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OS Grid ref: NY 36488 30013
Lat/Long: 54.661178, -02.986081
The drive north along the M6 motorway was through mist and
drizzle. I thought it was about to clear as I drove over Shap
summit and saw a small area of blue sky. My optimism was soon
dashed. I reached Mungrisdale and decided to park on the
roadside parking area before the Village Hall. As I set off
walking mine was the only car there. I headed north along the
lane to the Village Hall and left the road to turn right up a
path by the old limekiln. |
The old limekiln. |
Limekiln illustration. |
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View of Bannerdale from Raven Crag. |
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Across a field of cows I returned to the road and on to a left
turn onto a minor track. It soon reached a dilapidated wooden
gate where I found it easier to step over the adjacent wire
fence. I wasn’t heading up the track but up a steep path up
Raven Crag Ridge. It was steep and muddy at first but thankfully
soon climbed above the gorse onto open fell. The gradient
eventually eased but I was then in cloud and had no views, the
wind also increased and I was getting wet in the mist. I then
had to put on my full waterproofs. |
Heading up Raven Crag. |
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The walk towards Bowscale Fell must be very impressive in good
weather but I couldn’t see anything. I descended a short way to
the north to find shelter for an early lunch and was briefly
treated to a view down into the bowl of Bowscale Tarn. I
rejoined the ridge path and the summit cairn of Bowscale Fell
appeared through the mist. I was now heading south and reached
the very wet ground where I had to make a few detours to find
the better path along the edge of Bannerdale Crags. |
Bowscale Tarn. |
Bannerdale Crags cairn in the mist. |
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Walkers in the distance. |
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The mist was a shame as I was hoping to be able to look down to
the crags below to see if I could see any evidence of the
abandoned mine workings. At the summit cairn I headed south then
SE to start the descent of White Horse Bent. I've descended this
way before and followed the route shown on OpenStreetMap but
found no evidence of a path on the ground. However, I could see
a narrow path through the heather and followed it. It drifted
away from the decent I needed but a branch soon took me back. I
decided to keep to it and found it continued all the way down to
the wooden footbridge across the River Glenderamackin. There is
no path shown on the OS maps but it is shown in Wainwrights
Northern Fells book. I crossed the bridge and headed up to the
east and on towards Souther Fell. For a while I’d descended
below the cloud and could see down the valley but climbing
Souther Fell I was soon back in cloud. |
Heading over Souther Fell. |
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For the first time on this walk I began to see people out
walking. I was here last week but didn’t plan to reverse that
route. Along the summit is another way off the mountain by a
diagonal path on the east side of the fell. I was soon on the
well engineered track which is mostly straight and of a steady
gradient. Presumably it was originally for gaining the easiest
access to the fell top. |
Walkers coming up Souther Fell. |
View from the Souther Fell descent. |
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Part way down I dropped below the cloud level and was treated to
some nice views of the lower hills to the east. I passed several
people on their way up. At the road I continued north and had a
quick look in the Community Garden before crossing the
footbridge by the Village Hall. Returning to my car the road
side was full of cars. |
Community Garden. |
Footbridge to the Village Hall. |
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