Walk 1175 - printer friendly version

Combe Gill Circuit Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km

Ascent - 2200 feet / 667 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference NY250136
Lat 54.512132 + Long -3.1599409
Postcode CA12 5XH (approx. location only)

On paper this appears to be an easy Lake District walk amidst some of the lesser heights of Lakeland. However it requires excellent navigational skills in bad weather and involves a steep ascent on grass in the early stages of the walk. You have been warned! Either park in the main car park at Seatoller or on the wide grassy verge (grid ref NY250136) on the lane to Thorneythwaite just opposite the cottages at Mountain View.

Wherever you park, head east along the main Borrowdale road towards Rosthwaite. Just after passing Mountain view cottages take the signed footpath that leads south east towards the slopes of Bessyboot. This path is waymarked and after crossing Combe Gill the path climbs steeply to join another path traversing the fellside. turn right (south) on this to follow Combe Gill upstream. As you head up the valley, the path gets nearer to the stream until you reach a ruined sheepfold. The hard work starts here!

Rottenstone Gill has carved a miniature ravine out of the hillside and you need to stay on the northern side of the gill heading on an intermittent path up the grassy fellside. The climb is easy underfoot although there are times when you wonder when its going to end. As you climb higher a clearly defined col between Bessyboot and Rosthwaite Cam becomes evident and this is your target. Eventually the grade eases and you reach the col where the delightfully situated Tarn at Leaves comes into view.

A short diversion to the summit of Bessyboot is recommended as it provides an excellent viewpoint for Borrowdale with Skiddaw towering over Derwentwater providing a wonderful background. After enjoying the view and return to the col. There is a path heading south although this splits a number of times and route finding can be difficult especially in bad weather. The next objective is the cairn on Rosthwaite Cam from where there is a good view of almost the whole route. At first the onward path heads south with the great bowl of the Combe to your right.

The topography is confusing with many hollows surrounded by crags. The path slowly turns west to reach Combe Door from where a steep ascent takes you to the airy summit of Combe Head. Once again the view is superb with Glaramara dominant to the south. Descending west from Combe Head you soon reach the main Glaramara path and turning north on this you descend into Borrowdale. Well marked you should find no difficulty finding your way back to the cottages at Mountain View.

One final warning - this walk is hard to follow on the 1:25000 map so the 1:50000 should not be used if there is any possibility of poor visibility. Care should also be taken to avoid unmarked descents into the Combe as there are some steep and dangerous crags especially in the vicinity of Dovenest Crag.

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