Honister Hause to Eskdale
1
NY225135 From the Youth Hostel you could cross the slateyard to a steep path straight up Grey Knotts. But for a gentler ascent, pass round to the right of the mine buildings to a wide path. This crosses a smooth mine track and continues above it, soon joining the dead-straight line of a former tramway.
2
NY215134 At the high point of the tramway, where it’s on a raised embankment, fork off left on a wide, cairned path. Soon it bends right, but keep ahead up grassy ground among small outcrops (easy scrambling available) onto the knolly summit of Grey Knotts. A fence runs across and the true summit is on the near (north) side of this. A cairned top 200m east is lower.
3
NY219126 Continue south-west, to the right of the fence. A gate leads through the fence before the short climb to Brandreth, with its flat top and many cairns. Continue south through a col with small tarns, to join a wide path, stony at first, up to the summit of Green Gable. With steep drops directly ahead the path slants down left, becoming steep and eroded into Windy Gap.
4
NY214105 Turn down left, on a steep and stony path, to the foot of Styhead Tarn. Turn right up a wide path to the stretcher box at Styhead Pass. Here turn left, east, on a path that bends uphill near a stream to the outflow of Sprinkling Tarn. Keep ahead, south-east, joining Ruddy Gill stream. At 800m from the tarn, the path forks. Bear right, up to the major col of Esk Hause.
5
NY233080 Esk Hause in mist is very confusing. The main thing is to descend grassy slopes south; if you’re on a big, wide path then check your direction as you’re off track. As you descend you’ll find a small path, running to the left of the stream that’s the head of River Esk. Join the stream through a small gorge between high walls, and continue down to the right of the stream to the valley floor.
6
NY227065 It’s best to stay to right of the stream for the next 2km, down valley between majestic slopes of England’s biggest fells. Below the hut-sized boulders called Sampson Stones, cross the stream for a damp path on its left bank. Follow this, bending left (east) out of the upper valley and under the crag of Scar Lathing.
7
NY226047 The river now bends down to the right (south) through a narrow ravine, with the path up on its left. Cross the stone Lingcove Bridge for a wide path continuing down to the left of the river for 4km.
8
NY212014 The path heads to the right of buildings at Brotherilkeld, along the riverside. Here cross a footbridge and then a field to Taw House farm. Turn left along its driveway, and keep ahead along the valley road for 800m to the Youth Hostel, which is up to right of the road.