Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 3pm to 3.30pm
Distance: 8.1 – 8.2 miles (13.0 – 13.2 kilometres)
Ascent: About 2,430 feet (741 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous)
Start point: Outside of the Langstrath Country Inn; this is where the tarmac road comes to an end.
Postcode: CA12 5XG
Car parking: Going on the Stonethwaite Road (from Borrowdale Road) there are several lay-bys on this raod. While the nearest pay-and-display car park is in Rosthwaite about a mile away from the start point.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: We will start by heading deeper into Stonethwaite valley and crossing over Langstrath Beck via a footbridge. Once we’ve done that we are directly under the shadow of Eagle’s Crag and we arc around the bottom until we find the ascent path.
The ascent to Eagle Crag is unlike any other in the Lake District and the views on top are quite something. From Eagle Crag it is an easy and quick stretch to Sergeant Crag.
Next, we begin an arc around the top of Greenup Gill and gradually gain height, our target is Greenup Edge which is both a watershed and a divide between Ullscarth and High Raise. From here we gently ascend to Ullscarth which is plateau-like mountain and the highest point of the walk.
From Ullscarth we gradually descend and drift in a northwestwards angle towards Great Crag. What we are aiming for is Dock Tarn where a proper path can be found. As a bonus the nearby Great Crag could be bagged for another vantage point…
From Dock Tarn it is a quick and steep descent down via Willygrass Gill. We then come to the other side of the river and stroll through flat grassy terrain until we cross over Stonethwaite Bridge, and this takes us straight back to the start point and to the Langstrath Country Inn.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 8 September if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). This walk is suitable for dogs as there are not many sheep found around these mountains.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing is now possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.