Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags
Walk date – 6th February 2025
Distance – 8.1 miles
Weather – dry and very sunny, very light breeze on Brock Crags summit
A high pressure system has been with us for a couple of days now bringing with it light winds and sunny days. Today was forecast to be the least windy day so we decided on a walk up to Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags with our return route via the Patterdale valley path which links the villages of Hartsop and Rooking. The forecast was spot on today and the only time we had any breeze at all was when we were on the summit of Brock Crags, even then it barely ruffled our hair. We had expected that there would be plenty of folk out on the fells today but this wasn’t the case, although we did exchange greetings with a few other walkers from time to time. It will no doubt be quite the opposite come the weekend.
Route
Patterdale cricket ground – Side Farm – Rooking – Boredale Hause – Angletarn Pikes (north top) – Angletarn Pikes (south top) – Angle Tarn – Brock Crags – Calf Close Wood – Dubhow – Beckstones – Crookabeck – Rooking – Patterdale cricket ground
Strolling over the Side Farm access road with a very sunny view of Place Fell. Lots of icy puddles around along here as there was an overnight frost. Enough to turn rooftops white but light enough not to have to scrape away a thick layer of ice from the windscreen. We parked in the Patterdale Cricket Club grounds, put our money in the honesty box, and set off over the frosted path towards the tennis courts. I jokingly made a remark about it not being quite the sort of weather for a tennis match when, lo and behold, as we approached the two tennis courts we saw four people on one of them playing a doubles match! Most unusual to see people playing tennis in February while dressed in winter clothing. Perhaps they feel the need to get their tennis fitness back after the winter lay-off.
On the path from Side Farm with a look across the lightly frosted fields towards Arnison Crag (L) and Birks (R). Not much snow left on the Helvellyn group now, to the right of Birks.
Looking back towards the Side Farm buildings with Glenridding Dodd and Heron Pike just behind them.
On the Place Fell path at this point and making our way up to Boredale Hause. Down in the valley the smoke from a garden bonfire is slowly drifting around in the still air. Apart from the two of us there were two other pairs of walkers on the path up ahead of us. The sun was directly in our eyes during the climb up the path so we couldn’t see anything much unless we looked behind us. By the time we reached the hause we were both over heating and we took the opportunity to remove a layer and quench our thirsts before going any further. J removed his jumper and put his jacket back on, I removed my jacket and left my jumper on. Different solutions to achieve the same result!
We took what we call the back route to Angletarn Pike and this is a look back to Boredale Hause from the path we took. This particular one will eventually lead you over to Beda Fell but we turned right at a marker cairn a little further on and headed over towards Angletarn Pikes north top.
As the temperature was quite mild and we were constantly climbing I had to stop at this point to wipe the sweat from my face, roll up my sleeves, undo the jumper zip, have a drink of water, and remove my specs since they were constantly slipping down off the end of my nose like a runaway toboggan hurtling down a ski slope. All of which had combined to irritate me so I took a moment to look at the scenery behind us and let the irritation subside. The tree covered bump in the centre foreground is Glenridding Dodd above which is Heron Pike, one of Sheffield Pike’s subsidiary tops. Beyond Heron Pike the top of Sheffield Pike is also visible and behind that is White Stones. On the left skyline beyond White Stones is Stybarrow Dodd, to the right is Great Dodd which still has some snow lying around. To the right of Great Dodd are Hart Side and Birkett Fell and below them is Watermillock Common where we had our previous walk. Over on the extreme right of the shot is Blencathra. Suitably refreshed, and me in a better frame of mind now that I’d dispensed with the slip-sliding specs, we carried on towards the north top of Angletarn Pikes.
The north top of Angletarn Pikes. No need to worry about climbing its craggy face as there’s a path going around the back which plonks walkers on the summit without getting scraped knees or broken finger nails.
Up on the north top with a view down to Brothers Water and the fells surrounding it. The bright sunlight put a limit on just how far to the south it was possible to point the camera so I was pushing it a bit with this shot.
Fairfield (L) with Saint Sunday Crag (R) and the Helvellyn group on the extreme right. The whitish ‘clouds’ above them are the end results of the ‘planes above us spraying chemicals around in an effort to block the sun or create some other weather ‘event’. Most governments have now admitted that this takes place and forms part of their ‘climate change’ agenda. Its all nonsense but some people will be making lots of money by ‘gaslighting’ folks into believing it.
Looking west, across Dubhow Brow, from the north top, plenty of fells on view today and the visibility was excellent.
The view to the north west with part of Glenridding and Ullswater on view. The smoke from the garden bonfire is still drifting around.
