Wainwrights Branstree and Selside Pike
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:06 pm
Swindale - Selside Pike - Branstree - Mosedale - Swindale. Fantastic day in the Lakes today; got sunburnt even with suntan cream on. Originally intended to go up Haweswater to some of the higher peaks in the Far Eastern range but the road to Haweswater was closed (and is until 1 April 2012) and I was on a timescale to get to school to pick the girls up. So got the map out and changed to these two peaks. Wainwright is a bit scathing about them, but there were fantastic views most of the time up the very pretty and quiet Swindale, from the tops to Haweswater and then from Branstree across. I got wet feet on the final ascent to Selside because I couldn't find the path from the Old Corpse Road up to Selside. It is not near the post as in the end I could see it quite a bit further on from the post. It was a bit boggy on the descent down from Branstree to the Mardale Head we well.
Overall, a manageable and pleasant short day despite having to run the last 2 miles back to the car which you cannot park t Swindale head. Would have been easy enough to tag on Tarn Cragg and Grey Crag as well if I had time.
Overall, a manageable and pleasant short day despite having to run the last 2 miles back to the car which you cannot park t Swindale head. Would have been easy enough to tag on Tarn Cragg and Grey Crag as well if I had time.