Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
A very special walk for Sue & I as it marks the completion of our quest to summit
all 214 Wainwright listed Lakeland fells, the end of a journey that started around 2011.
A majestic but physically challenging walk from Seathwaite Farm that takes in
what I personally consider to be the finest view in Lakeland (and there are many)
that of Sprinkling Tarn surrounded by the towering Great End and Gable itself.
If people who read this wish to short cut the route and go direct to Styhead tarn, then
follow the line of the “Return Journey”. This blog describes the route that ascends
using the path that runs parallel with Grains Gill
From Keswick take the B5289 that journeys through the beautiful Borrowdale Valley
and follow the signs for the tiny hamlet of Seathwaite. Here is the usual scramble
for parking spaces at the side of the road leading to the farm.
This is the start point for this walk
Follow the path down to the Farm entrance
Just at the entrance through the Farm, a plaque denoting the early origins of this Hamlet
Take the path that leads straight through the farm yard (do not go under the archway)
Within a minute or so the track leads to a gate which opens out to the main path
up towards Stockley Bridge
A second hand gate is passed through
In to the walk proper now and the route ahead can be clearly seen as it journeys up
towards the Col at the foot of Great End. This is good walking on a good track
and navigation is straightforward
Passing by the impressive Taylorgill Force
Up to now fairly level walking as we approach Stockley Bridge, after which the track
becomes more stony and slightly steeper
Over the bridge and through the hand gate turn immediately left - if the intention is to keep
on the Grains Gill track. Veer right if you wish to follow the path to Styhead Tarn directly
Starting out on the Grains Gill path
The track is thankfully stepped so as to assist with the steepness
Higher on now and the first sight of the imposing Great End
Whilst you may be all wrapped up in the slog upwards, just remember to occasionally
take a breather and stop to admire the wonderful scenery. Here looking back to over
Derwent Water in Keswick and the Skiddaw range beyond
As we get ever nearer to the top of the Gill a view on the right appears which is the
first sighting of Great Gable. Yes – it’s a monster
At the uppermost part of the track now and the path indicated is the main track between
Styhead Tarn and Esk Hause. We turn right at this juncture to head towards
Sprinkling Tarn and Styhead
All that is required is to pick what you consider to be the best point to cross the Gill
before turning right
Ste sets off down the path towards Sprinkling Tarn
The path is cairned to assist navigation
And then …. It appears – Sprinkling Tarn being flanked by Great Gable. Its my personal
opinion that this must rank in the top ten greatest views in Lakeland
Along the shoreline of the Tarn and revealed in all its glory – the majestic site
of the “Breast Route” track up to Great Gable summit
Carry along the track past the Tarn and follow it down to the Stretcher Box at Styhead
The Stretcher Box as deployed by the Keswick MRT, now the REAL climbing starts!!!
The path looks ominous but is stepped through the scree run to assist with the climb,
whilst it is arduous it is not in any way dangerous and there are no difficulties in navigation.
Styhead Tarn below
The boulders become bigger, however the path can still be easily followed
One of many pauses for breath, here looking over Sprinkling Tarn
and Allen Crags to the Langdale Pikes
The massive gorge of Piers Gill that runs up to Lingmell Col and the start of the “Tourist”
path up to Scafell Pike (slightly shrouded in cloud)
Looking down the length of Wast Water in Wasdale
As we approach the summit a bank of cloud descends and quickly blots out our
view down the Ennerdale Valley
And in the opposite direction looking over Haystacks and Crummock Water
And then for Sue and I …. The realization of a 12-year ambition!!!
Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit
At Great Gable summit and the memorial tablet of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club dedicated
to those who paid the ultimate price in World War 1 for the freedoms we enjoy today
But for “Team Marsh” the culmination of 12 years blood, sweat and tears!!!
As we have done throughout our quest …. The completion of Book Seven, The Western Fells
Some Personal Notes in Conclusion
“You may leave the Lake District, but once you have been, it will never leave you”
Once said a wise old sage – My God was he right.
In younger years my only experience of the Lake District was an Outward Bound course for a week in Hammerbank, Windermere as an Apprentice and the various Pubs around. It was some years after the birth of our son Steven did I first glimpse the beauty of Derwent Water and its surrounding fells
It was some while after that, we attempted our first Fell … Latrigg, to see if we were of
the mind to attempt the 214 challenge.
We were well and truly smitten. Within months we had purchased the four OS maps of the region,
all of the Wainwright Guide books, some fairly cheap walking boots, rucksack and poles.
