Walk

Walk : Seathwaite Fell (1,970 feet) from Seathwaite via the Sty Head path

Date : 24^th December 2018

Weather : Glorious, Clear blue sky, bright sun, icy under foot @ 2°C

Distance : 4 miles round trip

Time Taken : 1 hour 45 mins to summit

Which part of Lakeland is this walk situated

Terrain Overview

Overview

Our Christmas week break in Ambleside threw up only one really suitable day for climbing the fells, the Christmas Eve day.

The forecasted clear skies did not disappoint and there was a certainty of getting some good views when on top. This route

starts from Seathwaite Farm and follows the popular route up to Stockley Bridge, from there Wainwright noted two routes …

Route A – is a direct route from the intake wall after Stockley Bridge up a steep grass path that dissects the rock towers of

Aaron Crags

Route B – takes a more circular route along the Sty Head Tarn path the last part of the climb to the summit being pathless

on grass

From Keswick follow the route along the Borrowdale valley towards Seathwaite. The long road leading up to the Farm has many spaces for free

car parking, however nearer the farm entrance the verges have been blocked off with large boulders

Approaching Seathwaite Farm and Camp site. Go straight through the gate at the bottom end of the Farm

Not today though !!!!

Passing Strawberry Gill coming down from Base Brown

Through a series of farm gates heading towards Stockley Bridge. Seathwaite Fell is straight ahead in the centre of the shot

Following the line of Grains Gill the rocky outcrops half way up Seathwaite Fell are Aaron Crags and is the most direct route to the summit

TaylorGill Force

Stockley Bridge

Through the gate over the Bridge and the Sty Head path can be seen cutting a swathe along the base of Seathwaite Fell. Do not turn sharp left

after the gate as this leads up Grains Gill towards Great End

Aaron Crags

Starting out on the Sty Head path

Looking up to the Northern summit of Seathwaite Fell from the Sty Head path

Following the path round as it runs parallel with Sty Head Gill

A marker cairn on the left indicates that you can now start to make the ascent of the west face of Seathwaite Fell – its not an exact science as to which

point you turn off the Sty Head path all routes are pathless initially – just take the slope of least resistance really

Heading for the ridge line

After two thirds the height of the slope is reached Sty Head Tarn comes into view near the base of Great Gable

The imposing bulk of Great Gable

After a steep pull up the grass slope the gradient eases and the cairn of the North summit appears

Looking south towards Scafell Pike just about to be shrouded in cloud

Great Gable and Green Gable on the path towards the North Summit

Looking East towards Esk Pike

Looking over to Glaramara

Looking back down the valley we have travelled up from towards Skiddaw and Blencathra in the North

Me and JtB on the summit of Seathwaite Fell

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit … https://youtu.be/4twJcASBx-Y

Great and Green Gable from the summit

Sue, Ste and JtB from the summit