21st August 2007

As the aged parent had another free day today, we decided to head all the way to the far east again and do the four most eastern Wainwrights. Therefore, we set off early and parked at the most Southern point of Haweswater with lots of other people. It is always a sad place to be since the village of Mardale was flooded by the Manchester Water Authority in order to create the reservoir.

We them took a tough path up to Gatescarth Pass and headed left on to the top of Branstree (2333 ft). It wasn't long before we were in the clouds but it was a clear path on to Selside Pike (2142 ft). On the way we stopped at the marvellous Artlecrag Pike cairn which was very exciting.

Unfortunately we then had to retrace our steps over Branstree and it was a long descent and then ascent on to Tarn Crag (2176 ft) where there was another fantastic cairn. We navigated back to the wall and then headed up to Grey Crag (2093 ft) which was a quick climb but our legs were already beginning to ache.

We had to go back over Tarn Crag and down a path back to Gatescarth Pass. It was quite a long walk but quite pretty, if a little wet. Imagine our surprise when we realised that we had come down the wrong side of the pass and so had to walk back up it and down the other side to get on to the right path. It was a hard climb and it took us high enough to get back into the clouds but we set our minds to it and it was soon done.

It seemed like a long descent down to the car but we felt as though we had done very well and were pleased with the walk.

New Fells: Branstree, Selside Pike, Tarn Crag, Grey Crag.