Diversion to Scafell Pike

August 2012

A week in the Lake District gave us the chance to do some higher-altitude training. As novices to the area we decided to start at the top - by climbing England’s highest peak Scafell Pike.

A glorious sunny morning beckoned as we set off from Seathwaite at 7.56am. Our plan was to ascend the Corridor route and back down Grains Gill. It didn’t quite go to plan however! Grey wagtail seen in the stream on the way to Stockley Bridge. Have to say I expected a grander bridge as it was marked on the map but it was fairly obvious when we reached it at 1.3km, 8.25am. Here the path splits with the left hand fork going up Grains Gill and the right hand heading towards Styhead which was our route.

From Stockley Bridge.

The diminutive Stockley Bridge.

We now started going up a bit more steeply and followed the stream until we got our first view of the mountains ahead. Didn’t know which was which and it transpired that it would be a few hours till we caught a glimpse of Scafell Pike. 

Reached Styhead tarn at 9.12am, 3.5km. Some wild campers were going for a swim; imagine the water temperature was pretty cool. Just a short distance ahead was the Stretcher Box, apparently famous enough to merit capital letters. Took a couple of photos of the box  and agreed our main objective was to avoid needing it being brought into use.

Styhead Tarn.

The famous Styhead Stretcher Box.

And this is where it went a bit haywire. According to our guide book, purchased the day before in Keswick, the Corridor route heads runs up to the coll between Great End and Ling Mell. Now that’s fine if you know what you are looking at; the hills unfortunately don’t have nameplates on so we were trying in vain to identify the peaks from the OS map. Easy in Shropshire where the bumps are pretty obvious, but here there are so many peaks it is easy to get confused.

















We started off on what we thought was the right path and crossed a gill as suggested but the path seemed to peter out and we ended up at a very unsafe looking crossing point on the next gill. Having concluded that the Corridor route would be a much clearer path we decided to backtrack towards Styhead and try again. (Learnt later on that even the best-known paths are not always that clear to find on the ground.)

Somewhere here is the Corridor route.

Anyone seen the Corridor route?

Having wasted around an hour and a half and gone 5.7km, we then took the Esk Hause path as we resolved to only take proper-looking paths, and thought we would surely find the turn onto the Corridor route soon.






















After a coffee and sandwich break we ended up at Sprinkling Tarn and finally worked out where we were; not where we intended to be but there was a route to the summit from here as well. Intriguingly Sue received a text message from T-Mobile saying welcome to the Isle of Man; we knew we had got lost but were not quite that far off track!

Low cloud over Sprinkling Tarn.

We saw other walkers for the first time which was reassuring at least and then quite a crowd of people heading up towards Broad Crag at 8km, 11.45am.










The route went past the cross-shaped windbreak stone walls which was noted in our guide book and up between Broad Crag and Ill Crag. Here we met our first boulder field. An interesting experience and the route was identified by kind souls who had built a series of cairns to show the right way.

Windbreak above Esk Hause.

The final ascent up to Scafell Pike was pretty busy with the sound of boots slipping on the loose scree. After a quick bite to build energy for the final climb we headed upwards for our first scramble. A descending walker assured us we were only 20 minutes from the top.

Boulder field. 

First glimpse of the summit/ 

Final ascent to Scafell.

Arrived at the summit at 1.25pm, having gone 10.6km but it felt like a lot more. It was a bit like Picadilly Circus on top but it didn’t spoil it in any way. It is reassuring that there are lots of people who care enough about our wild places to get out and make the effort to climb them. When we were climbing up we had intended to go back the same way, having been warned in the guide books that it can be difficult to see clear paths off the summit. That might be a problem if you were here on your own but with dozens arriving and departing every minute, it was fairly clear and we also found a knowledgeable local who told us how to reach the Corridor route. 

Busy at the summit.

Sue at the trig point.

Success: I've climbed Scafell Pike!

Don't expect much of a view from the top.

And so have I!

The first part of the decent was straightforward and very busy. A few very ill-equipped walkers passed us on their way up and we had our doubts whether they would make it given the amount of huffing and puffing on the lower slopes. We eventually found the route rightwards towards the Corridor route. It wasn’t terribly clear but we had been warned not to veer to the left as that would mean ending up in Wasdale, miles from the car!

As soon as we took the Corridor route we were virtually on our own. It’s obviously a feature of this mountain that there are so many possible routes that crowds converge at the top, but it thins out considerably lower down. Reached Piers Gill at 2.36pm, 12.7km. shortly afterwards we arrived at a vertical wall, with an arrow marked ‘Corridor’ heading up. We thought it must be a joke but another walker arrived and assured us that this was the way and referred us to Wainwright’s advice to avoid the tempting path around the side as that went in completely the wrong direction. This was a full hands and feet job, we had anticipated scrambling but this was much closer to climbing albeit only for a short way, with a ravine neatly placed below.

Styhead Tarn with Derwent Water in the distance.

Wast Water seen from descent of Scafell Pike.

As we neared Styhead, we realised that we had only missed the Corridor route earlier on by a short way. Our expectations of a wide, well-trodden path were clearly wide of the mark as well although going down we at least had the tarn to head for. Arrived back at the Stretcher Box at 4pm, 15.6km.

Great Gable: one for our next visit.

The return to Seathwaite was at least heading down but still quite gruelling and we realised that we hadn’t had a level path without rocks and uneven ground all the way. We arrived back at the farm at 5.26pm and then to the car a few minutes later having completed 19.6km. Tired but very satisfied!

