Glaramara

Glaramara

Route: Glaramara

Area: Southern Lake District 

Date of walk:  8th August 2017

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly 

Distance: 7.4 miles

Ascent: 2,400 feet

Weather: Light cloud, warm

Glaramara – such a beautiful name for a fell and as Wainwright observes these names were given by the earliest settlers, rough men, invaders and robbers but that even they ‘had poetry in their hearts’. Today would be my 6th time up the fell, but the first time I’ve started from Seatoller – on the previous occasions Seathwaite has been the starting point

We parked in the National Trust car park in Seatoller and followed a path out of the car park and round the back of the local hotel, named after the fell which was today’s target. After crossing Strands Bridge we started the long climb up Thornythwaite Fell. We thought that we could see Glaramara ahead as we climbed but as we neared the top it became apparent that this was Combe Head, and that the summit of Glaramara lay beyond

Just below the summit we arrived at a 20 foot rock step, where hands were needed to make progress. Gilly went off like a mountain goat but the gradient was too steep for our golden retriever Bonnie, who was unable to follow. By this time Gilly was too far up to descend, so she carried on while Bonnie and I sought out an easier route to the top – which is to be found to the right of the rock chimney. We were re-united on the summit and enjoyed some extensive views, thanks to the central position of Glaramara in relation to the surrounding fells

We then descended towards Hind Gill, following a line of cairns. Care needs to be taken to find the head of the gill, since the area is pathless, but once located it’s a simple matter of keeping the gill on your right as you descend. There’s no path initially but lower down a rocky path does appear, and much needed it is too, as the descent is exceptionally steep in its lower stages. We eventually made it to the valley floor and just before Seathwaite joined a path leading along the valley back to the start

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