Force falls, Mosedale bothy, Branstree & Selside pike. 11.5miles 2300ft.

With a sunny bank holiday Monday  forecast &  fearing the central Lakes would be busy, I parked at Swindale Foot near Shap one of the quieter areas for a walk.

After parking at Swindale foot I followed Swindale beck up the valley to Force falls. This series of falls are probably the remotest but arguably the finest in Lakeland

This is lowest of the series and they rise approx 500ft in total from here

This is the top fall and has the highest vertical drop

The path beside the falls leads up to where Swindale joins Mosedale. A further mile up Mosedale lies the bothy of the same name, however it's marked on the map as Mosedale Cottage

The bothy is the remotest in Lakeland and as yet I hadn't seen anyone all morning despite it being a bank holiday

The mountain bothy association do a great job maintaining these properties in such remote locations however...... 

.....as with this one they often look a lot grander from the outside than they are inside

They are though often life savers for those caught in difficulties on the fells.

Looking back down Mosedale with the bothy hidden by the tree plantation

At the head of the valley I climbed out of Mosedale  ascending Branstree with a view to Morecambe bay on the way up 

Once on the summit the view across Lakeland was impressive, as here with snow on the central fells behind Rampsgill Head

Crossing the summit ridge I came to the cairn on the top of Selside pike behind which is Cross fell - the highest in England outside of the Lake District at 2,930ft

Dropping just below the summit is a view to Riggindale ridge leading to High Street and Kidsty pike rising to the right

A little lower down and Haweswater comes into view.....

.....and again

The summit shelter on Selside pike 

Above Mardale Head are L to R  High Street, Rampsgill Head, Kidsty pike & High Raise

Sitting down for a late lunch with a view back down into Swindale. The meanders in the river were created artifically to slow down the flow of water helping to prevent flooding lower down

Shap cement works from the same place with the M6 motorway immediatley above it

The final descent to Swindale Foot.

Another beautiful day on the fells with great views, lots of interest and just a handful of other walkers.  Maybe it's time to look for some snow next week!