The Gable Girdle  from Seathwaite Borrowdale

Taking in Base Brown & Green Gable 8miles 2650ft

Leaving the car parked at Seathwaite farm I began the climb to the crags on Base Brown (top left)

The path climbs steeply up beside Sour Milk gill falls

Where the  path levels out a little I opted for a route that would take me past....

....the 'Hanging Stone' balanced precariously on the crag

Looking back down Borrowdale from the top of the crag

Cloud was still lingering on Glaramara as I followed the ridge over Base Brown summit to Green Gable

Green Gable summit cairn as I looked back along the ridge to Base Brown

After leaving the summit I intended dropping to Windy Gap to start the walk round the 'Girdle' of Great Gable. This first section is known as the North Traverse

The start of this path is just visible as the narrow line rising slightly to the right from Windy Gap 

The path then continues hugging the base of the crags above the screes

Looking down the length of Ennerdale as I set out do the high level circuit of the mountain

Looking back to Green Gable

The North Traverse finishes here at Beck Head with a view to Kirk fell

After a stop to take on water with a view to Wasdale & Wastwater, I shed a layer of clothing and continued on to the South Traverse heading for Sty Head tarn 

This scree slope known as 'Little Hell's Gate' leads up to the summit, but not today 

Great Gable attracts many rock climbers heading for Great Napes crags such as Napes Needle and the Sphinx rock towers

This I think is the Sphinx which becomes aptly named when seen in profile from higher up - but not for me!

Next point of interest is Great Hell's Gate....

....before passing underneath Kern Knotts....

....before arriving at Sty Head's mountain rescue stretcher box!..... 

....and Sty Head tarn for a very welcome lunch break.

My Gable circuit finished here only missing out the short climb up Aaron Slack. This meant that I could return to Seathwaite down.... 

....Sty Head gill....

Finally crossing Stockley bridge just a short walk from the car

Today I finally got round to completing a walk I'd been contemplating and looking forward to for some time.

It was most certainly well worth the wait!

 

"Letting the train take the strain"

Talkin Tarn, Brampton Motte, Hadrian's Wall & Lanercost Priory 13miles 1100ft 

Leaving the car behind today I caught an early train to Carlisle, bought a takeaway coffee from the Wetherspoons just by the station and boarded my connection to Brampton Junction. A very relaxing start to the day!

The station is a only a 10 minute walk from Talkin Tarn Country Park....

....which takes about 45 minutes for a very easy and attractive circular walk around its perimeter....   

....and again

Overlooking the tarn is this privately owned, recently renovated house which has luxury cottages and holiday appartments. A brief internet enquiry showed one available for over £500 for 2 nights in June

The country park has a visitor centre with cafe and boat hire

Leaving the tarn behind I followed the disused railway line which used to continue the trains into Brampton about a mile away

Above the town is a castle Motte which affords a lovely view of the attractive town

Zooming in on the centre

The Motte is topped by this statue of William Thomas Howard who lived at the nearby Naworth castle. He was the 7th Earl of Carlisle and did much of great service to the townsfolk of Brampton. 

Leaving Brampton behind a ridge path leads north to the Abbey bridge over the river Irthing just outside Lanercost

Bypassing the abbey and priory ruins I continued north heading for Hadrian's Wall. I was impressed with this   intricately carved bench with contributions from local school children

I arrived at the point on Hadrian's Wall where Turret Watch Tower 52a once stood 

....and again

This is how it would once have looked 

The remains of the wall made an ideal place to sit for lunch. Suitably refreshed I continued following the path along the wall for 2.5miles. However there was very little evidence of the wall on this section....

....because much of the stone from the wall was removed to build Lanercost Priory in 1169  by Augustinian monks

More information can be found at:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lanercost-priory/history/

The entrance arch to the Abbey church which is still used as a local parish church today

Finally I just had time to take a photo of a section of the priory ruins before my lift home arrived!

A lovely relaxing day's walking on excellent paths with much of interest throughout the day.

I'd highly recommend a visit to the area

A circuit from Brotherswater 

Dovedale, Dove Crag, Priest's Hole, returning via Hart Crag & the Hartsop Above How ridge 9miles 2750ft

I arrived at Brotherswater just as the cloud was lifting after leaving home in rain and fog on the M6

Looking towards Kirkstone Pass....  

....and across the valley to Stony Cove Pike

Heading into the lower part of Dovedale....

....followed by a climb to the higher level with a first view of Dove Crag and the location of the Priest's Hole circled

The view back down the route so far

Zooming in on Priest's Hole.....

....and now arriving at the entrance to the cave. The cave often has walkers and climbers staying overnight. Unfortunately the lighting of fires there has now left a covering of soot over much of it.

The cave affords superb 180 degree views looking north from east to west

Looking north from the back of the cave

After further climbing I arrived at the summit cairn immediately above the cave....

....with views down into Dovedale and to the left the  Hartsop Above How ridge which would be my route down

The Eastern fells from the summit....

....and straight down into Dovedale

Looking east again as I crossed the ridge to Hart Crag 

Lunch time on Hart Crag summit 2697ft with the afternoon's route down to savour!

Looking back to Hart Crag form the ridge down....

....and 'The Step' and Greenhow End ridge leading up to Fairfield from my walk a few weeks ago

Futher down the ridge I was looking down on Brotherswater....

.....and again looking towards Kirkstone Pass

Finally arriving back at my car  - well almost!

A brilliant walk today somewhat unexpected after a poor weather forecast for the week. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the visit to the Priest's Hole