Earls Hill in the evening sun

24 July 2012

Short evening walk at Earl’s Hill this time. Parked up at the Mytton Arms, Habberley and set off at 19.25. Had to consult the map straight away to locate the footpath which runs down through Lower Farm but from there to Earls Hill it was pretty straightforward if a little slurry-laden. Glad we didn’t do this a week or so ago when the ground was saturated as we’d be swimming in it.

Looking west from side of Earls Hill.

View from Earls Hill.

Some indecision on entering the woods, which later proved to be apposite but for now we carried on, following JP’s map outlines and passed the sign the the Earls Hill reserve at 1.25km. The route then seemed to go uphill to the right to join the ridge path. Seriously uphill. 

Clearly this is not the way, but too late when you’re stranded mid slope so had to carry on to the top and think of the good exercise it was giving us.

Aother view from Earls Hill.

At the summit of Earls Hill. 

Setting sun in the west.

Summit at Earls Hill.

Once on top the trig point was only a short distance and then we saw the route we could have taken which was a proper path. 1.98km. Great views from the top with the sun setting over Wales. Sue photographed a small yellow flower which seemed to resemble a miniature Lady’s bedstraw but we couldn’t identify it fully from the guide book so remains a puzzle for now.

Set of back down at 20.20pm and decided to find the track that leads right off the southern end of the ridge so that we could do it in a loop on the Hike. A clear path down, some steep sections with loose stone led to a stile and into the woods, then turned right to meet the path at the foot that we’d passed earlier. 2.76km

Down the ridge from Earls Hill.

Into the sun.

The stile at the foot of ridge path.

So from the bottom we need to go to the gate with the string, turn right, ignore the first path to the left and take the second left up to the stile and then climb up the hill.

Back in Habberley at 21.10, 4.1km. Pub very busy and tempting but we decided to go home for tea instead and call in for a pint another time. Next section to crack is up to Bank Farm round to Tankerville.

Not getting lost on Corndon

22 July 2012

Another crack at the Corndon route, just to make sure we have it sorted.

Set off from The Bog at 8.46 after seeing the solo red kite flying near Stiperstones car park once again. Shortly after setting off we saw the rabbit and jay - groundhog day in Shropshire.

A walker and a runner and several cars passed, the sun has brought everyone out. Arrived at Shelve at 9.15, 2.6km where there was some harebell and lady’s bedstraw in the hedgerow. Nine swallows spotted on the wire, a bit early for gathering for return to Africa surely.

Harebell and Lady's Bedstraw.

Shelve church.

Forestry Commission track at Shelve reached at 9.29, 

3.6km. No sign of Mr Wellies today. First ravens of the day heard croaking above the woods. Reached the farm alongside A488 after avoiding last week’s detours at 9.43, 4.6km. A488 was a bit treacherous, especially on the bends but at least the verge wasn’t too wet when we had to clamber up to avoid being mown down.

Corndon from Shelve road.

Forestry sign at Shelve.

Looking back at Shelve, Stiperstones in background.

Southern marsh orchid.

Arrived in Powys at 10.02, 6.01km. Hadn’t noticed last week that the Powys sign displayed a red kite. Stopped for coffee and sandwich at the church again, but noticed that it now had a next service scheduled that evening, so not just a tombola hall after all.

Church at White Grit.

Entering Powys, land of the Red Kite.

Old mine building.

Old mine building by A488 

Yes they do have services.

Lovely aroma of meadowsweet on the lane up to Corndon from White Grit. Sun now beating down and makes climb up Corndon much tougher. Reached summit after twenty minutes at 10.52, 8.57km, which means we have gained at least half an hour on last week already. Surprising to see no-one here though. In last week’s greyness there were several bands of walkers but not one today.

Corndon hill sign.

Gate at foot of Corndon.

Looking back to path from Corndon.

Woodgate Farm sign.

Kestrel hovering as we set off along the ridge. Found the downward pointing arrow again round the corner and set off down the track which was a good deal drier this time. Reached the gate at the foot of Corndon at 11.21, 10.00km, then found way to Woodgate Farm with ease by 11.37, 10.86km. Easy when you know the way!

Straight on through Little Cefn Farm and then following the yellow arrows until the woods. Still boggy here but not quite as bad and the pig trough stile appeared after a very short time making us realise how much time and energy we wasted last week. After crossing the stile, had lunch on the bank. Sue’s flapjacks are the best yet. 12.13, 12.68km. Only Black Rhadley to go now.

Follow the yellow arrows.

Giant hogweed.

Old farm building near A488.

On the way to the A488.

After a tiny uncertainty we found the route fairly easily down to the A488 and along to Welsh Lodge. Fortunately not too far on the road which was again pretty busy. Arrived at Welsh Lodge at 12.30, now nearly two hours up on last week.

Buzzard spotted again as we passed Nind, although a solo bird this time. The lane up to Black Rhadley was a real trudge in the heat, broken by a final coffee and flapjack stop, but the path up to the summit was easy going as long as we avoided the inquisitive cows with their calves. Reached summit at 1.55, 17.94km. Not quite fast enough to make it in five hours then, but a lot better than last week. 

Corndon seen form Black Rhadley summit.

Cow blocks Black Rhadley path.

Cows and calves.

Rock formation from Black Rhadley.

It’s a surprisingly long trek back up to The Bog, wonder if we might consider a path across the hill during the Hike, although keeping to the road is likely to be safer in the dark. Arrived at The Bog at 2.32, 21.00km, accompanied by some swifts, and had a look in the visitor centre where the cafe was doing a roaring trade. Some useful interpretation boards inside explaining the mining history of the area and a good selection of local books.

And having finally cracked this section we retired to The Bridges for the ritual pint and a half.

Pint and a half at The Bridges.