Route: Armboth Fell, High Tove, High Seat and Bleaberry Fell
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 11th July 2013
Walkers: Andrew and James (and Gilly for half the walk)
Distance: 7.1 miles
Ascent: 2,000 feet
We’d been up here before but had put off another visit for years, as these fells have a dreadful reputation for bogginess, and rightly so. However, it had been dry and hot for a couple of weeks so we thought it was a good time to try this walk. We had no problems at all. There were a few juicy spots but we returned dryshod
We parked by the shore of Thirlmere and started to climb alongside our intended route beside Launchy Gill. The good path must have diverted us away from the gill, since after a while we were some distance away from it, but decided to persevere onwards and upwards. The going got very steep and rough, and there was no path, but eventually we made it to the ridge and gained our first summit – Armboth Fell (1,570 feet).
We then made our way across to High Tove (1,665 feet) and just before the top spotted a small herd of red deer. At this point Gilly descended back to Thirlmere in order to take the car round to Ashness Bridge, where James and I would end the walk. This enabled the two of us to visit two more tops – High Seat (1,995 feet) and Bleaberry Fell (1,932 feet)
The descent from Bleaberry Fell gave us wonderful views of Derwent Water, and we made our way down to Ashness Bridge – where, as if by magic, Gilly was waiting for us with the car. What great timing, and what a great walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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After leaving the car at Thirlemere, a path goes up through the woods beside Launchy Gill
A boardwalk leads round a rocky section
Perched boulder, enjoying its vantage point
Looking along Thirlmere from the early part of the steep pathless gully
Eventually we are out of the woods and onto open fellside
Looking back over our route so far - we’d emerged from the woodland on the right
James on the top of Armboth Fell (summit is too grand a word for it)
On the way to High Tove - normally this would be a quagmire, but we’d come at the right time and we kept our boots dry
High Tove
At High Tove, Gilly said goodbye to us and headed back to the car to drive round to Ashness Bridge- see you later
James and I then set off to High Seat, ahead
Peat hag on the way to High Seat, almost dried out thankfully
Looking back over our route to this point
James on the summit of High Seat
On High Seat - Derwent Water comes into view
Our final top, Bleaberry Fell, is ahead
Blencathra
From the summit of Bleaberry Fell, looking over Derwent Water
Looking along our well made descent path
It was a lovely path throughout - this is Derwent Water, looking north
Looking the other way along the lake towards Borrowdale
Almost down to Ashness Bridge now, where hopefully Gilly will be waiting for us……
Ashness Bridge - and James has spotted our taxi!
