Far Eastern Fells Done and Dusted

Date: 8th March 2017
Start/Finish: Howtown
Wainwrights: Steel Knotts, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Beda Fell
Distance: 13.4 Miles
Height Gained: 3904 feet
Time Taken: 7 1/2 hours

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The Route : Clockwise from Howtown

Today was about bagging a straggler. Steel Knotts was the one remaining 'far eastern fell' to be climbed. Its a simple little hike from Howtown which could easily be climbed up & down in 2 hours. I didn't really want to do that though, especially as the weather seemed pretty good; very cold and very windy but clear. So I planned a horseshoe route around the Ramps Gill and Bannerdale Valleys. There are a whole host of Wainwrights around this region. You could potentially bag 11 with only minor detours off this route. I was pressed for time though and the wind was a menace so I bagged just the 5 today.

The foot of the Ramps Gill valley - Steel End on the right

Hallin Fell

Ullswater from Steel End

Steel Knott summit and the route ahead to High Raise

Beda Fell over the Bannerdale valley

Heading towards High Raise on the old Roman road

Still some patches of snow on the flanks of High Raise

High Raise summit views of the Helvellyn range

Views towards High Street

Rampsgill Head views towards Rest Dodd and The Nab

The Knott

Rest Dodd (which I bypassed)

Angle Tarn and Angletarn Pikes (which I also bypassed). Always a pretty picture

Views over to the Deepdale valley

Place Fell

Beda Fell summit

Steel Knotts

A quintessential Lake District picture postcard view to finish a great day in the fells

Beda Fell, Angletarn Pikes & Place Fell

Date : 2nd March 2013
Route : From Hause Farm, near Howtown - clockwise ridge route around the Boredale 
  valley
Wainwrights : Beda Fell, Angletarn PIkes, Place Fell
Distance : 13 km (8.07 miles) 
Height gained : 780 m (2560 feet) 
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 In early March there was a slight lull between the two main downfalls of snow in the lakes this year. Snow was still covering the highest fells but below 2000 feet seemed fairly clear. I wanted to stay lightweight today without donning heavy winter gear so decided to explore the southern Ullswater area which seemed fairly free of snow. Parking up near the foot of the Howegrain valley I headed up onto the ridge above Winter Crag and followed this southwards towards Beda Fell.

Starting point Hause farm (top right)

Parking spot by Hause Farm

A glimpse of Ullswater from the ridge to Beda Head

The Boredale valley

 Once on the ridge the going is easy and mainly over grass with height gained gradually. From Beda Fell summit there is a fine view of the less often seen eastern face of Place Fell.

Place Fell from Beda Fell summit

 Further along ridge are the craggy regions of Bedafell Knott and then Heckbeck Head.

Eastern panorama from Bedafell Knott

Western panorama from Bedafell Knott

Fairfield and St Sunday Crag from Bedafell Knott

Angletarn Pikes from Heckbeck Head

 Angletarn pikes are 2 rocky prominences amidst an otherwise grassy landscape. A bit like the Langdale Pikes, they look more impressive in profile from their southern aspects. From the north they look fairly insignificant but the views from each mini summit are excellent.   

Panorama east from the south-east Angletarn Pike

Angle Tarn from the south-east Angletarn Pike summit

Panorama west from the north-west Angletarn Pike

The Deepdale valley with Fairfield at its head, from the north-west Angletarn Pike

Brothers Water and High Hartsop Dodd from the north-west Angletarn Pike

 It is a gentle stroll  from Angletarn Pikes down to Boredale Hause before the going gets steeper on the ascent to Place Fell.

Looking down to Boredale Hause and Place Fell from Angletarn Pikes

 After the short but steep climb up Place Fell the view opens up and you realise that the summit is still a good distance further north and the 'summit' which you have actually gained is a craggy ridge called Steel Edge. 

Panorama west from Steel edge. Place fell summit far right

Grisedale valley with Helvellyn in cloud, from Steel Edge

Patterdale from Steel Edge

St Sunday Crag from Steel Edge

 An easy path follows the wide ridge towards Place Fells summit where an impressive trig point awaits. The views all round are somewhat restricted by the summit plateau and therefore a short detour to the western flanks is rewarded by a most impressive vista over Ullswater to the Helvellyn range.

Place Fell Summit

Place Fell summit panorama east

Place Fell summit view North

Glenridding from Place Fell western summit flanks

Panorama west from Place Fell western summit flanks

The descending path northwards and the lower Boredale valley

 The path back along the ridge is a grassy stroll but I took a steeper detour eastwards at Low Moss to skirt Hollinghow Gill and then back down to the road in the Boredale valley. And so that is Wainwright numbers 70, 71 & 72 for me. Still a long way to go.