Mickleden, Rossett Gill, Rossett Pike, Stake Gill, Cumbria.
[ 13.7 km] Mon 21 Jul 2008

With a good weather forecast for Cumbria I decided to go for a last minute walk back to the Langdales to have another look for the Packwoman’s grave. I now had a photo of the site with some background showing and that should be enough to find it. I didn’t leave home till after 10. Driving through Ambleside there were crowds of people out enjoying the sun. Driving up to the Langdale wasn’t as busy with traffic as I’d expected but there were plenty of people about. Near the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel are the only none pay-for parking spaces by the old bridge, but they’d all be taken. I continued up the valley, past Wall End and part way up the Blea Tarn road where there was plenty of space by the road. I was on my way by 11:30 heading back down towards the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. It was very different setting off much later than usual. People were everywhere and the road busy with cars. I don’t usually see either on my early morning starts. I headed up Mickleden with very impressive views of Rossett Gill ahead in the pleasant sunshine.

Approaching Rossett Pike.

The track was just as horrible as ever with its loose pebbles which are very uncomfortable to walk on. It was nice to see families out walking and young children playing by the river. I crossed Stake Gill and then headed up Rossett Gill. I wanted to look for the Packwoman’s grave and also walk along the path over the summit of Rossett Pike. When the main path begins to get steep and the rebuilt stretches take an easier line up the gill I left it to head directly up the gill side. I was following the line of the old track but there was no sign of it. I reached the path maker’s hut with still no sign of the grave. This was the area I’d searched last week and now I had a photo I realised I was in the wrong place. I continued higher and at last recognised the background profile in the photo and some of the boulders. I climbed higher and reached a shelf to suddenly see the large stones in the form of a cross. It is a very secluded spot with a magnificent view. It can’t be seen from the path and would probably only be stumbled on it if you were lost.

I took a few photos and continued up, scrambling in paces until I reached the main path. When I reached the cairn of stones at the top I didn’t descend to Angle Tarn but turned right to pick up the path to Rossett Pike summit. It gave some magnificent views and didn’t look very well used. I’d not been this way before and was surprised how picturesque it was, assuming there was nice weather to se the views. The summit is marked by a cairn of loose boulders and I found a nice shelf just below it to get some shelter from the wind. It is probably the best viewpoint down Mickleden and almost directly below I could see the cross of stones I’d just visited. The walk along the top of Rossett Crag was a delight.

Low level jet training.

A small tarn is shown on the map and I spent a bit of time there looking across to Pike of Stickle. I didn’t want to follow the main boggy path to the summit of Stake Pass so decided to take the shorter minor path down to Stake Gill. It’s shown on the map but is indistinct on the ground. I was above Black Crags and realised I was too high. I saw a faint trail below and made the steep descent to it. I picked a way down but apparently I wasn’t on the route shown on the map. I did meet the main Stake Pass descent path though and had an easy walk down to the bottom. There were still plenty of people about and the warm sunshine continued. I followed the track back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll and back up the road to the car.