Route: leaving the car in a lay-by approaching Stonethwaite and crossing the river to walk south-east on a substantial stony track with growing views of Eagle Crag. Crossing back over the river and turning left on a subtle marshy track keeping parallel with the river but, after a gate, trending right and uphill (possibly too soon) to cross another wall and then follow a clear path to the ridge. Here crossing a stile whose foot plank was secure but hand rail swung alarmingly back over the steep hill behind. Following a clear path up and turning left to climb a wet but secure rock staircase with no sense of exposure to turn right on a white quartz track with a bit more sense of the space below. Then taking a zig-zagging marshy path between rocky bands with a couple of slightly nervy staircases crossing bands to reach the summit. Then along a broad marshy ridge to Sergeant’s Crag. On for another 500m and deciding to turn right (probably too soon in hindsight) to try to find a Mark Richards’ pathless descent to Tray Dubs. Then having to contour round the hillside so as to escape obvious crags and eventually roughing it down steep, slippery and occasionally rocky grass to the valley bottom with much cursing. Joining the Cumbria Way and following this back, stopping to look at Black Moss Pot, and, much further on, cross the river west to follow a clear but stony track back to Stonethwaite and the start.Conditions: low cloud and muted colours and but no actual rain.
Pub: the Scafell Hotel, Rosthwaite, for Jennings Sneck Lifter.
