Monday, 31st August 2015

Walk: Launchy Gill, Bell Crags, Ullscarf, High Raise, Sergeant Man, Calf Crag, Steel Fell, Steel End
Start Point: Lay-by opposite Launchy Gill Grid Reference: NY 309 158
Distance: 13.5 miles Ascent: 3,430 feet
Time: 8 hours
Weather: A glorious morning becoming more overcast in the afternoon
Comments: Heading straight up from opposite the lay-by a good path took me up to the balanced rock with great views over Thirlmere. From there the path was indistinct and eventually I just had to head upwards through the woods making walking very difficuly - hence 2 hours for the first 2 miles! Having reached Bell Crags the going was much easier if somewhat boggy. The route to Ullscarf and High Raise gave good views in all directions. A short stretch took me to Sergeant Man but the descent to Brownrigg Moss always seems to go on for ever. As it was 5pm by the time I reached Calf Crag a determined effort got me across to Steel Fell in 35 minutes. The descent was quite pleasant, not being too steep, then a trek along the road eventually brought me back to the car.

A well-made bridge . . .

takes me across Launchy Gill

Views of Thirlmere start to open up . . .

and the higher you get the better they are

Possibly an erratic -which looks quite precariously balanced

The walls seem to have been carefully restored - but what was it?

From Bell Crags there are views to Ullscarf . . .

and across the Borrowdale Valley

Blea Tarn

From a higher vantage point Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite,

The Solway Firth and Scotland can be seen

Looking over Blea Tarn to Skiddaw

Ullscarf . . .

and me . . .

and from a different angle

Zooming in on Skiddaw

Borrowdale comes into view

From High Raise, looking across the Langstrath Valley . . .

and turning south we see the Langdale Pikes

High Raise . . .

and me!

Sergeant Man . . .

and 'one for the album'

Calf Craf with Greenup Edge on the horizon . . .

where I take a quick break . . .

Steel Fell . . .

and a quickie for the album

Descending to Thirlmere

Return to 2015 Diary