Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
How do you begin to describe this walk? - without being too negative. So, it is
a pathless and dreary trudge over featureless moorland which presents very
challenging walking through dense and soaking wet shrub land. Up to now in our
challenge to complete the Wainwright Outliers we have completed 3 horseshoe
walks of the Shap region of fells and in my opinion this has to be the hardest of the lot.
Good walking boots, reliable navigation and clear weather are CRITICAL on this walk.
Do not attempt it in mist, rain or low cloud
Travelling North along the A6 from Kendal, lookout for a minor road near Kemp Howe
on your left hand side. This narrow track leads past a farm stead and terminates
at a large (free) car park at Sleddale Reservoir
An information board provided by North West Water tells the story of the area
To the left of the notice board a stone track sets off in the direction of Poor Hag
Looking towards Sleddale Reservoir from the track
Pass through the metal gate as the path path rises gently
The path swings left as it approaches Poor Hag Gill
Pass through the wooden gate
Cross the wooden bridge over Poor Hag Gill
Poor Hag Gill
After the bridge, the objective is to cross the wall to walk parallel with a small
wooded area that is lined with a wire fence. How you choose to make the crossing
is entirely random as long as you end up in the ground on the right hand
side of the Gill
Following the track upwards. Easy walking
The track leads to a wooden fence that needs to be climbed
On the open fell side now. As you can see its completely pathless, however
the line of shooting butts provides a direction marker. You can just see the first
to the right of centre of this shot
The shooting butts that lead upto the Lunch House, one of the few features
of this entire walk
"Pull" ... Me having a shoot with my walking stick ???
Just follow the line of the shooting butts and keep an eye out for a small
wooden bridge that crosses Poor Hag Gill
Having crossed the Gill one of the very few discernable paths appear that
leads towards the Lunch House
The Lunch House
The House was locked up and the "Beaters" paddles were all stacked away
tidily awaiting their use maybe on the Glorious 12th ???
This is the point where route description becomes incredibly difficult. The advice
is to head roughly south westerly towards the only distinguishable feature
along the way, that of Gray Bull a big granite block in the middle of nowhere
Within half a mile or so Gray Bull appears on the ridge line. This is rough walking
across very heavy ground
Gray Bull. From here the route swings right
Heading over rough ground to Sleddale Pike
Approaching the summit of Sleddale Pike. At this point a faint path appears.
The summit is marked with a wooden pole at the highest point
On the summit of Sleddale Pike. Click here for a 360 degree view
From the summit head off in a South Westerly direction across some really
horrendous terrain. After a mile or so a wire fence has to be crossed to give
access to the lower slopes of Great Saddle Crag
The start of the climb to the summit. This section is fine and largely dry walking
We eventually arrive at the summit cairn. A lovely spot for lunch
Click here for a 360 degree view
Heading off in a Westerly direction for Ulthwaite Rigg. This is the most
difficult part of the route to describe as it is devoid of any features and
is the most strenuous section of the entire walk
After the descent of Great Saddle Crag there now follows a pathless slog which
at one point requires you to cross Little Mosedale Beck. The objective being
to get on to the bridleway that leads back to Sleddale Reservoir whilst at the
same time visiting the very obscure summit of Ulthwaite Rigg
Heading towards Ulthwaite Rigg. Pick your own path if you can
The summit of Ulthwaite Rigg (sort of). Click here for a 360 degree view
From the summit of Ulthwaite Rigg strike a course due North West. There is no
right or wrong way of doing this as long as you reach the bridleway. Again, this
is VERY difficult walking, its just a case of head down and keep on. The shot
above is when we thankfully arrived at the track. From here on the walking
conditions improve greatly
The well defined bridleway track undulates gently as it journeys towards Sleddale Hall
On your right hand side, Tongue Rigg from the bridleway
Pass through the gate and stay on the path as it leads to Sleddale Hall
Approaching Sleddale Hall and the very welcome sight of Sleddale Reservoir
Sleddale Hall. The track swinging round to the right is followed to get back
to the car park at the side of the Reservoir
The path drops gently down through a wooded area that leads towards
the old Pack Horse bridge that spans Sleddale Beck
The Pack Horse bridge over Sleddale Beck. From here take a right turn
and cross a paddock that leads to the original stone track at the start of the walk
