Seat Sandal

[richardkchapman]

20240418043948-06012-data.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Having ticked off the "not really sure I climbed it before" Pillar yesterday, it seemed only right to tick off the "fairly sure I climbed it but not 100% certain" Seat Sandal today, so that when I finally climb my last Wainwright (maybe tomorrow?) I can celebrate with a clear conscience.

I THINK I remember climbing Seat Sandal on the way down to Grasmere from Grisedale Tarn when in my early 20s. It also seems very unlikely that we would not have climbed it at least once during one of our many family holidays in Grasmere in my teens (and younger), given that we were always looking for new fells to climb that did not require any driving. But to be sure, I decided a quick pop up and down from Dunmail Raise would be a good idea.

Lorraine was rather tired and stiff from yesterday's walk up Pillar, and even the dogs seemed content to lie on the sofa rather than head out for a walk, so I was on my own today. The forecast was for a rainy afternoon so I made the most of the morning and set off around 8am heading for Dunmail Raise.

I thought there was a layby at the top, but it's just a verge.

Parked at Dunmail Raise

The route up follows Raise Beck most of the way.

20240418-0View up Raise Beck82858-6383

The instructions said to turn off after the last cascade - though how you are supposed to know which set is the last, I'm not sure...

First waterfalls


View down Raise Beck

These second set seemed like good candidates for being the highest set, but there was no sign of a path heading off up the hillside just above them. The guide was not really clear whether I should expect a path or just head out towards the summit over the open ground.

Second Waterfalls

In the end I stayed on the path near Raise Beck until almost at the path up beside the wall before deciding to head upwards. At this point there seemed little to be gained by not using that path, so I ended up just cutting off a bit of a corner.

The path up by the wall was fairly steep but not very long, and soon the gradient had eased off a bit. The cloud was coming in so I grabbed a few quick shots of the veiw from just below the summit, since they might not be there once I got to the top.

View to the North

As predicted, once at the top the view to the north was largely obscured by cloud, but there were still some views to the south.

Summit View


Summit View

I did not linger long at the top but set off back towards the car - still no sign of any path but easy going across the open fell towards the Raise Beck path near the top of the cascades.

Just before getting back to the car, I heard the sound of an approaching plane, and was able to get my phone out just in time to capture a jet fly past almost at eye level.

Low flying plane

So, another (I think the last but will have a quick scan through my books) of the "not 100% certain" summits ticked off, ready for a final ascent of Castle Crag to complete the set. Wondering whether to do that tomorrow, or will it feel like an anticlimax and should I wait a bit...