Green Burn, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag
Walk date – 4th October 2024
Distance – 5.6 miles
Weather – dry, some sun at first, followed by overcast skies, cool and windy on the tops, no rain
As we hadn’t expected to be out walking today we hadn’t got a particular destination in mind so, as the various forecasts all seemed to agree that there wouldn’t be any rain, even though they differed in most other aspects, we decided to have a walk up the Green Burn valley and onto the Gibson Knott ridge. We had intended walking over to Calf Crag first and then return along the ridge to Gibson Knott and Helm Crag. By the time we reached the ridge the cloud had closed in, the earlier sunshine had vanished and the views around us were dull so we gave Calf Crag a miss today.
Route
Town Head lay-by (A591) – Green Burn – Greenburn Bottom – Moment Crag – Gibson Knott – Bracken Hause – Helm Crag – Bracken Hause – Green Burn – Town Head lay-by
A splash of sunlight landed on the lower slopes of Steel Fell as we made our way down the lane to the little cluster of buildings forming the hamlet of Town Head. The clouds were already looking ominous so we hoped that as the sun rose higher it would eventually dissipate a little, such hopes were never realised today.
There wasn’t anyone around as we walked past the houses at Town Head and Ghyll Foot, or as we walked up the hill towards the couple of cottages at Helmside which looked as though they had been locked up for the winter. We passed through the gate at the top of the hill and entered the valley of Green Burn, the name of the watercourse which runs through it. The path we will be using is on the other side of the wall whereas the path on this side of the wall will eventually lead walkers up to the summit of Steel Fell.
Not too far up the path is the footbridge across Green Burn which we will be crossing on the return leg of our walk.
Looking back along Green Burn. The small stand of trees below us is the point at which we passed through the gate and into the valley. Don’t be fooled by the patch of grass in the foreground, the path is mostly rough and stony and usually running with water. I can’t remember ever walking along it when it has been dry.
In the upper reaches of the valley the path keeps close to the burn with J striding out purposefully along it during one of the rare and brief sunny spells that we had. If only those blue patches had got larger instead of smaller!
A look back at Helm Crag sharply silhouetted against the clouds. We will be returning via the zig-zag path through the bracken as it twists and turns down the steep slopes and eventually leads walkers to the footbridge across the burn.
We’ve arrived at Greenburn Bottom. A marshy area in which all the water collects as it drains down from the sides of the surrounding slopes. On the left is the Gibson Knott ridge and to the right are the slopes of Steel Fell.
Following the path around to the left brings us to the stepping stones across the burn which J’s long legs manage easily. The stones are just that bit too far apart for my little short ones so I need a helping hand. I’m relieved to find that they still don’t wobble either, I never quite believe the old saying ‘solid as a rock’ when coming across rocks in water. One of ’em always wobbles and I usually manage to find it!
As usual the darned bracken gets in the way of a decent shot of the old sheepfold which is alongside the path.
The moraines in Greenburn Bottom were displaying their autumnal colours as we began to climb out of the valley and up towards the ridge. Above the moraines is the knobbly Gars Brow area which leads over to the summit of Steel Fell
We had company as we progressed along the path. The three Herdwicks scampered through the bracken on the left hand side and stayed just ahead of us for some distance until …..
….. they suddenly spotted a patch of grass amongst the bracken, then it was heads down and tuck in. They didn’t even notice us as we passed.
Looking towards Rough Crag, on the left, as we continue to climb out of the valley. A little further along the path we ended up losing it in an effort to avoid a large patch of very squelchy ground. We subsequently followed what appeared to be the one we were looking for although the gps disagreed with our opinion. From where we were standing we could see the ridge line was quite close so we ignored the gps and turned up the slope towards it.
A view across Green Burn towards Steel Fell, Seat Sandal and a very dull looking Fairfield during a ‘get your breath back’ pause.
On the ridge now and looking across to Pike of Carrs. This seemed to be not quite as near to us as I expected it to be so I asked J to have a look at the gps to give us some idea of where we were. Apparently we had emerged onto the ridge at Moment Crag, according to the gps, which is a few yards further to the south of where we would usually gain the ridge. Not that it mattered one way or the other. What did matter to me was the cold wind which was blowing up here so my jacket went back on, hood pulled up tight, and so did my gloves as I had walked up the wind free valley without wearing either of them. J had kept his jacket and woolly hat on from the start so he didn’t have to bother.
I took a couple of shots from the path at Moment Crag: this is looking in the direction of Codale Head …..
….. and the view across Far Easedale towards Deer Bields and Tarn Crag.
In view of the dull conditions and poor views we decided not to bother going over to Calf Crag so we began making our way across the ridge to Gibson Knott instead.
Along the way there was a decent view of Seat Sandal but the views of Dollywaggon Pike and Fairfield on the respective right and left of it were uninspiring and …..
….. so were the views of the fells beyond Steel Fell.
The view was marginally better when I took this shot of the view looking up Far Easedale.
Gibson Knott straight ahead.
The summit cairn on Gibson Knott plus the tops of the Langdale Pikes and a smidge of Easedale Tarn.
We found a wind free spot just below the summit cairn so we took a short break on Gibson Knott, this was the view to the west from our wind free spot …..
….. the summit cairn from the same place …..
….. L to R a skyline view of Greenup Edge, Pike of Carrs, Calf Crag and Ullscarf plus the summit cairn …..
….. and finally the summit cairn and Steel Fell.
Helm Crag and Grasmere come into view as we progress along the ups and downs of the ridge …..
….. and from the path the view down into Far Easedale.
The path eventually leads over to Bracken Hause beyond which is Helm Crag. The shot would have you believing that we were the only ones out walking but that was far from the case and we met plenty of other walkers along the way. In contrast as we walked up the valley on our outward leg we met only one man who was out walking his dog. We also found a good number of people both ascending and descending Helm Crag on the path in this shot when we reached it.
The rock formation on Helm Crag known as the Howitzer is the first item to appear as we reach the summit area …..
….. and the steep drop below it. Nobody climbed it, or even attempted it, while we there.
That wasn’t the case when we strolled over for this shot of the other famed feature on Helm Crag, the lion and the lamb. A couple were just reaching the top, he standing up on the high point on the left, she sitting down on the level section to the right of him. He eventually sat down too after a couple of minutes of posing for photographs taken by an accompanying couple waiting on the grass below. I thought they were probably going to get the sandwiches and take a break up there when I saw her delving into a rucksack but they didn’t. She pulled out a sweater and put it on after which they both shimmied down and rejoined the accompanying couple waiting on the grassy area below. They were still there when I took the shot but with a couple of steps to my right the intervening rocks hid them from view.
After that just a few paces round the bend in the path brought Grasmere, the village and the water, into view. The conditions today weren’t at their best so it all appears very dull.
The view down to Bracken Hause from the start of our descent from Helm Crag. The path we used for our descent from the Hause can be seen quite clearly as it makes its zig-zagging way across the slopes.
The view across to Steel Fell as we descend …..
….. and J taking in the view. Each curve in the zig-zag path was accompanied by J’s impression of car negotiating a sharp bend with its brakes squealing. Ten year old boys spring to mind.
Back at the footbridge across Green Burn. After Storm Desmond in 2015 I recall red and white tapes being in place on the bridge by way of a warning that it might be unsafe to cross. The tapes have obviously gone but not much by way of repairs seems to have been done since, if at all. The bridge is not at all wobbly or unsafe to cross but some of the fencing could do with a bit of attention.
Back on the Green Burn path now and making our way back to Town Head and the lay-by. Its been a disappointing day, weather wise, but as J remarked ‘At least we got out and it didn’t rain’.