Vivienne Crow digs deep to discover the less-trodden ways along St Sunday Crag via Lord’s Seat – and the 508!
There’s just one right of way into Deepdale, and even that doesn’t venture very far into this captivating, glaciated side valley, ending long before things get interesting. Yet, for those who like their fells mostly pathless, Deepdale hides several adventurous approaches to the well-worn trails that cling to the high ridges. This route climbs the popular St Sunday Crag (841m) via its lesser-known eastern ridge, home to Lord’s Seat and the rocky knobble of Gavel Pike. You might want to use your hands on the way up Gavel Pike, but there’s no real scrambling; the satisfaction comes from knowing you’ve got this great little spur all to yourself while, just a short distance away, other walkers are keeping to the tried and tested. Those views across to Fairfield’s dark buttresses and secretive coves are for you and you alone.
After dropping from St Sunday, the route again eschews the popular paths to climb Birks and then Arnison Crag. There’s a fair chance you’ll have these tops to yourself too, but they are both Wainwrights, so play nicely if you do have to share.
St Sunday Crag via Lord’s Seat: route description
START/FINISH: Pay-and-display car park in Patterdale, GR NY395159 | MAPS: OS Explorer OL5 (1:25k), OS Landranger 90 (1:50k), Harvey 1:25,000 Superwalker Lake District East | DISTANCE: 11.8km/7.3 miles | ASCENT: 829m/2720ft | DURATION: 4½-5 hours
1. NY395159: Turn left along the A592 and take the next lane on the left. Turn right on reaching the cottages at Rookin. At Beckstones, keep to the higher track – between the buildings. In another 200m, fork right. About 150m after crossing Goldrill Beck, go through the gate on the right. Follow the grassy trail across three meadows and then take the rough lane to the A592.
2. NY399144: Cross the road and take the surfaced lane opposite, quickly following it round a bend to the right. Reaching the buildings at Lane Head, turn left to join a rough track. At Wall End, keep to the higher of the two tracks.
The slopes above Lane Head lead up to Arnison Crag. Credit: Vivienne Crow
3. NY391135: Almost immediately after the Coldcove Beck bridge, turn right up a faint path that passes through a sheepfold. This climbs the north of Latterhaw Crag, keeping close to the beck at first, then swinging SW around the back of the crag. About 160m after leaving the beck, it swings S. Then, in another 280m or so, it heads NW, making directly for steep ground ahead.
4. NY384132: On reaching some slate quarry waste, don’t be tempted too far south; you need to leave the trail here by veering WNW, straight up Lord’s Seat’s SE ridge. It’s a steep climb – sometimes grassy, sometimes rocky, mostly pathless, but always a great way to approach St Sunday Crag.
View of Fairfield’s crags anad coves from Gavel Pike. Credit: Vivienne Crow
5. NY377135: From the top of Lord’s Seat, walk W into the saddle and then head straight up the front of Gavel Pike. The ascent is rockier than the climb on to Lord’s Seat, but shorter. There’s a definite sense of satisfaction as you clamber the final few metres on to the summit and get your first view of Ullswater to the NE and of Bow Fell and its neighbours to the SW.
Looking beyond Dollywaggon Pike towards Bow Fell and the Scafells. Credit: Vivienne Crow
Continue west along the ridge for the final, easy pull on to St Sunday Crag, joining a clearer path from the right along the way. At the summit, you are greeted by the Helvellyn range – a glorious panorama, made all the better by the suddenness of its appearance.
Walk north from St Sunday Crag’s summit rocks. Credit: Vivienne Crow
6. NY369133: From the summit rocks, walk N, with Ullswater straight ahead. The path becomes clearer as it leaves the summit area and then skitters steeply down St Sunday’s NE ridge.
The path descending from St Sunday Crag with Ullswater in the distance. Credit: Vivienne Crow
7. NY375141: Dropping to the saddle between St Sunday Crag and Birks, fork right (NE) along a fainter trail. It becomes clearer as it climbs. Birks has two summits, both cairned. About 180m beyond the second cairn, at a slight bend to the left, take the path on the right. This heads E, quickly swinging SE and then following the remains of an old wall. As the wall bends left at the bottom of a steep drop, the path bends right.
Trail descends from Birks beside an old wall. Credit: Vivienne Crow
8. NY387142: In the next dip – at Trough Head – turn left on a faint trail through a gap in the hillside. Soon after a withered old tree, fork right, climbing slightly before traversing the fellside. The route briefly brushes up against a wall before swinging right. Turn left at a T-junction of paths. At the base of Arnison Crag, fork right to reach the summit. Drop NE of the summit rocks to find a trail descending the rough slopes NW, then N.
Turn left on a faint trail through a gap in the hillside at wp8. Credit: Vivienne Crow
9. NY393150: Turn right at a junction with a clearer path. Follow the wall downhill to a path near the valley bottom. Turn right here. Entering the woods, fork left, soon emerging beside the Patterdale Hotel. Pass in front of the building and cross the A592 to re-enter the car park.
Further information
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus 508, Penrith to Patterdale/Windermere (www.stagecoachbus.com)
TOURIST INFORMATION: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk, 0845 9010845
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