Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag
Walk date – 11th June 2025
Distance – 6.5 miles
Weather – dry, mostly sunny, very hazy, breezy at height
There were a couple of things on our ‘to-do’ list today, the most obvious being to take a walk up Saint Sunday Crag, which we haven’t visited since 2018, and secondly to find out where the path that we had missed on our 24th April walk a few weeks ago took us back to. We managed to cross both items off the ‘to-do’ list. It was an odd sort of day weatherwise, it started out warm and sunny then late morning a sheet of thin whitish grey cloud drifted across the sun accompanied by a strong and nippy breeze, after which the sheet of cloud drifted away and the early afternoon became very warm and sunny again. The sun was able to pierce the haze to some extent during that time so I was able to take some better shots than was possible during our climb up to Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag.
Route
Patterdale cricket ground – Glenamara Park – Thornhow End – Birks side path – Gavel Moss col – Gavel Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Moss col – Trough Head – Arnison Crag path – Patterdale cricket ground
Very few cars were parked up at the cricket ground when we arrived so we had no difficulty in that respect. There was a slight morning chill around so we kept our zip up mid-layers on which we planned to remove when we reached the turn off for the climb up Thornhow End. The above photo is a look back across the cricket field as we walked up the field to the gate by the path across Glenamara Park. The little ‘bridge’ across the muddy patch that we noticed on our 24th April walk a few weeks ago is in the bottom right of the shot.
Enter stage right and exit stage left, or if you prefer we arrived via the gate on the right and entered Glenamara Park via the gate on the left.
The walk through Glenamara Park was lovely, especially if you were able to avoid thinking about what lay ahead, namely the steep climb up the Thornhow End part of Birks Fell, which is always there to remind you of what’s coming soon as its right in front of you all the way along.
The stepping stones across Hag Beck which had some flowing water in it but was still on the low side.
A look back at the junction where we turned off to begin the steep climb. As planned we had a short stop to remove the long sleeved jumpers and take some liquid on board before setting off again. The path is stone pitched for most of its length, which is a great help, although it is rather like being on one of those step machines that gyms have.
Looking across Grisedale to where Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd were on the skyline. The sound of barking dogs from the kennels below drifted towards us in the still air. The only other sound was the two of us breathing heavily as we climbed the never ending staircase.
The view down to the jetty at Glenridding from one of our ‘get your breath back’ stops.
Finally we reached the gate in the wall where we took a short break for drinks and gave our legs a bit of a break. If you look back at the shot I took of Birks as we walked through Glenamara Park you will see, over to the right of the shot, the craggy but flat-topped grassy knuckle where we are now standing. The stepped path continues for a short distance beyond the gate but it eventually peters out as the climb becomes more manageable.
From the grassy area I happened to notice that one of the ferries had just left the jetty, the curve of its wake being clear to see. We watched it go around Silver Point and shortly after that it disappeared from view.
A look back along the path running along the side of Birks. Its no longer pitched as the gradient is a lot less than it was previously but it is very rough and rocky underfoot. There’s a steep drop into Grisedale too!
The path eventually becomes grassy and levels out to some extent although it still continues to climb. Saint Sunday Crag had not been visible up to now but, as we rounded a curve in the path, there it was at last.
The path curves along the length of Birks and climbs steadily up to the small col at Gavel Moss. The views back along the path are spectacular although not as detailed as they could be in today’s hazy conditions.
The views going forward are rather more limited given that the path runs along the side of Birks and ahead of you is the vast bulk of Saint Sunday. However there are some good views of the Helvellyn range across Grisedale and close enough not to be too troubled by the haze.
We’ve reached the col at Gavel Moss where I took a look back at the path up Birks which we used on our 24th April walk. We made a note of the start of the path we intended to use to get us back to Trough Head. For the time being we walked over to the first set of craggy outcrops on the path up Saint Sunday. When we reached them we decided to take a chocolate bar break and just relax the legs for a few minutes.
