Bannerdale Crags and Bowscale Fell
Walk date – 14th March 2025
Distance – 6.5 miles
Weather – dry with occasional sunny spells, a large amount of heavy cloud, gusty northerly wind, very cold
We have had a mostly dry and reasonably sunny week although it has been accompanied by plenty of cloud and strong winds. The wind speed has gradually lessened over the week so with a forecast for a dry and sunny(ish) day we decided on a walk over a couple of higher fells today: Bannerdale Crags which rises to 2240′ (683m) and Bowscale Fell which stands at 2303′ (702m), the highest fells we’ve climbed this year so far. We enjoyed a few sunny spells now and again but overall it was most cloudy and the wind, although much less strong than it has been this week, was a gusty and very cold northerly one. That probably was the reason there weren’t many people out and about today and we counted only eight other walkers while we were out.
Route
Mungrisedale – The Tongue via lower path – Bannerdale Crags – Bowscale Fell – The Tongue via lower path – Mungrisedale
We started out from Mungrisedale where the only person around was an elderly gent who was busy putting out the rubbish bags ready for collection. We exchanged greetings, commented on the fine weather and then carried on through the little hamlet towards the path around The Tongue which at this point was directly ahead of us. We were in the shadow of Souther Fell when the photo was taken so it was a bit nippy to say the least and we were looking forward to walking in the sunshine up ahead.
The view down to the former path which can no longer be used, unless the water level in the Glenderamackin river is very low, as part of it was swept away during a storm several years ago. A new path was eventually installed which leads walkers around to the bridge which is shown in the centre of the shot.
The former bridge across the river was also damaged so it too has been replaced with this current one. The track rises quite steeply over a short rise before levelling out a little further on.
We have not noticed the path branching off to the right before. It rises steeply up The Tongue so when we have used this route on previous occasions it must have been hidden by tall green bracken. We pass on taking that route and opt for the lower path along the side of The Tongue, the one curving around over on the left of the shot. The sunny spell continued and with no wind, at the moment, walking along the path was very pleasant.
We turn around the bend and proceed along the good path with this view of Bannerdale Crags ahead of us. The sunny spell has gone for the time being as one of the big heavy clouds has come along, blotted out the sun and cast a gloomy pall over the landscape.
The path turns grassy and up ahead we can see a lone walker making his way up to the col between Bannerdale Crags and Bowscale Fell. He seemed to be making a good pace at the time but the much steeper section just ahead of him slowed him down. It slowed us down too. Its steeper than it looks and just before it joins up with the path across the edge of the col the path has been worn down into deep ridges so there’s a bit of path hopping to contend with too. We’re taking it steady as J had a bad cramp a day or so ago and the affected muscle is still sore.
A close up view of Bannerdale Crags from further along the path. We eventually lost sight of the lone walker in the previous shot but we did see him again when he reached the path around the rim of the crags although we didn’t see him again after that.
Almost at the top of the path now and back in the sunshine again and a view of Blencathra, with a new sprinkling of snow here and there, rising up behind the col.
J making his way over to Bannerdale Crags (L) across the col path and no sign of anyone else ahead of us either.
There was a very gusty wind across here although we weren’t in danger of being blown down into Bannerdale because the gusts were coming straight at us from a north easterly direction. The view, which looks along Bannerdale towards Souther Fell, turned out better than I expected as I was seeing it through very watery eyes and consequently it was a hit and hope shot.
J has his hood up which tells you all you need to know about our windy walk across.
The view across Bannerdale from the path up to the summit of Bannerdale Crags. Across the middle foreground is The Tongue and behind it are the subsidiary tops of Bowscale Fell. It might need a zoom in but the path we used to reach the col is clearly visible along the southern slopes of The Tongue.
Looking along the crags above Bannerdale towards Bowscale Fell and …..
….. a look across The Tongue to Bowscale Fell plus one of its subsidiary tops.
This is more or less the same view as the previous shot but this includes the prominent stone arrangement marking the viewpoint overlooking Bannerdale and its crags. A mass of heavy cloud is coming towards us from the north.
We walked the short distance from the viewpoint marker up to the very insignificant pile of stones marking the summit of Bannerdale Crags. To the west of us is the slightly snowy Skiddaw massif (L) with Great Calva to its right
Directly in front of us is the Hall’s Fell ridge, on the extreme left of the shot, leading up to its exit point and which marks the highest point on Blencathra. I think we managed to spot just one person on the summit. Over on the right is Atkinson Pike below which is the Sharp Edge route up Blencathra. That didn’t appear to have anyone on it today. Just as well perhaps since the gusty wind would have been blowing straight at anyone attempting that route today.
The sunny spell continued so I took another shot, close up this time. When the north wind blows we get clearer air, visibility is better and you often see something that has not been noticed before. We had not noticed the path rising up towards the cove below Atkinson Pike before. In the above shot the path appears towards the bottom left just beyond the grassy top of Bannerdale Crags.