Looking a little further round we get a full length view of Place Fell and some of its subsidiary tops. This was where of one of the pairs of walkers ahead of us on the path up to the hause were heading. We noticed them starting out up the Place Fell path when we reached the hause. The other pair of walkers headed over towards Beda Fell so we all had different destinations in mind after reaching Boredale Hause.
Looking along the rocky top, and beyond Beda Fell across the middle of the shot, towards Arthur’s Pike, Bonscale Pike and Loadpot Hill.
High Raise (L) and Rampsgill Head (R) still have some snowy remnants but Rest Dodd, the sunny fell below them, has lost its winter coat.
The south top of Angletarn Pikes is directly below us and on the skyline is Rampsgill Head (L) and High Street (R).
High Street now on the left skyline, Gray Crag in the centre with Thornthwaite Crag to the right of it.
I had a go at a shot of Stony Cove Pike and Caudale Moor but it didn’t turn out all that well. Hartsop Dodd doesn’t stand out well enough and its difficult to identify where it meets Stony Cove Pike and also where it branches over to join Caudale Moor.
A much better shot of Cofa Pike and the vast top of Fairfield on the left, and Saint Sunday Crag and its subsidiary peak of Gavel Pike on the right. There wasn’t even a slight breeze up here which made a nice change from standing in a strong wind, taking a quick look round and then dropping quickly down to find a bit of shelter. I did wonder how much electricity those grotesque wind turbines which have been installed all over the country were producing today. Yet another act of lunacy and yet another monumental scam, in my opinion. Other folk make huge amounts of money while UK citizens pay for it all via their taxes and exorbitant energy bills.
Crossing over from the north top to the south one now. The little tarn between the two had a thin layer of ice covering its surface. The ground we’ve walked over so far has been a mix of firm going, melting ice, soggy or downright wet. We wore gaiters from the start so no wet trouser bottoms today.
A look back to the north top from the south top. The little tarn in the previous shot is over towards the left and walking from one top to the other only takes a couple of minutes. As can be seen at the bottom of the photo there is a patch of marshy ground below the south top but keeping to the path around the edges of it gets you there without too much trouble.
The best view of all, in my humble opinion, is Angle Tarn. It sits, quietly minding its own business, in a basin at an altitude of about 1500’/479m and a good bit of climbing has to be done before walkers can get a view of it. The view from the south top is fabulous, well I think so anyway. We had a brief stop up here to just enjoy the view and munch away on our respective chocolate bars. No prizes for guessing which chocolate bar J was tucking into!
An even sunnier Rest Dodd now, and past incidents which occurred when following the path by the wall spring to mind.
No summit cairn to take a photo of, either here or on the north top, so instead here’s a shot of J descending the south top, the very marshy area around it and a view of Beda Fell stretching along in the distance.
Another view of Angle Tarn from the descent.
A look back to the south top when we reached the footpath around Angle Tarn.
A tranquil scene as we walk along the tarn path and make our way over to Brock Crags.
Almost at the Satura Crag turn off now …..
….. but before turning off to the right I take yet another shot of the old gateposts which mark the entry point to the route across Satura Crag. I haven’t called it a path as there isn’t really one to follow but the colouration of the rocks created by passing walkers over the years is a helpful guide.
The old gateposts are right behind me as J makes a start on the path over to Brock Crags. It can be a very squelchy walk sometimes, today was one of those times.
This is probably the squelchiest part but the path detours around it to avoid the worst of it. The summit of Brock Crags is directly ahead in the photo.
It doesn’t take long to reach the summit cairn once we’re past the marshy area and we had decided to take a food break at this point. We dropped down below the cairn, to the left of the shot, and tucked in enjoying the sunshine just as much as the sandwiches and coffee. Only a very slight breeze up here and quite mild since it was coming from a southerly direction. I put my jacket back on nevertheless, just to keep my body warmth. Bodies quickly cool down once they stop moving.
Our view from the food break spot although …..
….. we could have chosen a view of Angle Tarn …..
….. or Rest Dodd and the soggy bit …..
….. or Rampsgill Head and High Street because there are plenty of good views to choose from up here. Here’s a couple more …..
….. Gray Crag and Thornthwaite Beacon …..
….. High Street and Hayeswater. Both of the above were taken as we made our way back down to the gateway in the broken wall.
Back at the gateway where a path leads from this point over to a line of old fence posts in the dip on the right, it will need a zoom in to locate the fence posts though.
J waits for me to catch up as we make our way along the path to the old fence posts …..
….. with a look back at them once I had managed to squeeze through. Joking apart, I did wonder if a gate used to be here as there seemed to be a kind of hinge arrangement still attached to one of the uprights, and on the post opposite was a space where a gate latch might once have been attached. Such small and seemingly irrelevant pieces of historical evidence always rouse my curiosity.