After our chocolate bar stop we continued on the Saint Sunday path until we reached this junction just below the second set of craggy outcrops. We veered off the main path and followed the path over to Gavel Pike which we had already decided we would visit first.
A look back at the junction, and the view, just after we had turned off onto the Gavel Fell path. Distant views were still very hazy.
J striding out across the path to Gavel Fell. A little further on we met a couple making their descent and had a quick chat with them, mostly to do with the fact that it was just as difficult going down as it was going up, either way the leg muscles get a pummelling! I noticed that both were wearing jackets which made me suspect that the breeze we were beginning to feel might be a tad stronger on the summit. The path splits off at various points along the way but we always kept to the left at the various junctions. I took a few shots of the view over to our left but as the fells around Hartsop were nothing more than smoky grey lumps I decided not to include them.
Just before we reached the ridge line between Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday I put my mid layer back on as the breeze became stronger. I was glad I had when we reached the ridge as it was blowing quite fiercely. That sheet of whitish grey cloud is fast approaching too. However, there was a good clear view of Fairfield, with Hart Crag right behind it, from the ridge …..
….. and not too bad a view of Dove Crag, the next in line just a little further along. Red Screes is on the left skyline and below it I could just about see the two tops of Little Hart Crag.
We walked along the ridge to Gavel Pike where the views beyond the summit cairn in the Hartsop direction were indistinct and left a lot to the imagination. I didn’t bother taking any more.
Looking towards Saint Sunday Crag from Gavel Pike as we began walking towards it.
Seat Sandal appeared between Fairfield and Saint Sunday as we headed up the path. Above it on the distant skyline are Crinkle Crags (L) and Bowfell (R).
A look back at Gavel Pike as we made our way over to Saint Sunday with the strong breeze pushing against us. A particularly forceful gust stopped me in my tracks for a second or two.
The summit cairn on Saint Sunday Crag and nothing much to see beyond it. We looked around for somewhere sheltered to have a short break but couldn’t find anywhere suitable on the summit area so we dropped down a little and found a spot, sheltered by some upended craggy rocks like those in the above shot.
We were only a short distance away from the summit and the main path and could see walkers leaning into the breeze as they walked the last few yards to the summit. We also had a decent view of Dollywaggon Pike and High Crag opposite us on the far side of Grisedale …..
….. High Crag again now accompanied by Nethermost Pike …..
….. and a little further along was Helvellyn and Striding Edge with Catstycam behind them on the right. The nippy wind had me putting my gloves on at this point and reaching for the coffee flask.
We didn’t stay up here very long and after our hot drink and a bite to eat we got our things together and prepared to descend. The cloud cover is total now and the weather has turned decidedly chilly. I took the above shot once we were ready to go and hopefully find some warmer weather lower down. From L to R the skyline shows Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Scafell Pike and Great End.
The long distance views from Saint Sunday Crag were a bit disappointing especially since we had planned to go over to Saint Sunday after visiting Gavel Pike just to see the views from its elevated position. Here I took a look down at the path coming up from the last set of outcrops where a few walkers were making their way up. Out of shot on the right was a pair of young men clad in shorts and t-shirts, suitable for the strenuous climb up but they would soon be feeling the nippy wind on the summit so I hoped they had a warmer layer with them. I’ve still got my gloves on because I haven’t thawed out yet!
The view down as we carefully made our way down. Several alternative paths through the grassy areas were evident so some walkers appear to have decided against using the ‘official’ path. In some places the path was badly eroded and in others the gravel and pebble surfaces were very loose and slippy. Together with the steepness of the path perhaps these were some of the reasons why alternative paths have appeared. We used quite a few of them ourselves.
Back down to Gavel Moss where I took a look back at Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag. We crossed the squelchy area and located the start of the return path, just below the path leading up Birks, at the end of which we hoped to find Trough Head and discover why we missed the beginning of it on 24th April.