The approach to climbing the fells was pretty scattergun, we did not follow the pattern of Book 1 then Book 2 etc etc. We tended to go for walks with connecting ridges so as to increase the fell count
“Why does a man climb mountains? …. On the face of it the thing doesn’t make sense. Yet more and more people are turning to the hills; they find something in these wild places that can be found nowhere else”
We became totally engrossed the sheer beauty of rugged mountain scenery, the solitude and the
sense of achievement on bagging a tough and difficult climb, of which there were many.
Here on Blencathra, which we climbed in total fog, that typically only cleared once we got back down
One of those red-letter days on top of Brae Fell, cloudless skies and views for miles and miles
Landmark summits like our 100th on Bannerdale Crags
Very often we would start a climb in summer like conditions only to end up in
an Arctic whiteout on the summit
Then there would be those absolute “scorchio” days like the time we did
the Coniston Round … Here on Brim Fell
I also have to mention the story of Sue, who during the course of her 214 journey has had initially a
half knee replacement, which disintegrated coming down off Bowfell in 2022 to be followed by a total
knee replacement in December of that year. For her now, the higher fells have been retired in favour
of flat walks, in order to protect what is now a good functioning knee. Her grit and determination through the pain endured on those long descents was amazing
You are an absolute StormTrooper
As each Book was completed, the greater the anticipation of 214 completion grew
I also cannot forget to mention, our love for Ambleside, and a certain hostelry known as
The Lily on Lake Road. We have had and continue to have some of the most
memorable nights in there
Memorable events encountered during the completion of the 214 …
· Ste and I getting stuck in a storm on Calf Crag. Scary
· Sue breaking her Fibula on Great Borne, then going on to complete 2 more Fells
· Meeting a 75 year old gent who was testing out his new hip replacement on the Kentmere Horseshoe
· Visiting “Buttison Water” on Loughrigg Fell (only Sue & Ste will understand that)
· Swimming in Watendlath
· Climbing High Street in knee deep snow
· A complete drenching coming down off Green Gable to Honister
· Fabulous post walk days and nights in The Lily
· The descent of Causey Pike and the sheer terror in Sues voice
In truth, too many to mention
My favourite mountains (in no particular order) …
· Kirk Fell
· Esk Pike
· Helvellyn
· Great Gable
· Blencathra
· Coniston Old man
· Skiddaw
My favourite Horseshoe walks …
· The Fairfield Horseshoe
· The Mosedale Horseshoe
· The Coniston Round
· The Coledale Horseshoe
· The Kentmere Horseshoe
· The Newlands Round
· The Fusedale Horseshow
My favourite Lakes …
· Wast Water
· Ullswater
· Derwent Water
· Buttermere
· Haweswater
· Ennerdale Water
· Loweswater
My favourite Pubs …
· The Lily (Ambleside) – of course
· The Ship Inn (Bowness)
· The Black Bull (Coniston)
· The Old Dungeon Ghyll (Langdale)
· The Anglers Arms (Haverthwaite)
· The Dog and Gun (Keswick)
· Wainwrights’ Inn (Chapel Stile)
Above all, throughout our 214 journey we took the greatest of care to avoid becoming a statistic of the various Mountain Rescue Teams incident logs. These truly wonderful bunch of people cannot be praised highly enough, so to make life easier for them PLEASE do the following when venturing out on the fells …
· Plan your route read carefully about the pros and cons BEFORE climbing
· Take a navigation device (there are plenty out there). Back this up with OS Maps
· Wear suitable clothing and prepare for 4 seasons in one day
· Assess your physical capabilities before climbing
· Make others aware of the route you are taking and your ETA of completion
· Take plenty of fluids
· Check the weather before you climb (MWIS is a good port of call)
· Respect the Fells – don’t take risks. Always be prepared to turn around
“The fleeting hour of life of those who love the hills is quickly spent, but the hills are eternal. Always there will the lonely ridge, the dancing beck, the silent forest; always there will be the exhilaration of the summits. These are for the seeking, and those who seek and find while there is still time will be blessed both in mind and body”
The final word must go to Alfred Wainwright, a genius of a man who produced the wonderful guide books without the aid of modern technology, equipment and using only public transport. His 7 Book “love letter” to the Lakeland Fells has brought so much joy to millions of people and a massive commercial benefit to the Lake District as a whole.
Without his unbelievable attention to detail and meticulous recordings of the walks, could us mere mortals experience the opportunity of seeing what he saw. He was a visionary and born in an era where things had done properly if they were worth doing at all. Its unlikely the same can be said of this generation were any old tat will do. I like millions of others owe him a great debt of gratitude
