STUNNING REMOTE SUMMIT
1 NY109153 From the Bowness Knott car park, head southeast on the gravel road along the shores of Ennerdale Water towards High Gillerthwaite. The road is somewhat laborious, but the views to the fells that await help break the monotony. Continue on until you reach a prominent road bridge on your right, which crosses the River Liza.
2 NY130142 Cross the bridge and continue due south along a walled lane to a stile leading into the forest. Turn left along a good track and cross Woundell Beck on a wooden bridge. Veer left downhill, go through a gate and continue along the track, which is quicker going than the footpaths closer to the river. Pass Moss Dub, cross Low Beck and then almost immediately on your right is the footpath that marks the start of the climb.
3 NY151137 Climb through the lichen-rich forest with the deep gorge of Low Beck to your right. Ignore a path to the left and continue south to emerge from the forest to a drystone wall and the open fellside, which offers your first good views of the Long Crag ridge and Steeple summit ahead. Cross a fence and continue further west than you initially expect, or the OS map would suggest, before finding a clear path through the heather that climbs the ridge. Pass through a rocky, boulder-strewn section where small cairns mark the way. Emerge over the brow to a flatter, grassy section and then ascend further to arrive at a low rock barrier. Behind you are excellent views down to Ennerdale Water.
4 NY154123 Take the easy gully through the middle of the rocky barrier and continue to climb. The ridge now becomes sharper, with precipitous drops to your left. But gentler slopes to your right mean it is isn’t a knife-edge arête and the ascent poses few difficulties. A succession of rocky towers offer glorious walking before the easy, grassy path arrives at the summit of Steeple.
5 NY157116 Descend to the col and then rise again to the main ridge. Turn left and head east along a half-derelict wall towards the 841m summit of Scoat Fell, before continuing towards Black Crag. The views back to Steeple offer a totally different perspective of the mountain. Pass the 828m top of Black Crag and then descend over a boulder field to Wind Gap.
6 NY168117 From the cairn at the col descend north-west on a steep, eroded scree path.
Pick up the faint grassy path that heads more directly for Windgap Cove, ignoring the right of way further north which is unclear under foot. Upon reaching the flatter valley, cross the stream and descend to the west of High Beck next to a wall.
7 NY158129 Pass through a gate and follow a derelict drystone wall heading northnorth-west. Enter the forest and descend to reach a forestry track. Turn left momentarily and then a small cairn marks where the path continues through the trees again. Negotiate a boggy, overgrown section, heading ever downward, and emerge at the forest track just east of where your ascent started. Turn left to reach Low Beck.
8 NY151137 Now simply retrace your steps. Head west along River Liza, past Moss Dub and Woundell Beck, before veering north along the walled lane to cross the river and turning left on the gravel road that leads back to Bowness Knott car park.