Get Lost Mountaineering

High Wether Howe & Seat Robert via Mosedale from Swindale Foot

Start/Finish

Small off road rough car parking area before Swindale Foot. From Penrith, take the A6 south to Eamont Bridge then turn off for Yanwath (Pooley Bridge road) then turn off south for Askham. Go through Butterwick then fork left at Bampton but do not cross the river into Bampton Grange. Instead follow the road on the SW side of the river for about a mile then take the right fork for Swindale. Follow this until the car parking is reached where there is a prominent notice stating there is no parking beyond this point.

Distance/Time

15 km        About 4 - 5 hours

Peaks

High Wether Howe, 531 m, NY 515 109.

Seat Robert, 515 m, NY 527 113.        OS 1: 50 000, sheet 90.

OS 1: 25 000 Outdoor Leisure 5, English Lake District NE Area.

Introduction

Swindale is a lovely unspoilt valley which has no tourist attractions whatsoever. This is a very pleasant walk but sections of it can be quite wet, especially in winter, so this walk is probably best attempted in either a summer dry spell or when the ground is frozen. Mosedale is very wild and desolate with few features so this walk is best tackled in clear weather. The river in Mosedale can be difficult to cross in a wet spell so this route takes in the bridge at the foot of Brunt Tongue. Much new fencing is being erected in this area so straying off rights of way may mean having to climb over fences. The area is riddled with ATV tracks. On a clear day, there are prominent views to Branstree and Selside Pike. Kidsty Pike and High Raise will also be seen. Looking east, the Howgills are well seen whilst to the north, Cross Fell is fairly obvious.

Route

(1) Walk up the road in Swindale to its end then continue along the stony bridleway which soon becomes grassy, and often wet as it climbs out of Swindale. In places, the track resembles a ditch! When the “track” levels out, continue to follow it S well to the W of Mosedale Beck. The main track goes through a gate in a fence with no stile elsewhere. In dry weather, the track could be left and the fence followed, on its N side, across the river (may be difficult to cross) and up on to High Wether Howe where it passes about 30 m to the right, S, of the summit. Continue along the main track, passing a sheep fold and following a ruined wall before dropping down to the bridge at the foot of Brunt Tongue. Cross the bridge and follow one of the tracks up to reach a gate to cross a fence running N – S. Continue then take another track which passes below Scam Matthew on its W side before ascending gentle drier slopes to the small cairn which marks the summit of High Wether Howe, 531 m. Some trees have been planted just before the summit area.

(2) Descend ENE and pick up one of the tracks. Follow it towards Seat Robert where a path, which branches off left, leads directly and gently to the large cairn, shelter cairn and the circular base of an old trig point which mark the summit of Seat Robert, 515 m.

(3) The map shows a right of way running SE – NW which lies to the N of the summit but this is not that easy to locate, especially under snow, so walk roughly NNW to Glede Howe which has a small cairn on it. Continue in the same direction, initially aiming for what seems to be the end of the prominent wall, used earlier, to the W of Haskew Beck. The end is actually a corner. As this approached, follow a track/path which goes, to the right, through Waite Howes to reach an old cairn which is the start of the descent into Swindale. This route lies a short distance to the E of Gouthercrag Gill. The path/track, wet in places, leads down to a ford across the river but a short distance downstream is a footbridge which leads to the road and an easy stroll back to the start. Note that it can be very easy to stray to the E towards Great Ladstones which will mean cutting back across Mealhowe Gill where there is much sodden ground.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 11^th February, 2014.

(b) An alternative route which goes along the top of Goulther crag has also been posted.