We hadn’t gone too far down it when the sun appeared again providing instant warmth and offering a sunny view of Birks summit over on our left. I’d taken my gloves off by this time and was almost back to normal body heat after feeling quite cold on Saint Sunday’s summit.
J making his way down across the slopes of Birks and, as things are a whole lot warmer now, he’s back to bare arms and so am I.
Along the way we came across this stone structure. Its obviously man made but the moss and lichen on it suggests that it has been in this condition for some time. It was surrounded by a heap of larger stones and its not marked on any map we’ve looked at as sheepfolds usually are. The only possibility that came to mind was that the larger stones once formed some sort of building which had collapsed and that the smaller stones had been used subsequently to create a shelter against the weather. There were no walls nearby either, the whole thing was in a vast expanse of bracken so the large stones hadn’t once formed part of a wall.
Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags have come into view. although they are rather muted, and we can see Arnison Crag below us on the right of the shot.
Making our way over to Arnison Crag with a much clearer view of Angletarn Pikes now that the sun is out again.
The view in the Hartsop direction has also improved a little and on the skyline we can see High Street and Thornthwaite Crag. Below High Street is Gray Crag, next one along is Hartsop Dodd and below that is Hartsop above How.
As we reach Trough Head we discover why we missed this path on our 24th April walk. The end of this path rises up the bank opposite and joins the path leading over to Arnison Crag. Instead of turning down onto this path we didn’t notice it and carried straight on across the bank and followed that path, which eventually disappeared, instead. Photos now retained for future reference just in case.
Its turned into lovely and warm early afternoon now with the sun lighting up Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags. Behind them are the fells making up the Loadpot Hill to High Raise range. Ahead of us a skylark rose straight up from the ground and flew higher and higher until it was just a tiny dark dot against the sky. It then curved away and disappeared from view.
Still heading for Arnison Crag with a look back at Gavel Pike, Saint Sunday Crag and Birks before we lose the view.
All is looking tickety boo and much clearer in the Hartsop direction too. The tree covered slopes of Brock Crags on the left, Hartsop Dodd on the right with Gray Crag between the two. On the skyline are Rampsgill Head, High Street and Thornthwaite Crag.
Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove Pike and Caudale Moor behind Hartsop above How.
Sunshine and shadow on Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags.
Passing below Arnison Crag which we didn’t go up today as its only six weeks since we were up there,
Its turned very warm now as we descend via the path below Arnison Crag with its fabulous view of Ullswater and the surrounding fells. Descending the loose path was a struggle in the very warm sunshine with the sun directly on our backs and the cricket ground, although not that far away, seemed to take ages to get to.
A closer look at the cricket ground which revealed that there are many more cars parked there now than there were this morning. Hope everyone parked there has put a few £1 coins in the cricket club’s honesty box, every contribution helps keep the cricket club afloat.
Much further down now and approaching Oxford Crag as we sweat our way down the path. The gate beside the path can’t come quick enough.
At last the gate appeared and having passed through it we could take the brakes off and have a gentle stroll across the field and back to the busy and crowded parking area. Folks getting into cars, folks getting out of cars, cars coming and going, people preparing to go somewhere, others throwing their gear into car boots, taking their boots off etc. etc. We opened all the car doors to let the heat out, stow our gear in the boot, switch off the gps, take a drink, have a mop round our hot faces, and pull our damp t-shirts away from our perspiring skin. When we got into the car we turned the air conditioning on to maximum and started the drive home. Glenridding was very busy, as was Pooley Bridge, and the lakeshore road alongside Ullswater was crammed with parked cars with folks sunning themselves on the shingle strips of the shoreline or pursuing their chosen activity on, and in, the water. The holiday season seems to be well and truly underway and the schools haven’t even broken up yet. Beyond Pooley Bridge with all the hustle and bustle behind us we were back to normality again and looking forward to our usual end of walk cuppa. Despite the chilly spell on the summit of Saint Sunday Crag its been a good day and, more importantly, we can dispatch the niggle of not knowing where the missing path starts.