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Seathwaite
from Gillercombe
The well-known route to Stockley Bridge from Borrowdale passes through Stan Edmondson's farm at Seathwaite. Today I'm taking a less frequented route, having turned right under the arch at the farm. This path gives access to the hanging valley of Gillercombe. |
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Sour
Milk Gill
The water cascade in Gillercombe is named Sour Milk Gill (or Ghyll), one of several waterfalls in the Lakes bearing the same name. |
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Gillercombe
The view from above Sour Milk Gill, looking back at Borrowdale. The path goes on to ascend the relatively unvisited fell of Base Brown, 2120ft above sea level. |
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Mists
on Base Brown
As I strolled across the wide summit of Base Brown wisps of mist began to form and drift across the landscape. There was very little wind. |
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Mists
on Base Brown (2)
It was a ghostly feeling, watching the wispy mists forming and vanishing a few feet above the surface. |
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Mists
on Base Brown (3)
It really needed a camcorder to capture the effect but, with only a still camera to hand, I did the best I could to capture the mood. |
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Mists
on Base Brown (4)
A view of Bowfell through the mists |
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Mists
on Base Brown (5)
The summit cairn |
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Mists
on Base Brown (6)
The view over upper Borrowdale towards Ullscarf and Helvellyn |
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Mists
on Base Brown (7)
The mists swirl across the rock outcrops of the summit plateau, revealing clouds over the Scafells two miles to the southeast. |
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Mists
on Base Brown (8)
Another shot of the clouds boiling over the Scafells |
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Mists
on Base Brown (9)
The storm passing to the east |
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Stockley
Bridge from Base Brown
It's not readily appreciated from Stockley Bridge that Base Brown's sumit lies almost directly alongside. The bridge is to the left, with Grains Gill heading to the right. |
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Base
Brown
The mists recede, shortly to reveal a new dusting of snow on the tops - unusual for June. |
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Snowstorm
on Green Gable
Esk Pike and the Scafells are seen from the col between Base Brown and Green Gable |
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Snowstorm
on Green Gable (2)
The mists gather in Sty Head below as I reach the first patch of fresh snow |
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Snowstorm
on Green Gable (3)
The view in the Ennerdale direction from the snow-dusted summit dome of Green Gable |
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Snowstorm
on Green Gable (4)
Looking east from the ascent path towards Sprinkling Tarn |
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Snowstorm
on Green Gable (5)
Looking up at Gable Crag, with the new snow clinging to the vertical faces. |
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Aaron
Slack
Aaron Slack is the corrie leading down from Windy Gap (the col between the Gables) to Sty Head Tarn, seen below. The Slack is a much easier descent route than the Breast Route path on Gable itself. Great End is seen to the right, with the path up to Sprinkling Tarn and Esk Hause centre. |
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Aaron
Slack (2)
From halfway down Aaron Slack we look across to the Scafells, in cloud again and presumably getting yet another dusting of snow. From Sty Head I ascended again to Sprinkling Tarn and then returned to Seathwaite via Grains Gill. |