J begins to make his way down the descent path. Opposite us, on the other side of Hayeswater Gill, is the very steep path rising up over Gray Crag. We haven’t set foot on Gray Crag since 2016 when we climbed up from the Hayeswater side. The time before that was in 2013 when I recall doing an out and back as part of another walk, probably from Thornthwaite Crag before going over to High Street. I can’t refer viewers back to that one though as it occurred before we started our web diary pages. Maybe we should have another crack at it some time although I do find it rather an uninteresting fell on the whole.
Only the high western side of Gray Crag gets the sunshine at present since Hartsop Dodd’s shadow will cover its lower slopes until the sun gets a whole lot higher during the coming months.
J takes a break at the gateway in the wall as his plated ankle is beginning to ache …..
….. Rest Dodd still in the sunshine as I take a look back from the same gateway.
Walking alongside the deer fence high above Hartsop village and enjoying the afternoon sunshine. We came across a couple of people busy replacing some damaged/rotten fence poles as we walked up beside it. We could have left this path, passed through a gate in the broken wall (before the deer fence started) and joined the filter house path back to Hartsop. We were wishing we had taken that option a short time later.
Walking down through Calf Close Wood and, as we’ve walked down here before, we should have remembered how rocky and loose it is. Lots of storm damaged branches were also strewn across the path so progress was slow and careful down here especially as J’s ankle was already complaining. We’ll not be using this path again as there is the alternative route referred to in the previous photo.
The loose, rocky path eventually comes to an end and joins the path which runs between Hartsop and Rooking. J’s aching ankle now has the chance to recover as we are more or less on the level now.
Dubhow Crag in view as we walk back to Rooking. The crag is just one of the many humps and bumps which make up the Patterdale side of Angletarn Pikes.
A look back at the bridge over Angletarn Beck which we’ve just crossed having reached it via the gate on the right of the shot. The beck is the outflow stream from Angle Tarn.
Looking forward to a gentle walk back through sunny Patterdale. If you zoom right in it might be possible to see a derelict building between two trees at the far end of the path. This is the old barn at Dubhow. I tried to get a shot of it but it didn’t come out well, the bright sunlight was just too strong, so I haven’t included it. If you want to view the old barn take a look at our walk of 23 Jan 2020 where there is a better shot of it than I was able to take today.
A look back towards Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor as we drop down from the upper to the lower path.
Approaching the farmstead at Beckstones. The derelict barn at Dubhow which I mentioned is part of this farmstead together with quite a lot of other buildings which have or had various uses. The farmhouse seems to be empty at present, having peered through a couple of the downstairs windows we could see that the rooms were without any furniture nor was there any sign of a muddy Land Rover or farm vehicle of any kind. The familiar rolls of black polythene stacked in one of the yard indicated that winter feed for animals had been gathered in but there wasn’t a sheep or a cow to be seen close by. There was no For Sale sign either so we couldn’t work out what is eventually going to happen to the place.
Continuing along the track from Beckstones now with Place Fell gradually coming into view. Also coming into view over to the left was the shadow of Arnison Crag and as we gradually progressed along the path its shadow eventually enveloped us and the rest of the walk was done in its shade.
We were almost at Crookabeck when J spotted this old gatepost with its little cluster of snowdrops around it, and a couple of very early daffodils alongside the fence. A welcome sight to see flowers sprouting out of the ground again and a reminder that, although there are a few weeks still to go, spring isn’t all that far away. Our presence also attracted three sheep but they lost interest in us when we didn’t offer any food.
Walking through Crookabeck. The last house on the left, as you look at the photo, sells wool and woollen products made from the various kinds of sheep raised by the owners. The small sign propped up against the wall over to the left indicates where the wool shop is. There is also a tea room should anyone be in need of tea and a cake.
Rooking village where we turn up to the right for our return to Side Farm. You can also follow the road round to the left which leads straight back into Patterdale village.
Having turned right at the junction we’ve reached the top of the hill where we complete the circle. We’re back at the gate where we began our walk up to Boredale Hause via the Place Fell path this morning and …..
….. just to one side of the gate is the lane back to Side Farm. That lane will bring us out by the George Starkey hut from where there is just a short walk back to Patterdale cricket ground where we’ve parked the car. Birks Fell has also cast its shadow over the village so everywhere is looking a little gloomy at the moment, in complete contrast to the upper slopes of Place Fell which are still as sunny as they were this morning. Quite by chance, as I was searching for info about Beckstones farm, I came across a short poem which seems to encapsulate everything about today’s walk, for me at least:
Written in March while resting on the bridge at the foot of Brothers Water
The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter,
The green fields sleep in the sun;
The oldest and the youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!
Like an army defeated
The snow has retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the hill;
The ploughboy is whooping—anon—anon:
There’s joy in the mountains;
There’s life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!
William Wordsworth, 1802