A view of a partially sunny Knott as we retraced our steps from the summit and made our way over the mushy plateau to Bowscale Fell.
A few more splashes of sun land on Knott as we made our way down and meeting four chaps who we had seen some distance behind us when we were walking the path up The Tongue. There appears to be two more walkers further back along the path but we didn’t meet them along the way …..
….. and there seems to be no sign of them in this shot which was taken as we reached the path along the crags just a short time later. Spots of sunlight were landing here and there but overall we were under a blanket of heavy cloud across here. The gusty wind continued to play havoc with eyes and noses.
A look across towards the Skiddaw massif as we cross the boggy ground …..
….. looking back to Atkinson Pike, Hall’s Fell top, Gategill Fell top and Blease Fell top which together with Doddick Fell and Scales Fell (not visible in the shot), create the whole mass of Blencathra.
I took some shots from the summit of Bowscale Fell when we reached it while J gave his sore leg a rest. On the left skyline in the above shot are Pillar, High Stile and Red Pike. On the right skyline and above the crags of Lonscale Fell are (from L to R) Scar Crags, Sail, Crag Hill, Grasmoor, Hobcarton Crag (just) Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head ……
….. below all of them are Lonscale Fell, Jenkin Hill, Skiddaw Lesser Man, Skiddaw Lower Man and the rising ground up to …..
….. the various high points of Skiddaw itself, which eventually drop away to Broad End …..
….. then Bakestall. Great Calva is opposite them all on the other side of the valley.
In the distance is Knott, no sunshine on it at the moment …..
….. but there’s plenty of it over on High Pike.
Bannerdale Crags backed by some of the Dodds and the other fells in that direction. Its too murky a shot to identify them individually.
As I walked around the summit shelter to take this shot of The Tongue and Souther Fell just below us I noticed a solo walker sitting on one of the nearby stones tucking into what looked like an individual meat pie in a deep tinfoil casing. He was obviously enjoying it and no wonder as it looked quite appetizing. Another couple came along with their dog as I was taking photos but they kept straight on walking so I assumed they would be taking the Raven Crags path as their descent route.
I wandered over to the cairn at the northern end of the summit for this sunless shot of Carrock Fell …..
….. while its close neighbour, High Pike, was bathed in sunshine. ….
….. and even Knott, which has looked very gloomy at times today, is getting in on the act. The clouds are not looking as heavy at present in this direction and more blue sky has appeared, perhaps things are going to improve.
Another view of the Skiddaw massif. I enjoy seeing clouds like this, moving across the landscape, casting their shadows and creating ever changing pictures. They are much more interesting than the dull grey blanket that often hangs over us for days on end and which doesn’t do anything interesting at all. It simply covers everything with its grey gloominess.
We begin to descend Bowscale Fell and meet the same four chaps who were coming up Bannerdale Crags as we were descending, their heads can just be seen in the dip below the path. We didn’t see them again so perhaps they also descended via the Raven Crags route.
We turned off the main path, followed the well trodden path to the upright stone marker where we turned off to the left …..
….. and made our way back down towards The Tongue. Despite the sunshine the wind is still gusting around and being a bit of a nuisance. J puts his hood up.
We found a little sheltered spot, just a sheep scrape so nothing fancy, put out the sit mats and settled down to enjoy the current sunny spell and brighter skies and the flask of hot coffee. The Tongue and Souther Fell was the view to our left …..
….. and a view of the Loadpot Hill/Rampsgill Head ridge, together with High Street and Thornthwaite Crag straight across from us.
Coffee break over we made tracks once again and continued on back to Mungrisedale.
Back again at the bridge crossing the Glenderamackin river. We had a look to see if it was at all possible to use the old riverside path but the access to it was full of marshy land and the river level wasn’t low enough so reluctantly we had to use …..
….. the replacement path which hasn’t aged at all well, just as we knew it wouldn’t. We first set eyes on this path during our walk of 13th May 2019 and we wrote then that these slabs would end up sinking and now many of them have. Those that haven’t fully sunk are heading for the same fate with their corner points and/or edges beneath the water. Only about 5% of the concrete slabs were totally dry and above the water line. What an absolute disgrace it has turned out to be and what a waste of time, money and effort.
Back in Mungrisedale and still mulling over the useless path we’ve just had to walk across. Billions of pounds are being spent on a country that has no visible UK interests, although you can bet on it that there are plenty of hidden interests and plenty of greedy hands just waiting for the handouts, while the interests of Britain’s citizens are totally ignored. Perhaps its time for another one of my ‘blue sky and white clouds’ info reports which I’ve been presenting on and off since 2020, but there’s so much to report on that its hard to know where to begin. I’ll think about it.