(Pathfinder North/West Lakeland Walk#12 - 6.7 Miles)
Having stayed at the Patterdale Hotel Weds/Thurs night we decided to do a longer, higher level walk on the Friday before heading home as the weather was set to be favourable until mid-afternoon. A walk just off the A66 from Mungrisdale fitted the bill as it was not out the way and relatively short at 5 miles, with an option to extend to 7 miles and visit Bannerdale Crags if the weather held up.
We parked opposite the recreation rooms in Mungrisdale and left a few pounds in the honesty box slot at the end of the building.
The route set off quite level and passed through the valley floor passing "The Tongue" an easterly extension of Bowscale Fell.
The views of the surrounding fells from the valley floor were impressive with the steep face of Bannerdale Crags looking down upon us straight ahead, and Bowscale Fell to the right of us.
Soon we were ascending up along a very long path taking us ever higher to around 2000ft. It was a little relentless, never levelling, though the solitary fell runner passed us and was soon a small dot in the distance at the top.
The view ahead became more and more impressive as we gained height, and the weather a mix of sun and cloud had us feeling a little hot by the time we reached the path split point near the top. The decision then was whether to follow the ridge path left and nearly a mile to Bannerdale Crag cairn, or to forego this option and carry on right to the cairn of Bowscale Fell. Looking at the ridge and the possible view we chose that option.
Above: The views from the ascending path up to Bannerdale Crags
Below: The view down from the top of the ascending path near to the path branch point.
Below: The decision was made to take the ridge path, the final path up to the top of Bannerdale.
The View from the top of Bannerdale Crags (2,230 ft)
Above: The view back along the ridge path.
We admired the views across to Blencathra with some snow still present on the tops, before retracing our steps back along the ridge path and the branch point up to Bowscale fell.
The views back down into the valley were stunning.
Below: Sue approaching the Bowscale summit cairn. (2,303 ft)
Below: View back to Bannerdale from where we came far left of the picture, and the snow capped Blencathra range to the centre.
We ate lunch a little way past the summit cairn, though there did appear to be many piles of stones along the route across the fell.
The path back slowly descended down to about 1,400ft, but the last 1000ft was a little trickier down a VERY steep and narrow yellow gorse lined path, the last part very steep and torturous. Much care needed here. If we repeated a similar route, we would retrace the acscending path down instead of a circular route, and nothing would really be missed except the misfortune of this steep descent down. Be warned! (Maybe we are just wimps!)
You can see the yellow gorse lined track down behind the cottage, and yes its steeper than it looks!
A stunning walk particularly with the extension to Bannerdale and the ridge views down the valley. Completed 2 more Wainwrights as well. Recommended, but you may choose to retrace the ascending path back down rather than the very steep descent right at the end.
Our Walk Score: 8/10
