Date & start time: Saturday 18th April 2009. 10.45 am start.

Location of Start : Roadside at Bowscale Village, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 359 316 )

Places visited : Bowscale Tarn, Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags, down via mine workings into the Glenderamakin Valley, Mungrisedale Village then a road trip to collect the first car.

Walk details : 6.5 ml, 1950 ft of ascent, 5 hours at a relaxed pace.

Highest point : Bowscale Fell 2,306ft ( 702m)

Walked with : Jo, Ann and the dogs, Jodie, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Summer continues (in April).

The sign at Bonscale Village, pointing the way

This was the end of Jo's Easter week in the Lakes and she needed a reasonable walk before hitting the road to home.

The weather was still superb and the air was perhaps a little clearer. With two cars available we could save a few road miles walking too

so we left one car in Mungrisedale and drove to Bowscale Village to start today's walk.

Our track leads out of the village towards Bowscale Tarn,

past a large number of really nicely re-developed cottages.

Ahead . . . the valley of the River Caldew.

Looking back . . the River Caldew turns left (north) and heads for Carlisle.

Our route climbs gradually up the fell side.

Down in the valley is the hamlet known as Roundhouse.

From this height we can actually see the dwelling to the left that gives it it's name.

Round a final bend and suddenly the tarn is in front of us . . . Harry is first in as usual.

We have two options, the first to climb directly from the tarn up the grassy rake opposite . . .

. . . the second, and the one we chose, was to walk round the tarn and climb the rising path up through the crags.

A wide view of the tarn, reflecting the vibrant colour of the sky above us.

A brief stop before we start the final part of the climb.

What shall we have as a foreground . . . ?

Walking round this way gave us views of the high fells over the blue waters of the tarn.

The highest summit beyond is High Pike.

Further round is the heather covered Carrock Fell.

The last part of the climb is a scramble up through the crags.	There is a path however, even if we didn't always follow it.

Jo stops to appreciate the view, once the hard work has been done.

It's another of those over-the-top moments . . .

as the distant fells of Skiddaw, Great Calva, Knott, Great Lingy Hill and High Pike suddenly come into view.

We follow the top of the crags round for a short while before diverting away towards the nearby summit.

The double top of Bowscale Fell, a large cairn here and the summit shelter beyond.

The view ahead improves now as we arrive at the shelter.

Time for lunch perhaps ?

Suitably refreshed, we continue on our way.

Easy walking now as we head for Bannerdale Crags.

The distant fells in the centre form the Helvellyn Range, but the eye catching peak close at hand is Blencathra, the dark shadow being Sharp Edge.

There are a few people around but not many.

However three of them stop to chat.

"I recognise you ! " said Charles and Barbara.	Therefore this must be Greg.

On a personal note . . .

we are delighted to be able to meet those that take the effort to view our photos on-line.

Do please introduce yourselves if we ever meet.

Leaving them to continue on to Bowscale Fell,

we make our way over to the edge of Bannerdale . . . for a look over the crags !

Starting with a more gentle grassy slope, the crags get steeper and more rugged as we continue round.

There are even a few rocky pinnacles with steep drops in between.

Two para-gliders, who had started from the slopes of Carrock Fell, set off round the fell side

taking advantage of the lift produced by Souther Fell and White Horse Bent.

The distinctive slate cairn on the Bannerdale Crag edge.

This is the highest part of the crags and looks down on the Glenderamakin Valley.

It isn't the highest part of the fell however.

That distinction lies with the small cairn looking the other way towards Blencathra and Foule Crag.

Doubling back the short distance to the first cairn we can now contemplate our descent route.

Yes . . . it is down there !

Don't panic . . . there's a good path going down to the area on the map shown as disused mine workings.

Bowscale Fell, where we had lunch is still very much in view.

Harry just checking the route.

Jo and I doing likewise.

It's steep but not a great problem . . . just watch where you place your feet.

Jo making her way down.	A look back at the steep track we have just descended.

There are just a few signs of the old workings, such as this supporting wall,

but generally there is very little left but discarded slate.

A broad erosion scar marks the left hand edge of the workings.

Almost down at the valley level and we all came to the conclusion that this was too good to rush.

Jo wanted to stay a while and just soak up the sunshine . . . so we all decided to take time out.

Down at river level, a fence surrounds the newly planted trees.

They've been placed there to add diversity to the local habitat and to encourage the wildlife.

We now followed the old miner's track down the valley.

A small landslip as a result, no doubt, of the winter storms.

Ahead, the gorse is starting to bloom on the ridge known as The Tongue.

Bright sunshine reflecting on the damp path and the River Glenderamakin alongside us.

Back to Mungrisedale Village where Jo had parked her car.

The phone box has now been repaired and repainted.

If I had finished the photos immediately could I have posted them from here ?

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . Tea and scones to go with a pint of beer at

[ Pity they couldn't manage the scones ! ]

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Previous walk - 16th April 2009 Benn Man, Raven Crag and Shoulthwaite

A previous time up here - 17th May 2008 Souther and Bannerdale East Ridge

Next walk - 25th April 2009 Saturday is Market Day