Walk 73 - Nethermost Pike

Walk 73 - Nethermost Pike - 14th July 2022
Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 1 The Eastern Fells
#165 Nethermost Pike 2923ft #166 Dollywagon Pike 2815ft #167 St.Sunday Crag 2759ft #168 Seat Sandal 2415ft	Distance	10.7 miles
	Time	10.5 hrs
	Lowest Point	730 ft
	Highest Point	2923 ft
	Total Ascent	4445 ft
Walk Rating - moderate

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to start on OS map

Go to start on Google


	10.40 A lot of the parking at the top of Dunmail Raise was coned off for use by the roadworks crew but luckily we got the last free spot.


	10.42 The parting of the Herdwicks as we walk north.


	10.47 Looking back at Helm Crag


	10.59 Traffic queuing for the roadworks up the hill from Thirlmere.


	11.25 Very pleasant road here


	11.33 The turn up the fell is just above the car park and just before Comb Gill. We didn't use that car park because it would have meant a longer walk back at the end of the day.


	11.46 Looking back at Steel Fell and Wythburn Fell


	12.27 Reaching Comb Crags is the end of the steepest part of this first climb


	12.35 Panorama 699 Good views open up as we reach the crags


	13.10 Harrop Tarn on the other side of the valley.


	13.14 Panorama 700 Further up the path and we can see Coniston and Bassenthwaite at the same time


	13.29 Honister in the distance in front of Haystacks.


	13.49 This family had passed us earlier and while we are still walking up they are now on their way down from Helvellyn. The kids walking are about 6 and 7 and the youngest is getting carried all the way. Not that they made us feel unfit or anything.


	14.19 Looking over at Striding Edge from Nethermost Pike.


	14.27 Panorama 701 Cold and grey on the summit of Nethermost Pike (Wainwright #165 2923 ft). The other summits came and went in the mist - Helvellyn was hidden most of the time but I got this when St.Sunday Crag cleared.


	14.40 The path over to High Crag was in complete mist and we followed a few other ghostly figures before striking off for the summit.


	14.41 Looking down from High Crag to the saddle below Dollywagon Pike.


	14.45 Panorama 702 Descending High Crag and the cloud suddenly cleared from Dollywagon Pike raising my hopes of getting a view from it.


	15.02 Ascending Dollywagon Pike. The D of E group appears to have ground to a halt.


	15.03 Panorama 701 Dollywagon Pike (Wainwright #166 2815 ft). The summit cairn seemed clearly visible from the side of High Crag but when we got there a slightly higher point appeared to the east.


		The summit is a small grassy dome, narrowing to the east. The big cairn is 30 yards west of the highest point.
		Alfred Wainwright - The Eastern Fells - Dollywagon Pike 8


	15.06 Dollywagon Pike summit looking north. Striding Edge and Catstycam suddenly appeared as the cloud began to lift.


	15.22 Descending Dollywagon Pike with Fairfield and Grisedale Tarn in view.


	15.53 At the bottom we turned left and headed towards St.Sunday Crag. This summit had been doubtful earlier but we were now feeling confident.


	16.02 Looking down Grisedale Beck towards Ullswater


	16.04 The Brother's Parting Stone contains two parts of a poem by Wordsworth dedicated to his brother who died in a shipwreck in 1805. The stone has been here for in place 140 years and the lettering is weather beaten and almost impossible to make out now. It faces down the valley east towards Patterdale and would be quite easy to miss if it were not for the metal sign on top, this being the only part that is visible from the west.


		Here did we stop; and here looked round While each into himself descends, For that last thought of parting friends That is not to be found. Brother and friend, if verse of mine Have power to make thy virtues known, Here let a monumental Stone Stand - sacred as a Shrine.
		From: ELEGIAC VERSES, IN MEMORY OF MY BROTHER, JOHN WORDSWORTH, COMMANDER OF THE E. I. COMPANY'S SHIP, 'THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY', IN WHICH HE PERISHED BY CALAMITOUS SHIPWRECK, FEB. 6TH, 1805. The verses were composed on this spot by William Wordsworth in 1805 and published in 1842. (Not to be confused with The Brothers by Wordsworth) The stone was erected in 1881 by the Wordsworth society.


	16.07 Grisedale Beck.


	16.27 Walking up the side of St.Sunday Crag and looking back at Grisedale Tarn. The Brothers Parting stone is between the beck and the path on the far side of the valley.


	16.28 Looking along the now clear ridge from Dollywagon Pike to Helvellyn, from the side of St.Sunday Crag.


	16.44 Panorama 704 reaching the ridge line at Deepdale Hause below Cofa Pike.


	17.19 Panorama 705 Saint Sunday Crag summit (Wainwright #167 2415ft.)


	17.20 Panorama 706 Saint Sunday Crag summit looking back along the ridge, south west and towards our next target.


	17.51 Grisedale Tarn and Seat Sandal.


	17.54 Panorama 707 Grisdale Tarn is not visible from the summit. This is from about half way back down the ridge.


	17.55 The turning point to drop off the ridge and return towards the tarn.


	19.20 Just after the steepest part of the ascent of the east end of Seat Sandal. We had debated going around to the north of the fell and taking the easier slope up but in the end we went for the more direct approach which was steep but only for 15minutes or so. Looking at this picture and comparing it to the last one I cannot understand how it has taken us an hour and twenty five minutes to walk it. Its a mile and a half from the drop off the ridge on St.Sunday Crag but the time is about the same as that predicted on the computer.

19.20 Just after the steepest part of the ascent of the east end of Seat Sandal. We had debated going around to the north of the fell and taking the easier slope up but in the end we went for the more direct approach which was steep but only for 15minutes or so.

Looking at this picture and comparing it to the last one I cannot understand how it has taken us an hour and twenty five minutes to walk it. Its a mile and a half from the drop off the ridge on St.Sunday Crag but the time is about the same as that predicted on the computer.


	19.33 Panorama 708 Ascending Seat Sandal


	19.43 Panorama 709 Seat Sandal summit (Wainwright #168 2415 ft)


	19.51 Panorama 710 A little to the west of the summit to improve the view along the valley.


	19.57 Walking back across the side of the fell with St.Sunday Crag in the background.


	20.33 The path down the side of Raise Beck was simple to follow but did not make for fast walking. We made it back to the car at 9pm and drove straight into Ambleside to ensure a seat in a restaurant. We just missed Zeffirellis but got into Jintana opposite by the skin of our teeth.


	19.51 Panorama 711 The following day we went for a short stroll at Blea Tarn in the Langdales.