Tarn Crag (Grasmere) to Ullscarf

[Phooooey]

Grasmere - Sour Milk Ghyll - Easedale Tarn - Tarn Crag - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Ullscarf - Grasmere

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Looks like the forecasters got it wrong for this weekend. Everybody said it was going to be unexpectedly cold and rainy following a very uncloudy night, and that may have been true for the rest of the country but conditions don't get much better for dragging yourself up a few fells.
A latish start after dropping off the wife in Barrow left me sat in a ton of traffic when getting to Bowness. I'd managed to time it perfectly to join a vintage / classic car Lakeland Tour aswell as the rest of the Bank Holiday chaos. So slow progress was made down the side of Windermere and through Ambleside.

At Grasmere, I parked on the grass verge close to the Swan Hotel and threw on the boots.
After walking through Grasmere and up Easedale Road, we crossed the bridge over the beck and proceeded up the valley towards Sour Milk Ghyll and it's waterfalls.

Sour Milk Ghyll Waterfalls

Looking back down Easedale from waterfalls

A few people were out and about on the lower flanks and heading up to Easedale Tarn. From here we skirted round to the right hand shores and then up a scree run at a fairly sharp angle towards the ridge up to Tarn Crag.

Damson at Easedale Tarn

Easedale Tarn panorama

Damson above Easedale Tarn

Below Tarn Crag summit

Damson on Tarn Crag summit

Tarn Crag panorama

Another cairn on Tarn Crag summit

Looking out towards Langdale

From Tarn Crag we skirted round the many small tarns and pools heading upwards towards the upper flanks of High Raise. We headed towards Sergeant Man which looked like a conical corkscrew from this side. As we reached the pinnacle, we ran into a coach load of people coming from the Langdale side and therefore never had time on its small summit to play with the camera. (As I'd been up here a few months earlier, I wasn't bothered), and keen to get away from the crowds headed straight for the summit of High Raise.

Heading up to Sergeant Man (right)

Last time we were here (myself, my mate Andy & my Dad), the weather was so cold, wet and windy, we just hunkered down in the shelter and grabbed a bite to eat without being able to see a lot of the scenery.
The views out across Great Gable, Fleetwith Pike, Glaramara, et al were stunning and plenty of photos were taken this time including a great panorama shot.

Atop High Raise

High Raise Panorama

Next came the long slog down the northern banks of High Raise (and past a large group of weary, tired looking Mountain Bikers who looked fed up of having to push their bikes) and up the equally long slog onto Ullscarf.
The large grassy banks seemingly managing to hold onto all the years rainfall in that one area requiring a zig zag path to dodge all the bogs upto the summit.

Long slog up Ullscarf

Damson on Ullscarf summit

Me and Damson on Ullscarf

Ullscarf panorama

Both Damson and I were ready to head back at this point so we re-traced our steps through the bogs to Greenup Edge and back down into Easedale to the southern side of the Helm Crag ridge.

Long descent back to Easedale

Backside of Lion & Lamb (Helm Crag)

Another two off the list, including Tarn Crag which I'd left as a satellite fell in the middle of my previous walks.
Got to look down on Eagle Crag and Sergeant Crag too, which are on the list for next few weeks.
Hope the weather stays like this (or better) for the next few months !!

[SusieThePensioner]

Another entertaining and enjoyable report, Craig
Sergeant Man was a favourite walk of my parents and I don't know how many times I've walked up Easdale in the past 50 years!!!
Glad you've got some photos posted this time

Love those photos of Damson as well as the one of you two together

[garyhortop]

Another great report Phoooey and some superb photo's. Looked like a great day out!

[ChrisW]

Really enjoyable read Phoooey, looks like a fantastic outing, some lovely photos throughout but that one of Damson on Tarn Crag summit is a real cracker

[johnkaysleftleg]

More lovely pics and a good report. Keep it up

[Phooooey]

Thanks for your lovely comments
I probably picked a decent day to do this one as I can imagine that Ullscarf would be horrible after a few wetter days. I've a few more to do down the central ridge (only High Tove & Arboth from the Thirlmere side though, which are supposed to be wetter than Ullscarf).
Our Damson does quite a good pose nowadays - when she's in the right mood

[Fellwanderer]

Grasmere - Sour Milk Ghyll - Easedale Tarn - Tarn Crag - Sergeant Man - High Raise - Ullscarf - Grasmere

Another two off the list, including Tarn Crag which I'd left as a satellite fell in the middle of my previous walks.
Got to look down on Eagle Crag and Sergeant Crag too, which are on the list for next few weeks.
Hope the weather stays like this (or better) for the next few months !!

Good report - a few years since I've been up there.

It's a grand walk up into Langstrath from Stonethwaite to take in Sergeant and Eagle Crags.

You certainly want a few weeks of drought before you approach Armboth Fell. I've been up it several times but always ensure there has been a lengthy period without rain and the forecast is for fine and sunny - or at least dry!