Sunday, 2nd September 2018

Walk: Gatecarth Pass, Brownhowe Bottom, Mosedale, Swindale Head, Old Corpse Road, Haweswater, Mardale Head, Gatescarth Pass
Start Point: Sadgill Grid Reference: NY 484 057 
Distance: 13 miles Ascent: 3,200 feet
Time: 7.25 hours
Weather: A dry start and end but heavy drizzle for much of the time
Comments:

Leading a group walk I gave the members a choice of 3 routes that I had recently walked and they opted for a visit to Mosedale Cottage before following the Old Corpse Road to Haweswater and Mardale Head. Unfortunately heavy drizzle hid the views that I had enjoyed previously. Leading Mardale Head behind they bravely tackled the fourth, and hardest climb of the day (1 mile and 1,100 feet!), as we returned to the cars over the Gatescarth Pass.

Photos of Haweswater and Mardale Head can be seen on the previous walk, 12th August 2018.

The Gatescarth Pass Permit Scheme allows motorcyclists 
and 4 x 4s to access this route one day per month.

Coincidentally our walk took place on the September date.

In the main the cyclists were very considerate when passing walkers . . .

but a group of 8 together was a bit much (too many fumes!)

Waterfalls are beginning to be more effective . . .

with the recent rain

Sheep Bridge - but where are the sheep?

Mosedale Cottage comes into view

Most bothies are at least several hours walk from the public road

They are monitored by the Mountain Bothies Association . . .

and visitors often leave essentials for others to use

We arrive in time for our morning break . . .

but no-one looks keen on continuing the walk

A bothy was originally farm accommodation for itinerant workers

The weather is clearing . . .

as we make our way down . . .

the Gatescarth Pass . . .

to the car

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