 An eagle's eye view of the walk Route to the Roof of EnglandWalk through the Wasdale Campsite either via the main entrance passing the reception/shop or follow the farm track left via the gates, the ensuing bridleway fords the pebble beach of Lingmell Beck. Mindful that at times of flood this would be impractical and the valley road followed instead. Gorse as high as an elephant’s eye ushers the track through via gates into pasture eventually emerging onto the valley road. Follow the road right, bear off right at the Millennium Village Green stone. Enter the walled lane at Lingmell House passing the little yew-shaded church of St Olaf, patron saint of Norway, affirming the strong Viking link with this valley. The mass of gathered beck-stone accumulated in thick walls, a feature of the valley enclosures. The bridleway is guided left between the barns at Burnthwaite Farm. From the gate go right, the lane balloons then constricts to a further gate and widens again on course to a footbridge over Gable Beck. As the path begins to rise a clear path forks right, shortly accompanying the beckside wall to a hand gate. Pass on through, keeping close company with Lingmell Beck cross the stony feeder gills with the bristling crags of Great Napes high to the left. Passing the confluence with Piers Gill find an appropriate ford some hundred yards further on, the pony path winding on up the grassy rigg initially close to Spouthead Gill. Crossing the debris of Skew Gill bear up the fell left to reach the stretcher box at Sty Head Pass, where paths intersect. Turn right (east), cross the stepping stones over the broad marshy depression upon the heavily used path (bound for Esk Hause). Ignore the obvious path right at a large cairn, this is the Corridor Route. But once the craggy end of The Band is passed, and the first good stretch of pitching complete, veer off right ascending the grassy fellside to gain the skyline at your earliest convenience. There is no path to this point. At a shallow nick in the ridge a path draws in from the left, the more regular approach, but that first section of the ridge was certainly worth visiting. The ridge mounts easily, providing numerous gilt-edged excuses to pause and peer over the brink right towards Lingmell, with the head of Skew Gill a classic moment. This is an excerpt from Mark's original article. To see the full article, you will need to download the PDF using the link below  Download complete PDF (124KB)
© Mark Richards 2007 |
