Long Sleddale, Tarn Crag, Mosedale. Wed 19 Jan 2005

Both Eric and myself have meetings tonight so the walk has to be relatively short to make sure we are back in time. So a return to Long Sleddale seemed ideal as it's only just over an hours drive.
It had just gone 7:30am when we arrived at Sadgill and it seemed just a bit lighter than last week. The weather was still overcast and dull but thankfully not raining, but slight drizzle. Heading south along the road we soon arrived at Stockdale where one of the locals was out walking his dog. "You're early," he said, as we headed for the fells and he continued the other way. The track reaches a gate but just before it does the first bridge of the Haweswater Aqueduct can be seen down to the right. Then the route heads east straight up the fell-side. Part was up we stopped at a ruined building. It had no windows, just a gap where the door would have been. The only thing we thing it could have been was an old peat house. Heading up towards Mere Crag we were soon in cloud and with snow on the ground the way on was constantly checked by compass.
The fence shown on the map turned out to be where it should be and it was then an easy job to follow it, except for the bogs and deep snow drifts.

The fence on Sleddale Fell.

Eric by the survey pillar on Tarn Crag

Heading north and down to the head of Mosedale we found a nice rocky outcrop to shelter behind and eat our sandwiches. Sticking to the south side of the pass the way down to the Gatescarth Pass track was nothing like as boggy as last week's route. We had to take it carefully on the last leg back to the car as the track was wet and covered in a thin layer of snow. As we drove down Long Sleddale we stopped for a look at St Mary's Church. The current building dates from 1863 and prior to that it had been re-built in 1712. The Community Hall across the road was originally the school.

St Mary's, Longsleddale

St Mary's, Longsleddale (interior)