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Buckbarrow, Seatallan & Middle Fell from Loweswater

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells

Wainwrights - Buckbarrow, Middle Fell, Seatallan

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.0 miles / 11.4 km    Ascent - 2500 feet / 758 metres

Time - 6 hours 0 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Buckbarrow, Seatallan & Middle Fell from Loweswater
Click image to visit gallery of 12 images.

Driving into Wasdale is a special experience with high fells, including England's highest mountain, providing a dramatic backdrop to England's deepest lake, Wast Water. This Lake District circular walk connects three 'Wainwrights' to form a varied horseshoe route, which, although not heading for major peaks, offers some superb mountain panoramas for much of the way.

The start is a small area of grassy verge just east of Greendale (Grid ref. NY144055) at the foot of the path from Greendale Tarn. After parking, walk along the road west towards Gosforth with the first objective, Buckbarrow, rising in steep crags on your right hand side. Stay on the road as far as Gill Beck (Grid ref. NY 129054) where you turn right (north) to follow a clear path that climbs alongside the beck. Stay with this path following it as it turns east away from the beck to climb easily towards Buckbarrow. From here there are excellent views the length of Wasdale, although you do need to explore a little to find the best viewpoint.

Continue north through craggy knolls to the cairn on Glade How (Grid ref. NY 134064) to locate the onward path that descends a little before climbing steadily to Cat Bields. From here you are rewarded with a grand panorama out towards the Irish Sea although it is somewhat spoiled by the Atomic Power facilities at Seascale.

The summit of Seatallan lies just over a mile away in an approximate northeasterly direction. This section is the most tedious of the route although an easy grade means you can make steady progress uphill. Once you have reached the trig point on Seatallan the view suddenly improves with a spectacular panorama in all directions. Included in the view are some of the lesser known fells such as Haycock and Caw Fell.

The easiest descent from Seatallan follows the path to Haycock. Leave Seatallan's summit on a northeasterly bearing and descend steeply over grass towards the col named Pots of Ashness. Do not descend all the way to the col instead turning right as soon as easier ground is reached (Grid ref. NY 143088) from where you contour across the eastern slopes of Seatallan on sheep trods and over rough grass. Ahead you will see Middle Fell, the next objective, with a clear path to aim for.

Climbing once more you soon reach the summit of Middle Fell with its excellent view of Mellbreak, the Scafells and Great Gable. The path continues south along Middle Fell's ridge before turning southwest to descend into Greendale. Joining the path from Greendale Tarn continue downhill to where you started.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3485 High Birkhow & Low Wood from Wast Watereasy4.2 miles
Walk 1176 Yewbarrow from Wasdalemoderate4.5 miles
Walk 2341 Circuit of Nether Beck and Over Beck from Wasdalehard11.3 miles
Walk 1690 Netherbeck Horseshoe - Middle Fell, Steeple & Red Pike from Wasdale Headmod/hard12.5 miles
Walk 1126 Mosedale Horseshoehard11.5 miles
Walk 1246 Black Sail Pass & Beck Headmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2034 Scafell from Wasdale Headhard6.5 miles
Walk 2800 The Scafells via Piers Gill from Wasdale Headmod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 2900 Pillar (by the High Level Path) from Wasdalemod/hard8.0 miles
Walk 2718 The Scafells from Wasdale Headmod/hard9.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District

Great Mountain Days in the Lake DistrictAn inspirational guidebook to 50 challenging walks on the high fells of the Lake District. The graded circular routes, between 4 and 14 miles in length, cover classic Lakeland summits like Fairfield, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Blencathra, to the lesser-known High Spy, King's How and Brund Fell.
More information

Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale

Walking the Lake District Fells - WasdalePart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Wasdale, Eskdale and Ennerdale valleys, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Pillar. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

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