The Bannisdale Horseshoe

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Route: Dryhowe Bridge, Whiteside Pike, Todd Fell, Capplebarrow, Swinklebank Crag, Ancrow Brow, Borrowdale Moss, Long Crag, White Howe, The Forest, Lamb Pasture, Sryhowe Bridge

Date: 14/01/2017
From: Dryhowe Bridge

Parking: Small layby at Dryhowe Bridge
Start Point: Dryhowe Bridge
Region: Far Eastern Fells

Route length: 8.8 Miles (14.16 km)
Time taken: 03:54
Average speed: 2.2 mph
Ascent: 657m
Descent: 663m

Outlying Fells on this walk:
Whiteside Pike (397m), Todd Fell (401m), Capplebarrow (512m), Swinklebank Crag (Ancrow Brow) (555m), nameless (Ancrow Brow North) (541m), Long Crag (493m), White Howe (530m), The Forest (Borrowdale Head) (528m), Lamb Pasture (367m)

Additional summits: None

Other Points of Interest: None

The valley of Bannisdale forms part of the mysterious Shap Fells, encompassed within the Lake District boundary yet wholly Pennine in nature. It's a large area with numerous nooks and crannies such as Crookdale and Wet Sleddale and is often overlooked by people heading into the national park.

I too had intended to overlook it yet the forecast was for a day of very low cloud so I took a gamble on the fact that the Bannisdale fells only reach around 500m and may have snuck beneath the blanket.

Starting this walk is tricky if you're arriving by car. There's a solitary space on the lane at Plough Farm or the other option is at Dryhowe Bridge, as described in Bill Birkett's book.

Dryhowe Bridge with Lamb Pasture beyond

The first climb of the day towards Whiteside Pike

The other minor concern is the very beginning of the walk which, according to the guidebooks, is through the gate and straight up the hillside. The gate, however, clearly says 'Private'. How you negotiate this is up to you - the safety of the Access Land is a short distance up the hill.

Bannisdale

A hint of brightness early in the morning, the only bit of the day

Whiteside Pike is the first summit on this round, walked clockwise. It was obvious from the climb up that my gamble had not paid off with the higher Bannisdale fells shrouded in the cloud. No views today, unfortunately. If you're averse to grass, I'd probably stop reading now.

Bannisdale

Dryhowe Pasture and Capplebarrow

Sunrise on a murky day

Through the wall towards Whiteside Pike

Whiteside Pike

Whiteside Pike's summit cairn

Inscribed stone set into the cairn

A faint path leaves Whiteside Pike, dropping into a depression before crossing a drystone wall using a ladder stile. Ahead, just visible through the mist, is Todd Fell, a small, grassy dome that favours views into Long Sleddale.

Todd Fell

Through the wall once again to the fence that runs along the watershed

Looking back to Whiteside Pike

Todd Fell's summit - nothing to see here

The route from Todd Fell to Capplebarrow (and for much of the rest of the walk) is straightforward enough as a fence or, in some places, drystone wall encircles the valley. A faint path follows the fence, crossing Cappelbarrow before reaching a trio of small humps along the ridge; Swinklebank Crag, Ancrow Brow and an unnamed height at the head of the valley - confusingly called 'Ancrow Brow' in the Outlying Fells.

Capplebarrow in the mist

Whiteside Pike still visible

Todd Fell

An old fence post

A newly constructed fence

A peek down into Bannisdale

Capplebarrow

A sea of grass

Following the fence

Peat hags

Swinklebank Crag

More grass in the mist

Ancrow Brow

From the head of the valley, following the fence is still advised to avoid any navigational difficulties in Borrowdale Moss, an expansive area of marshy ground. In fact, I found crossing the moss was aided by the foundations of a derelict wall which acts as a dry walkway across the moss, almost as far as Long Crag, the next fell on the walk.

A curious series of dams following the wall

The old wall leads right across Borrowdale Moss

The expanse of Borrowdale Moss

Approaching Long Crag

Long Crag has some very minor rocky interest - a brief distraction from the sea of grass that accompanied the walk. From Long Crag, I found it easiest to return to the fence and follow it once again before diverging to make the climb to the summit of White Howe.

Long Crag

Returning towards the wall and White Howe

Unlike any of the hills previously, White Howe does have a trig pillar despite not being the highest of the group. On a good day, the Howgills form a prominent part of the view.

White Howe

After miles of relatively easy walking a final short climb over The Forest is required before a steep descent towards Priest Gill where things began to get a little boggier though I finally managed to get back below the clouds. The diminutive Lamb Pasture is the final fell on the round and is easily accessed after negotiating a few farm gates.

A wall separates White Howe from The Forest

The Forest

A new stile allows easy crossing of the fence after The Forest

The views start to emerge once again

Whiteside Pike

Looking back up to The Forest

Bannisdale

The Forest

Lamb Pasture

Lamb Pasture stands directly above Dryhowe Bridge through a line of small crags makes a direct descent tricky. Instead, skirting the crags to the southeast leads to easier ground and a descent to a farm track which ultimately leads to Dryhowe Bridge.

Looking out towards the River Mint

Whiteside Pike

Lamb Pasture

Whinfell Common

Dryhowe Bridge

So, there is a brief introduction to the Shap Fells - probably an area that is best explored on a brighter day to add some interest to the miles of grass. I can't say that this was a particularly memorable walk thanks to the weather but not bad for an early 2018 outing.