A Round of Four Wainwrights above Swindale

Phil Catterall

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This mountain challenge utilises a significant amount of open access land, so there is no clear footpath for some distance. However, navigation is relatively easy as fences, walls and Little Mosedale Beck can be followed on the return for direction through the remote valley of Mosedale. However, if mist is a possibility the use of a map and compass is essential.

After a short road-walk to Swindale Head (no parking there) we head towards Haweswater over the Old Corpse Road footpath, then branch off over High Birkin Knott to the higher ground above the lake to Selside, the first of our summits. Near Branstree we see the first of the trig pillars Manchester Corporation built to assist with navigating the pipeline from Haweswater to Manchester. Later we get up close to one on the top of Tarn Crag above Longsleddale and Sadgill.

Mosedale is remote Lakeland at its best. Few walkers venture here so don't expect a path. There are no houses, roads or pylon wires as far as the eye can see, once Harrop Pike is traversed. Towards the end of the walk we pass the Forces Falls which tumble into Swindale on our right and then immediately on our left we have the intriguingly named Hobgrumble Gill.

Look for the fine example of a Lakeland barn just before Swindale Head is reached on your way back and wonder, like I did, if Alfred Wainwright ever slept in it while he was compiling his pictorial guide to the Far Eastern Fells…

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - North East

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mountains, River, Waterfall, Wildlife

8/9/2020 - paul mcconkey

We did this walk on Saturday 8th August 2020 & really enjoyed it. Fantastic views, glorious weather & was easy to follow the walk guide. Only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because of how boggy & wet it was!! We are warned on waymark 9 that it can be boggy in places but this wasn't too bad! It was between waymark 4 & 5 were the problem was!! When we started to 'lose a significant amount of height already gained & drop down Selside Brow', as we started to 'cross the bridleway in the dip of Mosedale after 1.5km', that's when the fun began! I ended up knee deep in a bog...twice & luckily got out to tell the tale! There are no warnings of how deep this bog is so before you get to the bottom of this hill, I would advise you cross the wire fence to your left until it just starts to rise again & cross back! Also, on waymark 6, it took us a bit longer than 20 minutes to get from Tarn Crag to Grey Crag! Don't know if writer of this walk ran it but it took longer as we were having to pick our route carefully due to how boggy it was! A very lovely but very boggy walk.....advise you wear your flippers & speedos....!!!! Haha.