A wonderful spring walk up to Sourmilk Gill and Easedale Tarn, followed by a steady climb to Sergeant Man and High Raise. Our return journey was down the valley of Far Easedale, but this walk can be extended by including the ridge of Helm Crag, or even doing the full ‘Easedale Round’ which would then also include Silver How and Blea Rigg. Whatever tops are added, any walk over Grasmere Common in late winter or early spring, when the weather is fine, is a grand day out on the fells. Just remember to bring the camera!
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Grasmere > Easedale Road > Easedale > Sourmilk Gill > Easedale Tarn > Crossroads > Sergeant Man > High Raise > Low White Stones > Greenup Edge > Brownrigg Moss > Brown Rigg > Moor Moss > Far Easedale > Stythwaite > High Easedale > Grasmere
Leaving the centre of Grasmere and heading for Butharlyp Howe
Tika on the track around Butharlyp Howe
The footbridge over Easedale Beck
The footbridge is where we’ll cross to follow the old packhorse track to Easedale Tarn in upper Easedale. Later we’ll return via Easedale Road seen here on the right.
Tarn Crag and Sourmilk Gill seen from the old packhorse track
Helm Crag from New Bridge in the valley of Easedale
Brinhowe Crag and Sourmilk Gill from the old packhorse track
Ecton Crag over Sourmilk Gill
The main waterfall in Sourmilk Gill
Horn Crag seen over Cockly Moss and Sourmilk Beck
The track leading to upper Easedale
Tarn Crag on the approach to Easedale Tarn
Slapestone Edge and Tarn Crag over Easedale Tarn
Blea Crag and Eagle Crag seen from upper Easedale
The cairn on the left marks the direct path to Blea Crag. However, we’ll continue straight ahead and deeper into upper Easedale.
“Black slime is experienced at its blackest and slimiest at frequent intervals on the path in this area, but this no longer poses problems for walkers because it is crossed by stepping stones.” Sergeant Man 5
AW (revised by CJ)
Looking back to Greenhead Crag over Easedale Tarn
Greanhead Crag is part of Tarn Crag’s east ridge that rises from the outflow of Easedale Tarn.
Eagle Crag and Belles Knott
“Blea Crag and Eagle Crag form an imposing precipice on the left but the dominating feature on the march up the valley is the peak of Belles Knott, which assumes a striking appearance from the path as it is approached.” Sergeant Man 5
AW
Looking back to the Helvellyn and Fairfield groups over Easedale Tarn
Belles Knott from the head of Easedale
“This is the most direct and the quickest route. From Easedale Tarn the path follows the main feeder almost to its source before slanting up to the ridge. The route is too deeply enclosed to be attractive, although there are several interesting features.” Sergeant Man 5
AW
“Belles Knott, the ‘Matterhorn’ of Easedale”
“This sharp peak is a prominent feature in the early stages of the walk by the path from Easedale Tarn to Dungeon Ghyll.” Sergeant Man 12
AW
Looking back to Easedale Tarn
Looking across to Tarn Crag over Codale Tarn
The path leading the way to the col between Blea Crag and Sergeant Man
Beyond the peak of Belles Knott the final section includes some slimy rock terraces.
Codale Head seen from the path
“The path becomes a scramble on easy rock as it skirts the edge of the crags….” Sergeant Man 5
AW
The Coniston Fells seen from the “crossroads”
This large cairn marks the “crossroads”, a summit pass between the valleys of Easedale and Great Langdale, and a col between Blea Rigg and Sergeant Man. It is rather surprising that this ‘crossroads’ has not been worthy of an official title.
“Here the ridge is gained amid a profusion of cairns. This is a well-known ‘crossroads’. Routes from Dungeon Ghyll and Blea Rigg to Sergeant Man join in at this point.” Sergeant Man 5
AW
Tika sat taking a moment above the “crossroads”
Looking down upper Easedale to Codale Tarn and Easedale Tarn
Sergeant Man from the approach to The Slab (seen here on the left)
Sergeant Man from The Slab
“Here the path passes a 50 foot rock slab with a cairn oddly set in the middle. Its easy gradient makes it climbable by walking.” Sergeant Man 5
AW
The remnants of the cairn are seen on the right in the photo. Note the three walkers continuing along the main path to Sergeant Man.
