Borrowdale - for the full range of outdoor sports!

• Climbing and Scrambling
• Mountain Biking
• Walking

Where we stayed!

Climbing and Scrambling

Haven't been to Borrowdale for a donkey's, and it's a valley which is not only one of the loveliest in the Lake District, but also holds a special affection as being the place where I (Richard) did my first real rock-climbing (in black Woolworths plimsoles) about 30 years ago. So to find myself looking out from a blinding E1 (Route 1) on Upper Falcon crag onto that classic biscuit-tin Lakeland scene, was a special treat which brought back many memories of nearby Little Chamonix and sunshine and cups of tea at the farm-cafe below (and a pint of Guinness nursed all evening in the Scafell Hotel due to lack of funds).

Not that this was very predictable the previous day when some of us had great sport up a raging Sourmilk Gyll followed by an apparently traditional SMOG variant scramble route up the left hand side of Gillercombe Buttress. The cloud and rain cleared half-way up Green Gable prompting Penny to suggest that it was perfect timing for a spot of luncheon. Just bagged the most comfy rock with sarnie in one hand and tea in the other when it absolutely p*****d down. Great weekend. Good bunch of people.

Mountain Biking

Saturday morning Si & myself (Denise) started at Mungrisdale in the rain and followed the minor road to Calebreck. Our aim for the day was to follow a series of bridleways and tracks around Skiddaw. From Calebreck we took a combination of old mine tracks and minor roads round the north side of Skiddaw to Horsemoor Hills. The riding was fairly straightforward – just hard work on some of the uphill sections! We then joined the Cumbria Way which led up to Skiddaw House (YHA). This was a bit trickier and we had to push our bikes in a couple of places. By now the weather had cleared up. From there we had a great long run down the valley heading north east, back to the road before it started raining again. Back just in time!

Sunday morning dawned somewhat wet but we thought that Steel Knotts on the west side of Borrowdale would give the driest climbing as it faces east and is out of the trees. We climbed the 2 easiest routes on the crag (both MVS) – good climbing but both slightly damp and green. Decided that a short bike ride was preferable to attempting the harder routes, so drove over to Gatesgarth and did a pleasant circuit of Buttermere starting on a good, and only slightly muddy, bridleway on the south side (anything has to be better than the sticky mud of the South East!). We tried to continue up the bridleway towards Crummock Water, but spent more time getting back on our bikes than riding so turned back and returned to the car via the road. Its always an interesting challenge picking a bridleway from the map - you never know what it will turn out like! Somehow those horses manage to get up and down tracks that appear impossible to ride!

Walking

Well, as you have probably determined by now, Saturday was a "little" wet. Those walkers of us amongst the SMOG faithful, decided an attack on Great Gable was the order of the day. We climbed the path next to Sourmilk Ghyll, watching as our scrambling friends attacked the Ghyll with great enthusiasm! The walk up to the top of Great Gable, over Green Gable was a good one - even in the rain. It is an interesting track to walk up - you come up into the great hanging valley of Gillercombe, and then climb steadily (even steeply!) up to the tops. I can only imagine the views on a good day! Coming down from Great Gable the weather began to clear and we were rewarded with great views over Styhead Tarn, and the flank of Scafell Pike. We returned to the hut via Sprinkling Tarn, Ruddy and Grains Ghyll. All through the descent we had good views of the Borrowdale, and especially of Taylorgill Force, in full spate due to the heavy rainfall over the previous couple of days. I discovered this week that Seathwaite (the hamlet where we were based this weekend) has the dubious distinction of being the wettest place in England with an annual rainfall of 3180mm! Fortunately not too much of this rain fell on Sunday as we tackled Scafell Pike via the classic corridor route. Joining a large number of other walkers on the top of Scafell Pike, we knew we were on the highest peak in the area. Following the ridge over Broad Crag and along behind Ill Crag, we followed the ridge up to Glaramara. This is one of the most beautiful spots I have been in the Lakes. It was quiet! There were peaceful little tarns, interesting rock formations and at times challenging walking.

Dave with Green Gable behind

Last Updated: 13 Oct 2005	© Slough Mountaineering Group	contact us