Route: Glaramara
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 8th August 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.4 miles
Ascent: 2,400 feet
Weather: Light cloud, warm
Glaramara – such a beautiful name for a fell and as Wainwright observes these names were given by the earliest settlers, rough men, invaders and robbers but that even they ‘had poetry in their hearts’. Today would be my 6th time up the fell, but the first time I’ve started from Seatoller – on the previous occasions Seathwaite has been the starting point
We parked in the National Trust car park in Seatoller and followed a path out of the car park and round the back of the local hotel, named after the fell which was today’s target. After crossing Strands Bridge we started the long climb up Thornythwaite Fell. We thought that we could see Glaramara ahead as we climbed but as we neared the top it became apparent that this was Combe Head, and that the summit of Glaramara lay beyond
Just below the summit we arrived at a 20 foot rock step, where hands were needed to make progress. Gilly went off like a mountain goat but the gradient was too steep for our golden retriever Bonnie, who was unable to follow. By this time Gilly was too far up to descend, so she carried on while Bonnie and I sought out an easier route to the top – which is to be found to the right of the rock chimney. We were re-united on the summit and enjoyed some extensive views, thanks to the central position of Glaramara in relation to the surrounding fells
We then descended towards Hind Gill, following a line of cairns. Care needs to be taken to find the head of the gill, since the area is pathless, but once located it’s a simple matter of keeping the gill on your right as you descend. There’s no path initially but lower down a rocky path does appear, and much needed it is too, as the descent is exceptionally steep in its lower stages. We eventually made it to the valley floor and just before Seathwaite joined a path leading along the valley back to the start
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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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Earlier in the day I visited the head of Crummock Water
Woodhouse Island
Looking towards Mellbreak
Head of Crummock Water
...and a quick visit to Buttermere, this is the bothy at the head of the lake
Later that morning, the start of the walk from Seatoller
We follow a path out of the National Trust car park
Johnny Wood
We descend to Folly Bridge - Glaramara is obscured by the fells at the top right of the picture
Folly Bridge
After crossing Strands Bridge, a small road bridge, we follow the track leading to Thorneythwaite Farm, but only for a short distance
We turn off the track here. It may be 2 miles as the crow flies, but we don't have wings and I reckon 3 would be more accurate
Waterfall in Combe Gill (according to the OS) or Comb Gill (according to Wainwright)
Looking back to King's How
Combe (or Comb) Head which we mistook for Glaramara at first - Glaramara is not in view yet
Combe Head again
Looking down into the combe
Skiddaw beyond the Jaws of Borrowdale
Bonnie photobombs my picture of Combe Head
Skiddaw and Derwent Water again
Looking back down to Seatoller
Fleetwith Pike
Borrowdale below and Blencathra in the distance
Grains Gill
The summit of Glaramara comes into view and we follow a rough path towards it
Rosthwaite Fell
Looking back to Skiddaw
Honister Crag on Fleetwith Pike
Glaramara ahead
Dale Head and Robinson right of picture
We encounter the rock step. The photo doesn't show the scale or gradient well, but Bonnie couldn't surmount it, so we detoured to the right while Gilly clambered up
We met up again a few minutes later on the summit of Glaramara
Great Gable and Green Gable from the summit
Honister Crag, Robinson and Dale Head again
Now looking SE to Loft Crag and Pike O' Stickle
Great End
Esk Pike
Start of the descent
We're aiming for Hind Gill. There's no path for much of the way, but two or three cairns set us off in the right direction
Great Gable and Green Gable on our left
Hind Gill, and Seathwaite below
A very steep section near the bottom of the gill
At last we reach valley level and follow the path beside the River Derwent
We turn right just before Seathwaite to join a path running along the valley
Looking back along the path
From the track to Thorneythwaite Farm, looking back to Base Brown
The circuit is complete as we arrive back at the sign for Glaramara, and from here we retrace our steps back to the start of a wonderful fell walk
