BB1711 : Decisons, Decisions

Thursday 6th April 2017

Facing so many decisions, and without The Don, what could the BOOTboys not make up their minds about? The day dawned brisk but reasonably clear. We had arranged to meet at the layby just north of The Swan Hotel at Grasmere on the A591. Or had we? No BOOTboys to be found at the allotted meeting time of 9.15 but soon after Tony had turned up with Bryan, Stan and Terry and Robin had returned from a tour of nearby lay-bys and the main car park. All was well. Or was it? Not quite, because Don was nursing a sore throat [and coughing up golf balls- Ed.] and had decided, wisely, not to walk.

So it was under Bryan’s watchful eye and sure leadership we set off the few yards south towards Grasmere, turning right at the lane leading to the B5287 and the robust stone bridge over the now docile River Rothay. Before we had gone many steps Terry spotted Duckett Building Services construction plant and took off to greet his son-in-law who was working on a project by the main road.

We took the path through the strangely-named Butharlyp Howe, a small hanging woodland above the confluence of the River Rothay and Easedale Beck. Carpets of bluebells will be bursting forth as I write.

Easedale Beck and Sourmilk Gill Falls

Up the Easedale Road past the old parking area, now a housing estate, we crossed over Coal Beck by a narrow footbridge. In the wall adjacent Tony spied a rare Edward V11 post box (King from 1901 to 1910). Then up Easedale until we reached the path to Sourmilk Gill.

Sourmilk Gill Falls

We found a crossing place above the waterfall then up to Cockly Crag on a well-defined path en route to Tarn Crag, our first objective. A group of students on a field trip were listening intently to their tutor as we passed but soon were following us up the path. With no word spoken we quickened our pace. Fortunately for us the youngsters soon branched off. But BOOTboys honour was satisfied.

Moraines surround Easedale Tarn

It was a fairly uneventful climb, with some of the paths quite indistinct, leading to debates about which way to go. But Bryan, as ever, never put a foot wrong. A rugged skyline with far reaching views were evident as we climbed.

Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle beyond Blea Rigg

On reaching the rough cairn of Tarn Crag the wind was biting and there was no dissent when Tony reckoned we should find a sheltered spot for lunch, which we did, just below Tran Crag.

Then on to Blea Rigg, our second Wainwright, which sits above Blea Crag which we reached by dropping down to Codale Tarn (which sits deceptively higher than Easedale Tarn), and where Bryan dipped his fingers in to claim it. At the southern end of the Tarn we came upon a cable-stayed weather station set up on the fell side together with a rather strange contraption that looked like an animal trap, but quite what it was and what it had to do with the weather we could not decide.

Flood water monitoring

Then up Belles Knott and above Eagle Crag, a rocky, deceptive drop to be carefully circumnavigated, and so up to Blea Rigg summit with its small rock pools or mini-tarns.

Codale and Easedale Tarn from Blea Rigg Summit above Eagle Crag

Over the southerly shoulder of Blea Rigg is a fine, open view of Great Langdale and Dungeon Ghyll, with Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark on the horizon and a glimpse of Stickle Tarn.

We now had to make another decision. Which way down? Bryan proffered three options – Little Castle Howe and Swinescar Hause; the well-trod path down Lang How or thirdly, a longer way still over Silver Howe.

We chose the nearest being the Hause and so back to Easedale Road via Blindtarn Gill and the impressively built New Bridge.

New Bridge Easedale Beck

The blossom trees were magnificent down on the valley floor.

And so back to the cars. Another decision – where to go for refreshment? The BOOTboys had no hesitation in deciding to repair to The Travellers Rest for a well-earned sup before returning home.

Robin, Thursday 6th April 2017

Comitibus: Robin, Tony, Terry, Bryan, Stan

Map shown: OS 1:25k, 3D by Memory Map

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1711 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heightages (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

Photos have been gleaned from many sources
although mostly from me and other BOOTboys. Likewise written comment.

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BOOTboys 2017

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