Walk 93 - Base Brown - 20th September 2024
 

Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 7 The Western Fells

 

#208 Base Brown 2119 ft

Distance
4 miles
Time
5 hrs
Lowest Point

412 ft
Highest Point
2119 ft
Total Ascent
1776 ft
 
Walk Rating - moderate
 

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to start on OS map

Go to start on Google

   
   
 
 
 

14.06 Leaving the farm at Seathwaite.

 
 
 
 

14.18 On the path up the side of Sourmilk Gill.

  
 
 
  14.25 Seathwaite below  
 
 
 

14.26 Waterfall viewpoint.

  
 
 
 

14.30 The beginning of the scramble over Seathwaite Slabs.

 
       
   

Seathwaite Slabs - a training ground for novice rockclimbers . . . . .

 
   
Alfred Wainwright - The Western Fells - Base Brown 6
  
       
 
 
  14.32 The slabs were a fairly easy scramble with good handholds but would be a bit tricky if they were wet.  
   
  14.44 Panorama 1013 From a large rock viewpoint just below the wall.  
 
 
  14.48 Just above the gate with the viewpoint rock visible to its left.  
 
 
  14.53 Sourmilk Gill  
 
 
  14.53 Waterfall viewpoint  
 
 
  14.53 The gill plunging down to Seathwaite.  
 
 
  15.02 Leaving the gill head.  
 
 
  15.21 A few minutes along the path from the gill head.  
 
 
  15.23 Looking back  
 
 
  15.41 Looking back  
 
 
  15.50 We passed 3 girls from the north-east and a group of Duke of Edinburgh hikers.  
 
 
  15.54 High Spy in the distance  
 
 
  15.57 At the top of the path and joining the ridge which leads up to Green Gable to the south.  
 
 
  15.57 and in the same place looking back.  
 
 
  16.07 Great Gable in the distance.  
   
  16.12 Panorama 1014 Base Brown summit, Wainwright #208 2119 ft.  
   
  16.13 Panorama 1015 Base Brown summit, looking north.  
 
 
  16.45 Styhead from the side of Base Brown.  
   
  16.47 Panorama 1014 Base Brown descent. I walked a hundred yards off the path to get a view to include Styhead.  
       
   

In good lighting conditions this view south to the Scafells calls for a photograph, but before releasing the shutter walk towards the scene until
Styhead Tarn appears fully in the middle distance and gives relief to the sombre background. Then do it.

  
   
Alfred Wainwright - The Western Fells - Base Brown 8
  
       
 
 
  17.33 Returning to the top of the gill.  
 
 
  17.44 We spent some time looking for the hanging rock - the two in this picture were contenders and I think are the two mentioned by AW.  
       
   

 

The Hanging Stone is repeatedly featured conspicuously in successive editions of the Ordnance Survey maps, where its name is given as much prominence as that of the fell itself,
although its precise location is never pinpointed.

People with bad coughs should keep out of the line of fall.

The stone occupies a startling position balanced on the rim of a crag, apparently half of its bulk being unsupported and overhanging a void,
but it is smaller than one is led to expect (a few tons only) and the special distinction given to it on the O.S. maps is not really merited.

Sixty yards further up the ridge a large boulder has come to rest on a number of smaller ones.


  
   
Alfred Wainwright - The Western Fells - Base Brown 4
  
       
 
 
  17.55 Time to refresh the feet at the top of Sourmilk Gill.  
 
 
  17.55  
 
 
  17.57 The green grey rocks under the water were extremely slippery.  
 
 
  17.58 Top of the gill.  
 
 
  18.05 The road in Seathwaite below us.  
 
 
  18.24 The upper part of the slabs on the way down.  

 

 
   
Back to Top