Route: Seat Sandal
Area: Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 11th May 2019
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and James
Distance: 5.2 miles
Ascent: 2,200 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sun – lovely conditions
Our son James needed to visit Grasmere in order to register for the Fred Whitton Challenge, a 112 mile cycle event around the Lake District taking place tomorrow. This prompted us to plan a walk near Grasmere, and it didn’t take long to decide on Seat Sandal as our target. We have fond memories of a great walk on our last visit here 3 years ago
We parked in a small layby next to the bus stop outside Grasmere and, after walking beside the busy road for a couple of minutes, we turned off to follow the path along Tongue Gill. Part of the path was washed away in 2015 during Storm Desmond and a well established detour is now in place. After overtaking a large group of walkers near the start we made the simple climb up to Hause Gap. After enjoying the view over Grisedale Tarn we started the final short but very steep section to the summit of Seat Sandal. As soon as we left the hause we had the place to ourselves and only saw one other walker on the entire route, a pleasant surprise as today was a Saturday and the weather was exceptional
The long descent down the nose of Seat Sandal must be one of the best in lakeland. It’s set at a fairly easy gradient, and the views are superlative all the way down, especially those over Grasmere village and its lake – take care though not to trip over a passing rock whilst gawping at them
It was a great walk, enhanced by the weather conditions
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
At the start of the walk as head along the grass verge of the busy A591 for a short distance
Peace is restored as we turn off the road to follow the path beside Tongue Gill
Our target, Seat Sandal in the distance
Looking across to Grasmere
Seat Sandal on the left
Our path will take us beside the dry stone wall right of picture
Heading towards Grisedale Hause in the distance...
Looking back to Helm Crag
Grisedale Hause ahead
A view back along our path
We follow the gentle path up to the hause...
Waterfall in Tongue Gill
Looking back along Tongue Gill, with our path to its left
Grisedale Hause ahead
Grisedale Tarn from its hause
James sets off on the short but quite steep section to the summit of Seat Sandal...
St Sunday Crag on the right, with a glimpse of Ullswater in the distance
The steep gradient levels out as we approach the summit
Summit cairn on Seat Sandal looking west
St Sunday Crag and Birks from the summit
We start the descent by heading west to a lower cairn
The start of a heavenly descent, one of the best in lakeland, set at an easy gradient and with wonderful views of Grasmere ahead
Grasmere and its village
Cotra Breast, leading up to Steel Fell
James and Bonnie admire the view over Grasmere
Helmside below
Easedale Tarn
Loughrigg Fell at the far end of Grasmere
James and Bonnie
The path continues down the nose of Seat Sandal. in the direction of Grasmere...
Herdwick sheep...
The wonderful view is ahead of us during the entire descent...
Ancient field systems above Helmside
Grasmere village and its lake...
Helm Crag and Gibson Knott
We arrive back at the track and from here we retrace our steps back to the start...
As we walk back to the start beside the A591, a last look up to Seat Sandal above High Broadrayne - what a fantastic walk it had been
