A substantial walk with Derek, Naina, Jenny and Simone.
Route: leaving the cars in the last available space in the car park by Brothers Water and walking south west into Dovedale. After a while crossing the stream and beginning to climb. At the corner of a wall first prospecting further on (and turning left through bracken short of a foot bridge would have gained the ridge line) but returning to walk along the hall, rise a little from it to bushwhack through bracken and then climb by the side of a stream and then on steep though easier damp grass by the side of a collapsed wall onto a subtle saddle. Then gaining the top of the first of a series of lumps forming the broken ridge of Stand Crags to cross the head of Dove Dale and then climbing higher before turning left to cross a stream and then, pathless again, gaining the top of the continuation of the earlier ridge to reach the clear path up from Scandale Pass. Up this to Dove Crag, then Hart Crag then descending Hartsop above How taking a rough and, sadly, very loose path to the right steeply down to the car park.Conditions: some early sun and blue skies – later cloudier but staying dry unexpectedly
Pub: the Brotherswater Inn for Jennings Cocker Hoop and Barngates Red Bull Terrier.
