Baitstops Facts and Figures
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Wainwright Facts and Figures
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Only 3 weeks since the last walk but we wanted to get out this weekend as it may be a while before the next one with Easter coming up and holidays etc. Steve couldn’t make it so only Peter and myself on this walk. We probably picked the worst weekend to walk as the clocks went forward so we lost an hours sleep! To compensate for this Peter picked me up at 6.30 am (BST!) and we were on our way to Borrowdale. On the way we decided to park at Seathwaite and walk up to Esk Hause and then decide which tops to do, we had a choice of Glaramara, Great End, Esk Pike or indeed the Scafells. The Australian Grand Prix was on the radio for the journey and we arrived at Seathwaite about 8.30 am, got ready, tucked into the Angus Steak pies and set off walking about 8.45.
Start of the walk
The car park was already starting to fill up. It was cloudy on the tops at this stage but even this early we could tell it was going to clear later. We considered going up Taylorgill Force but thought we were going out of the way a little so went over Stockley Bridge and straight up Grains Gill. We had our first bait stop at the foot of Sprinkling Crags.
After a cuppa we set off and walked a little further until we were at the foot of Great End. A great slab of rock right in front of us with a large gully in the middle (Central Gully) covered in snow and a smaller gully (Custs Gully) to the right as we looked at it.
From this point we could see where the path joined us had we taken the route up Taylorgill Force. There was also a great view of Great Gable from this point.
The path took us round to the left and up to Esk Hause where we would turn right up to the summit. Esk Hause seemed to be a very busy junction where lots of walks criss crossed. There was one guy stood there who said he was not going to the top as he couldn’t see anything, seemed a shame as he was so close to several great tops from this point.
Great End summit
We carried on our way to the summit reaching it just after 11.30.
It was still cloudy at this stage but it was clearing from time to time. We dropped down off the top and found ourselves looking down Central Gully which we had been looking up not long ago.
Walking round the top of Great End, we stopped for another cuppa and it was now starting to clear.
The shot below is looking back towards Glaramara.
This one is looking across Esk Hause to Esk Pike with Bowfell behind it.
We decided at this stage that we would head towards Esk Pike meaning we would get 2 top 10 mountains chalked off today.
After stopping for a while, had some more bait and a good look around at the clearing summits, it was a great view from here. We then set off down to the Hause and up the short, rocky climb to Esk Pike.
Esk Pike summit
We reached the 2nd summit of the day just after 1pm. Both mountains are in excess of 2900 feet so a satisfying morning! This was a really good walk with lots to see. The picture below is from the summit of Esk Pike looking towards the Scafells
We descended Esk Pike on exactly the same path as the ascent, back down to Esk Hause. By now it was like Piccadilly Circus here, with lots of fell runners out today and a very busy walking day! We walked around Great End and down Grains Gill. Then, we stopped at the foot of Great End again for a final bait stop in very warm sunshine. We set off for the car and with very tired legs made it back just after 3.30.
A very good day on the fells although it will probably be May before we can get the next walk in. I am now half way through my challenge of 71 tops.
See you on the next walk.
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