Thursday 10 April 2025 - Branstree and Selside Pike

With the wonderful spring weather continuing, Sue and I couldn't resist a day in the Lake District.

We set off at 8am and found a space in the small car park at Mardale Head. Then we headed up towards Gatesgarth Pass, being passed by Jack, taking advantage of a 'QMD'. A Quality Mountain Day to log in his mountain guide training log book. He kindly took the above photo before continuing up to the pass.

There were good views back towards Haweswater, which looks a little short of water just now.

A slow plod up the good track led to the pass.

The camera's panoramic setting offered a comprehensive view of the High Street massif.

Whilst others on the hill made their way towards Harter Fell, we chose a Wainwright summit that neither of us had previously visited - Branstree. There's not much left of any trig point. Behind me in the next picture are Pennine summits, with Cross Fell dominant.

Whilst there was distant haze, the views were wide ranging. Harter Fell failed to block the view to the Scafells.

Beyond the grassy summit, it was a short descent to the large cairn at Artlecrag Pike, where there were convenient rocks on which to perch for an elevenses break.

After chatting to a couple of Wainwright bagging Liverpudlians, we headed over to the Birkett summit of High Howes, on the way to which we passed a survey post built during the construction of the Haweswater Aqueduct by Manchester Corporation. From the top of High Howes we looked back to see one of the Liverpudians standing on top of this structure.

There were views down to Haweswater and, from below the summit of Selside Pike, across to High Street, with Riggindale Crag dominant.

That was a lovely lunch spot, after which we contoured around the hill to enjoy views into Swindale.

We duly arrived at the Old Corpse Road, the route by which Mardale's dead were taken by horseback for burial at Shap, the last such journey being recorded in 1736.

A lovely descent, it passes some ruined peat cutters' cottages before emerging from a steep zigzag path onto the lakeside road.

There's a lakeside path, on which we enjoyed the remains of our refreshments, then the path rejoined the road, 'for safety reasons', leaving us with a final kilometre along the quiet road.

Having set off at around 10am, we were back at the car by 3pm, leaving us time to visit Don and Liz in Preston on our way home..

Today's outing was about 9.5km, with 560 metres ascent, taking a leisurely five hours or so. A really excellent day out.