Stickle Tarn from The Slab, with Harrison Stickle and Pavey on the right
A short detour to the top of the rock slab is well worth it for this grand view of the Langdale Pikes and beyond to the Coniston Fells.
The south face of Sergeant Man
The eastern spine over Codale Head from the summit of Sergeant Man
“The stones around the cairn have been scratched white by nailed boots of visitors, testifying to the popularity of this summit; one or more of these visitors are responsible for the shameful destruction of the beautiful cairn…now there is just a small heap of stones marking the highest point.” Sergeant Man 8
AW (revised by CH)
Looking down the cove of Bright Beck from the summit of Sergeant Man
“The most striking scene is that southwards, where Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle rise starkly against a background formed by the Coniston Fells.” Sergeant Man 9
AW
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike from the summit of Sergeant Man
High Raise from the summit of Sergeant Man
Helvellyn range seen from Codale Head Tarns
This photo is taken from the north-west tarn, which I think is the most photogenic out of all the tarns dotted about on this plateau between Sergeant Man and Codale Head.
The path leading to the summit of High Raise
Looking back to Codale Head and Sergeant Man
Bowfell, Scafells and Great Gable from High Raise Tarn
The summit trig on High Raise
At the back: Scafell Pike, Great End, Seatallan, Great Gable, Pillar and High Stile.
Middle: Bowfell, Esk Pike, Allen Crags, Glaramara and Comb Head.
Below: Lining Crag at the end of the Rossett Pike ridge and the Langstrath Valley.
The Coniston Fells, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit of High Raise
“High Raise is often wrongly referred to as High White Stones. High Raise is the name of the fell, High White Stones the name of a small area of grey boulders which includes the summit….
The eastern spine over Low White Stones from the summit of High Raise
….All else is grass, a vast sheepwalk in the form of a broad plateau little different from a valley pasture except that here drains and irrigation channels are absent and there is much marshy ground….
The distant western and north western fells from the summit of High Raise
….The big cairn, and an adjacent survey column, stand at the top of the Langstrath slope, 150 yards left of a line of fence posts. Since it was illustrated, the summit cairn has been expanded into a wind shelter with two chambers. Walking across the top is everywhere very easy.” High Raise 8
AW (revised by CJ)
The path down to Low White Stones from the High Raise plateau
The Helvellyn range from the summit of Low White Stones
Ullscarf from our descent to Greenup Edge
Approaching the summit of the Rosthwaite/Grasmere mountain pass on Greenup Edge
The pass is commonly known as Greenup Edge although strictly the Edge is further along the ridge towards Ullscarf.
Our descent to Wythburn Head Moss from Greenup Edge
The Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges from above Wythburn Head Moss
Brown Rigg and the new stepping stones over Wythburn Head Moss
“Far Easedale Bridleway – This is part of the Coast-to-Coast path. The work that is to be carried out here is to ensure that this is a sustainable path and is not further eroded by the increased level of use expected along a National Trail. The work to be carried out will include pitching, the installation of stepping stones, stone revetment, and causeway.”
Fix the Fells – 2024 Work Programme
Looking back to Greenup Edge from Wythburn Head Moss
Tarn Crag seen from the summit of the pass over Brown Rigg
These now redundant fence posts once divided the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. I think it’s rather nice to see that they haven’t been disturbed from the restoration work and the placing of these new flagstones.
Looking back to Greenup Edge from Brown Rigg
Looking down the valley of Far Easedale with Deer Bields (crags) on the right
Looking down Far Easedale to Gibson Knott and Helm Crag
Looking back to Ferngill Crag and Broadstone Head from Far Easedale Beck
Horn Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag from Far Easedale
Helm crag (left) and Loughrigg Fell (far right) seen over Stythwaite in Far Easedale
Looking back to Pike of Carrs, Moment Brow and Horn Crag from Stythwaite
Footbridge over Far Easedale Beck (formerly Stythwaite Steps)
A well-earned dip for Tika
Approaching High Easedale
Looking back to Tarn Crag over Sourmilk Gill
Kitty Crag Cottage
Looking back to Helm Crag and Seat Sandal
Path through the grounds of Allan Bank
The village of Grasmere
Thank you for visiting.
Richard
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Thanks, sources and further reading:
‘Book Three – The Central Fells’ by Alfred Wainwright
National Library of Scotland