Walk 53 - High Seat - 1st May 2021
 

Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 3 The Central Fells

 

#125 High Tove 1690 ft
#126 Armboth Fell 1572 ft
#127 High Seat 1995 ft

Distance
5.2 miles
Time
5 hrs
Lowest Point
856 ft
Highest Point
1995 ft
Total Ascent
1540 ft
 
Walk Rating - moderate
 

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to start on OS map

Go to start on Google

   
   
 
 
  13.15 Watendlath is a nice quiet starting point for the central fells.  
   
  13.16 Panorama 495 We left Watendlath at 1.00pm and 15 minutes up the path some big peaks are starting to become visible.  
 
 
  13.39 Half way up the first summit of the day the ground is sometimes soft but not wet.  
   
  13.42 Panorama 496 I stopped for this view part of the way up so that I could include yesterday's summit, Dodd away to the north, before it disappeared.  
 
 
  13.50 Looking across to the back of the langdales with High Raise and Pike O'Stickle just visible.  
 
 
  13.50 Watendlath Tarn is just out of view now but Pillar is lit up nicely in the distance.  
   
  14.05 Panorama 497 We reached High Tove an hour from the car park. The summit is clear and easy to find but we are discussing the next one which is much less obvious.  
   
  14.05 Panorama 498 High Tove is something of a crossroads of routes on the middle of the ridge and a welcome dry spot in an area that is often very wet.  
 
 
  14.29 Approaching Armbroth Fell summit with Helvellyn in the background. There was much debate about which was the summit or the Wainwright summit even when we got there - phone app to the rescue.  
 
 
  14.31 Time for lunch on the summit of Armbroth Fell .  
   
  14.32 Panorama 499 Armbroth Fell summit looking east. The two ladies in red jackets are heading back to their starting point on the side of Thirlmere.  
   
  14.33 Panorama 500 I could have probably picked a better spot for the 500th panorama.  
 
 
  15.24 We decided not to return to High Tove but to cut across the fell diagonally and join the path to High Seat about half way along. This was a decision that would often not work as this whole area can be very wet but we are in an extended dry spell at the moment and didn't need to get our feet wet at all today.  
 
 
  15.39 There seems to be some bog regeneration work going on here but we were grateful for the new path that leads you through this area.  
 
 
  15.47 The new path ends a little way up High Seat.  
 
 
  15.54 On the side of High Seat.  
   
  15.55 Panorama 501 Ascending High Seat.  
 
 
  15.59 Looking back the way we have come.  
 
 
  16.01 The top of Catstye Cam looking out over the ridge between Helvellyn lower man and White Side. The corner of Swirls car park is just visible over the edge of the hill.  
 
 
  14.02 No doubt which way to go but we are looking at two different possible routes back.  
   
  16.09 Panorama 502 The summit of High Seat looking east. Gentle snowflakes started to fall as I was taking this view.  
   
  16.10 Panorama 503 The summit of High Seat looking west.  
   
  16.39 Panorama 504 The summit of High Seat looking north.  
   
  16.40 Panorama 505 The summit of High Seat looking south.  
 
 
  16.11 Looking down Seathwaite valley with Scafell Pike and Great Gable in the background.  
 
 
  18.14 Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite overlooked by Dodd and Barf with Walla Crag in the foreground.  
 
 
  16.14 Looking towards Clough Head.  
 
 
  16.42 A real line up of summits in the afternoon sun. Catbells in the foreground, then Causey Pike and directly behind that Hopegill Head.  
 
 
  16.47 Looking towards Walla Crag.  
 
 
 

17.14 We decided on the direct route home rather than via High Tove. This view is along the fence is pointing towards Bassenthwaite but you can't see Derwent water or Keswick hidden between the two.

 
 
 
 

17.33 Stopping on Goat Crags for a view of Watendlath.

 
 
 
  17.43 A steep drop down into Watendlath and the only car left in the car park.  
   
  18.22 Panorama 506 On the way home we stopped at Surprise View.  

 
   
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