It was a stunning morning with clear skies, a touch of frost in the fields, light winds and we were soon treading the familiar path to Stockley Bridge. I went left intending on climbing Seathwaite fell first but at this point still unsure as to which way I would take. The map has two promising gullies both of which are mentioned by Wainwright, the first one very steep and the second less so but quite loose, something I had discovered while descending Seathwaite Fell a few years back.
Seathwaite Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Aaron Crags by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Into the Sunshine by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Borrowdale by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Light Breaking over Glaramara by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Morning light on Aaron Crags by Anthony Young, on FlickrI chose the first gully, thinking contouring around to the other would be OK if I found it not to my liking. It was a very steep pull up to the start and as advertised things just got steeper once the climb was underway. In all honesty it wasn't too bad with only an iced up section, which required a bit of a detour causing any difficulty and we soon topped out and headed for the grassy summit of Aaron Crags. This is a beautiful spot and I had breakfast taking in the majestic view down Borrowdale as the sunlight unlocked the valley from shade pouring over the Glaramara Ridge.
Ascent route ahead by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Panorama from the gully by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Borrowdale from the top of Aaron Crags by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Panorama from Aaron Crags by Anthony Young, on FlickrFollowing breakfast we set off on the steady plod up to the Wainwright top of Seathwaite Fell, this as AW admitted isn't the high point but the highest point towards the end of the broad tarn pocked ridge. Seathwaite fell has a lot of tarns, most of which help form some beautiful views to the higher grander fells which surround this unheralded eminence. I do really like Seathwaite Fell as it provides so many nooks and crannies and interesting views that I could probably happily spend a whole day up here just exploring and I took time time as I made my way to the highest point (which is a Hewitt) before heading off past Sprinkling Tarn towards the Corridor route.
Wainwright top of Seathwaite Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Frozen Tarn by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Another of Seathwaite Fell's Tarns by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Great End and Lingmell from Seathwaite Fell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Lingmell Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Actual summit of Seathwaite Fell - Great Slack by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Light on water by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Great End and Sprinkling Tarn by Anthony Young, on FlickrAs I came off Seathwaite Fell I felt an unwelcome twinge in my knee, an old injury which I'm familiar with so I decided to see if I could walk it off along the Corridor route. The fact that I would see plenty of other walkers over the next couple of miles wasn't a surprise, what was however was the fact none of them appeared to know where they were going.
First a couple who along with a (German?) gentleman who wasn't really with them were heading up towards Sprinkling Tarn wanting to know if this was the Corridor route and then while on the Corridor route a group of lads from Merseyside asked "Is this the way to Pike?". I replied they were going in the exact opposite direction to which one sparked up, "see I told you we should have gone up that waterfall!". I assured them they didn't want to be going up any waterfalls and to just turn around and keep on the path. Having turned them around I strode off not really wanting to be an unpaid guide to many waifs and strays but as I could see them behind me I knew they were now on the right track so I was guilt free.
Lingmell Crag and Piers Gill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Skew Gill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The Corridor route rounds Stand Crag by Anthony Young, on FlickrThe good news was my knee had calmed down somewhat so I could continue and enjoy this fine path with the sight of Skew Gill filled with sunlight being particularly memorable. I reached Greta Gill and decided to have a rest until the lads from Birkenhead had passed by, before setting off up to Round How. A steep struggle later we topped out on this fine grassy summit and decided to to sit and have lunch with my boots off enjoying the views. Broad Crag and Lingmell Crag both looked magnificent from here but just as impressive was the wide grassy amphitheatre which is hidden from walkers who don't stray from the main trade routes.
Broad Crag by Anthony Young, on Flickr
North from Round How by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Lingmell Crag from Round How by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Great End and Ill Crag by Anthony Young, on FlickrThe way suggested from Wainwright from here is to continue up Greta Gill but I had PMd Trailmasher to see if he knew of any other practicable routes up Great End from this side. He had kindly suggested heading up the valley to the east of Lambfoot Dub. This had led me to look at a few images of this tiny tarn and made my mind up to pay it a visit. I wasn't disappointed as it's a wonderful intimate location with some very nice views.
Long Pike from Lambfoot Dub by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie at Lambfoot Dub by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Lingmell from Lambfoot Dub by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The Gables from Lambfoot Dub by Anthony Young, on FlickrTo the East, as I stood by the tarn, Great End reared up with Long Pike looking very prominent. It looked very steep and rough but as I'd come this far and my knee now felt OK up we went. For a good way this ascent was on grass but without any hint of a path. I do like off piste routes like this due to that sense of adventure they bring to a day, not that plenty people won't have already been this way previously but with no footprints you can pretend. As we got closer to Long Pike a few options were obvious. To my left there were a couple of possibilities close to Long Pike but as one looked largely full of snow and the other looked very green, steep and probably slippy I headed over a boulder field to aim for the gully on the right. This was a bit lose underfoot but the snow was easily by passed and following a fine struggle to gain the summit plateau the incline eased and we rested for a while. Well I did, Hughie found a patch of his favourite thing and set about doing whatever mad things he does with snow.
On the way up Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Long Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Panorama from near the top of the Climb by Anthony Young, on Flickr
View to the Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr
The Pike again by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie with his favourite thing by Anthony Young, on FlickrAnother Boulder field traversed and we were finally at the summit of Great End. This place will always be emotional for me as it was here Grace, Nicola, myself and of course Hughie all completed the Wainwrights on a superb day a few years back. I took in the sights with thoughts drifting back to that unforgettable day three and a half years ago thinking it would be nice for us all to revisit one day. Given the enjoyable ascent on that day up the Band and today's wild excursion up a little visited route Great End is definitely one of my favourite fells.
Summit of Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ill Crag and Scafell Pike by Anthony Young, on Flickr
North from Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Hughie on Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
I had intended to tack on an out and back to Esk Pike but given the amount of rough boulders and stony paths so far I decided Hughie's poor paws had probably had quite enough for one day so it was left for another day as we headed straight down the Grains Gill path.
The Langdales, Esk Pike and Bowfell by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Top of Central Gully by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Ruddy Gill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Looking back to Great End by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Grains Gill by Anthony Young, on Flickr
Stockley Bridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr
This was a walk to live long in the memory as it contained so many of my favourite things, the underrated Seathwaite Fell, a new top in the shape of Round How, a beautiful quiet location at Lambfoot dub, a fine rough "off piste" route (thanks again TM) and an emotional re-visit to the magnificent summit of Great End, Wonderful
and as you point out a day could be well spent on Seathwaite Fell alone 
you were so close to it just off the side of Piers Gill west of the Corridor Route 
