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With a favourable weather forecast for today, I headed for Mardale Head to visit Tarn & Grey Crags again.
- Which way to go today?
It was a lovely winter morning, crisp and fresh as I set off to go over Gatescarth Pass, a route I had never before used
- Harter Fell as I set off.
I quickly gained height as the sun was starting to hit the fells.
- Rough Crag & Long Stile leading to High Street.
I left the track at the top of Gatescarth Pass and decided to climb Branstree.
- Looking back as I climb Branstree.
It's an easy climb to the top, but I didn't linger here long before heading back down to Gatescarth Pass.
- Branstree.
- The route ahead down Gatescarth Pass into Longsleddale.
I chose to climb Grey Crag first and come back over the top to Tarn Crag and back down to Gatescarth. Rather than go all the way to Sadgill, I climbed alongside Galeforth Gill, as there is some interesting looking falls up there.
- Galeforth Falls.
Once at the top of Galeforth Gill, it was a plod over roughish ground which I was pleased was a little frozen, as it would have been awful in the wet!
- Looking across to Goat Scar.
- Sadgill and Green Quarter.
- Being watched!!!
- Shipman Knotts to Kentmere Pike.
I stopped at the summit for a bite to eat, even though the breeze was really cool. The air was really clear, showing the snow topped Coniston fells in the distance.
- Distant Coniston fells.
- Grey Crag.
- A bit of Windermere.
The walk over to Tarn Crag turned out to be the wettest part of the day
though Greycrag Tarn didn't seem to have much water in it!!!
- Greycrag Tarn.
- Tarn Crag.
After leaving Tarn Crag, I left the path as it headed over to Branstree, and landed back on Gatescarth Pass.
- Leaving Longsleddale behind.
Now that the sun was high, the views of the Haweswater fells was much improved.
- Harter Fell to High Raise.
- Looking up to High Street.
- First glimpse of Haweswater.
- Another look up Long Stile to High Street.
Haweswater was as full as I have seen it for a long time, though after the Winter Cumbria has had, it's hardly surprising.
- Full Haweswater.
It was nice to have a walk in the sun again in an area that I never tire of being in
Stopped on the way home to take a pic of Riggindale, a lovely picturesque setting.
- Riggindale.