, right?
Wainwright #3: Brandreth (715m)
From Green Gable to Brandreth it’s a very simple walk – a short decent followed by a shorter ascent. It took us 35 minutes to get there, and when we did, Brendan wasn’t sure exactly which bit was the summit. So we stood amongst some rocks and posed for our team photo.
From Brandreth you can get some nice views of Buttermere.
Wainwright #4: Grey Knotts (697m)
20 minutes from Brandreth is Grey Knotts. From a big pile of rocks I took a photo featuring three Wainwrights and two T.W.A.T.S.
From back to front: Great Gable (centre, wearing some cloud), Green Gable (aptly named), Brandreth, Brendan & Chris.
It was around now that I realised the time. It was pushing 4pm. I was starting work the next morning at 4am. It dawned on me that I had a lengthy walk back to the car and a three hour drive ahead of me. Eek.
We continued northwards, down off the mountains and in the direction of Honister Pass. The descent was pretty steep at times.
As we neared the road, Brendan we suggested we cut across the mountain, rather than reach the road and walk around the mountain. So we left the path and climbed again.
The ground was boggy again. By now I had accepted it. I just marched on through the sludge, accepting the cold, wet feet.
We wandered optimistically in the direction of the Seathwaite Farm valley, hopeful of finding a path down the mountain. I knew there was definitely at least one around here.
We came to a wall and were lucky to spot a stile in the distance. Huzzah!
I don’t think this path is well trodden if the stile is in this state.
The path down along Newhouse Gill was, as expected, pretty steep. My knees were screaming now. Me and my dodgy knees – I sound like an old man.
We passed a cave.
They have a cave troll.
Bravely, we decided to respect the danger sign and not go inside.
The view up the valley this evening was much nicer than this morning.
What a day of two halves!
From a cave to a grave.
What an incredible place to rest in peace!
On another note, I got some strong Red Dead Redemption vibes when this gravestone came into view on the path ahead. Spooky.
I’ve done some research and I cannot find any info online about this grave. The stone has eroded so much that you can’t read much on it. If anyone wants to inform me – please do!
Finally, we reached flat ground. Rejoice! There were many painful legs in the group. It was another day that I was thankful for my car having cruise control!
It was lovely to get out of Cheshire for the first time in 2021! We had to wait for it, but the Lake District really delivered some beautiful vistas. And I even caught some sun! In March!
I thought Lockdown 3.0 and my winter padding might’ve turned me even more unfit, but it was good to realise that I can still climb mountains without TOOOOO much fuss!!! The goal for 2021 is the same as it is every year – get fitter for summer (so that I can get fatter for winter). Here’s hoping the restrictions do continue easing and, who knows, we might start feeling normal again…
BTW. I’ve mentioned this before but I will mention this again. There’s a reason poor Sam and Emily are being dragged along on these trips. They’re climbing Kilimanjaro this year! If it wasn’t for the pandemic they would already have been up there, but the trip has been postponed til September.
MORE TIME TO TRAIN.
MORE TIME TO FUNDRAISE.
Check out their pages to read why they’re putting themselves through such a misery!!
#VidOnTour 
We had friends live in Cumbria and every time we went including all 4 seasons the weather was what is in your picture.
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Every time I’ve visited the Lakes I’ve come back wetter than I arrived 😂
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I think your cave on the way down was the entrace to a graphite mine adit and the “gravestone” a claim marker. Listen to the latest eposode of excellent podcast, countrystride, to be enlightened! https://www.countrystride.co.uk/single-post/countrystride-60-wad-the-wealth-of-borrowdale
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