Route: Rossett Pike
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 2nd August 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 9.7 miles
Ascent: 2,000 feet
I parked in the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The Cumbria Way runs along the back of the hotel, and I joined the path, heading west beside Mickleden Beck towards the head of the valley
I soon had my first glimpse of Rossett Pike ahead, luckily just below the cloud base, and once at the valley head I started upwards along Rossett Gill. It was easy going and I was soon at the col. It was then a short and easy climb up to the summit of Rossett Pike. The views from the Mickleden Cairn were fantastic
I retraced my steps from the summit and enjoyed the customary cheese and tomato sandwich by the shore of Angle Tarn, where Bonnie had a cooling swim
I then trekked along the back of the fell to Stake Pass, where a well made path took me back down to Mickleden, alongside Stake Gill. By now the weather had taken a turn for the better. There was sunshine and blue skies all around, and the walk back down to, and back along, Mickleden was stunningly beautiful
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We start out along the Cumbria Way (a repeat of the first caption on my last walk, but I’m now at the other end of the Lake District)
Looking across to the Pike o’ Blisco
The unmistakeable outline of the Langdale Pikes
Rossett Pike ahead, looking rather moody
In a sunnier mood now. My path lies towards the gap on the left
The path forks at this point. I head up left in the direction of Esk Hause, and will be descending via Stake Pass
Bonnie
Pike o’ Stickle and Mickleden
Looking towards Bowfell, and nearly to the col where I start the short climb up to Rossett Pike
Summit of Rossett Pike
Looking down on my ascent path
The Mickleden Cairn, which is lower than the summit cairn, gives a better view back along the valley
Angle Tarn - time for those cheese and tomato sandwiches
There follows a long walk around the back of Rossett Pike - Langstrath is the valley over there
Looking down to my descent path along Stake Gill
The way down
The weather was improving all the time - what a lovely view along Mickleden
And again, from lower down
Pike o’ Stickle
Looking back up to Rossett Pike. I’d climbed up the left, walked along the back and descended from the right
Back to valley level now and walking along Mickleden
Pike o’ Stickle again
Almost back to the start - Middle Fell Farm in an idyllic setting
Back to the start - the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. No time to pop in for treats today, but what a great walk it had been!
