Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Meeting point: Grasmere Village Green (ask the walk leader for directions)
Car parking: lay-bys along the A591, public parking in the east and south of Grasmere.
Walk time: 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours
Distance: 7.35 miles
Total ascent: 3220 feet
This simple and shorter walk goes to two of the best fells next to Grasmere: Fairfield and Seat Sandal. The moment we leave the eastern outskirts of Grasmere the ascent is very steep and only relents when we come to the first Wainwright of the day: Stone Arthur (503 metres). It’s a lovely little vantage point of Grasmere and the Langdales, and a nice one to tick off if you are Wainwright-bagging.
From here the gradient diminishes as we follow the grassy slopes upwards to Great Rigg (766 metres) which is the walk’s second Wainwright. From Great Rigg we pick up the wide path that goes all the way to Fairfield (873 metres), the third Wainwright. Now Fairfield has a small plateau on top which means going around the edge of it to get the best views: eastwards there is Deepdale, northwards there are Helvellyn and Striding Edge, westwards can be seen most of the mountains of the southern, central and northwestern fells, and south immense views of Whinlatter and all the lakes, small valleys and woodland of the southern Lakes.
We then begin a steep descent on a northwestern path that is a bit loose in places, but it heads in the direction of the last mountain and Wainwright of the day: Seat Sandal. The path stops descending right at the moment where Seat Sandal’s eastern face looms over us. The ascent of Seat Sandal from the east is very steep with a few sections possibly 50 to 60 degrees gradient, though surprisingly there is no scrambling. The moment the steep section ends is the moment that marks the summit plateau.
Seat Sandal (736 metres) is a special mountain and Wainwright as it has two summits: the rocky eastern one with a broken wall and the grassy western one feel quite different despite being only a few hundred meters apart. The best summit is the western one as Thirlmere can be seen as well as the Skiddaw Range and most of the northwestern fells. This mountain directly looks down at Grasmere and its lake- and this is a constant sight as we begin a moderate, tapering descent through moorland, then bracken, then fields until intercepting the main path (the grassy trod that is unmarked on the OS maps seems to be getting more distinctive each year!).
Once on the main path it’s a very quick stroll to the road and then we go along the pavement to return to Grasmere. It is a walk that is fierce in a few places, but I’ve made it as short as possible to focus on the big two: Fairfield and Seat Sandal.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Saturday 2 November if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)).
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 may be 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.