free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
It has been a month since my last outing. The forecast this week hasn't been great although Thursday was indicated to be the 'window in the weather' that gave me the encouragement to get on the hills again
I didn't fancy the central fells as they can often be busy at this time of year, so I opted to head out west again and climb the hills I had seen from Grike and Crag Fell at the opposite side of Ennerdale Water, namely Great Borne and Starling Dodd.
I parked at the Bowness car park on the north side of Ennerdale Water and was walking by 10.05am. I walked back along the tarmac road about a quarter of a mile until I reached a stile leading me onto the path running up behind Bowness Knot and in the general direction of Rake Beck. It was a good path albeit the bracken is now beginning to dominate and a machete may be useful in a few weeks time!

- Bowness car park
- On the road from the car park, heading towards Herdus
- Making good progress, view back to Ennerdale
- ... and a little higher....
When I reached the north side of Brown How, the path steepened as it headed northeast wards up the gully that would bring me out between Herdus and Great Borne. I was pleased to reach the top of the gully and then have easier going over firm/rocky ground to the summit of GB.
- Rake Beck gully - the path follows the right side of the beck
- View down to Ennerdale with Bowness Knot in the foreground and Crag Fell behind....
- .... and again from a little higher up.
- Great Borne summit - photo taken from the trig point - looking to Starling Dodd and Red Pike
I stopped for a cup of coffee and to examine the health of my left foot, Compeed applied and it felt much better. Met a gent who had walked up from the Northern approach and was then heading to Buttermere to meet up with his family. He disappeared into the distance before I got to my feet again.
- Zoom-in to the Grasmoor hills
My next target was Starling Dodd. The terrain was good and the path could easily be seen descending the eastern flank on GB and then steadily rising up the western side of SD. I made good progress and reached the, dare I say 'bald' and relatively undistinguished summit, which boasts two cairns with a mixture of stones and old rusting metal fence posts. There was a keen wind blowing so I dropped down a little from the top to reach a more sheltered vantage point and then had some lunch.
- On my way to Starling Dodd
- Looking back to Great Borne
- Starling Dodd summit - view to Red Pike and High Stile
- ... and back to GB
- View north to Mellbreak, Crummock Water and the Grasmoor hills.
- ... and south to Pillar
Whilst I was chewing on my ham and mustard sandwich (my favourite combo), I was taking in the view in front of me of the next mile or so of the ridge; nearest to me was the small mound of Little Dodd; then there was the more impressive Red Pike, aptly named by way of the red coloured scree. I was feeling good and was ahead of estimated time to this point so decided to add Red Pike to the walk.
- Red Pike from side of Little Dodd
Conditions under foot were still good and although one or two patches were showing standing water from the previous day, generally the paths were 'sound'.
- From the slope of Red Pike, looking back to the route so far
Apart from the guy on GB, I had seen no other walkers (this is one of the reasons I like these Western Fells), however this was about to change with Red Pike readily accessible from Buttermere and consequently walker/tourist friendly, although not to the same extent as say Helvellyn.
- Scary selfie with Red Pike summit getting closer
- view north again
I took a couple of photos on Red Pike before noticing a 'bimple' over to the Ennerdale side of the broad, flat ground. I headed over to it and thought it may provide a better angle to take a picture back down Ennerdale. It was noticeable that the rock was of a different type and colour and when I looked at the map, I saw that it was called White Pike.
- on Red Pike with High Stile in the distance
- ... and this time without the ugly bloke!
- High Stile from White Pike
- Looking down Ennerdale from White Pike
All I had to do now was to head across the South West flank of Red/White Pike and pick up the path to descend into Ennerdale. To be honest, the terrain was good and walking was relatively easy over a mixture of short grass and sparse small stones. It made for good progress until the path steepened and re-entered the bracken again (machete at the ready lol:

).
- View from the fell gate back to Little Dodd and Red/White Pike
On reaching the vehicular track that leads up/down the valley, I was soon alongside the lake and back to the car.
Another enjoyable day in the hills. The weather had remained dry and although not spectacular, it made for good walking conditions.