Hartsop, Hayeswater, Rest Dodd, The Nab, Boredale Hause, Cumbria.
[ 14.1 km] Thu 30 Sep 2010

NY 4101 1299
Drove to Hartsop in Cumbria for the third time in three weeks. The weather on the previous two visits had been very windy with cloud and rain. Today things seemed better with much less wind. Considering the weather was better I was surprised that nobody else arrived on the car park before I left. I set off up the Hayeswater track but this time took the left branch up to the Filter House. The path doesn’t continue up the left side of Hayeswater Gill for long before it crosses the Gill by a wooden footbridge and climbs to the track up to the reservoir.

At the dam I turned left and followed the path directly up the fell side towards The Knott. My first objective was Rest Dodd which I could see up to my left so I didn’t go over The Knott. I came to the main path coming up from Angle Tarn, crossed it, and continued NE across wet ground to the wall at Well Gill. I stopped briefly behind the wall to have a cup of coffee and watch the many deer on the fells. There are lots of them. The ground improved as I set off up Rest Dodd but unfortunately I was now at cloud level so by the time I reached the small cairn on the summit I couldn’t see anything.

Over the top I started the steep decent and had to be very careful on the very wet and slippery ground. The view cleared and I could see The Nab, my next objective, a mile ahead. The area in front of me is called Deer Forest on the map. I crossed a wall and found a nice sheltered spot by some rocky outcrops to have my lunch and take some photos. While sat there I had a wonderful view down into Ramps Gill. The path continued north as far as a small cairn on the summit of The Nab. The weather had continued to clear and the views were excellent. A very faint path continued north but I soon realised it wouldn’t be sensible to follow it.

The slope down to the north was incredibly steep and mostly on wet grass with occasional rocky outcrops. One slip and there would be no chance of stopping. I descended down the NW face which was much less steep. Eventually I reached a narrow path which traverses round to the north and eventually made it down to the wall. As I approached the strange looking building called ‘The Bungalow’ I passed a sheet steel deer which was set up opposite the buildings to act as a target. The steel was about 6mm thick but all the hits had penetrated the metal and gone rights through.

I followed the track to the road then left to Dale Head buildings. The road ended here and a footpath followed a grassy track diagonally up the side of Beda Fell. It was a good steady climb and gave good views down in to Bannerdale. At Freeze Beck I got my first view of Boredale Hause where many walkers were coming up or milling around. When I reached the top of the pass the sun was shining and it was almost like summer. I followed the descent track to the south towards Dubhow. It is steep and loose at the start but soon eases and reaches a track at Angletarn Beck.

There is a path a little higher which goes through the wooded area of Calf Close so I decided to follow that as it’s a path I hadn’t been on before. I’m glad I did because it gives a very nice approach to Hartsop village and the imposing hump of Hartsop Dodd behind. The car park had been empty when I left but on my return it was full. I hope they all contributed to the voluntary parking charge box.