Lake District Base Brown

1 Start/Finish

National Trust pay-and-display car park at Seatoller

GR: NY245137

Turn L along B5289 and take lane on R. Immediately before bridge over River Derwent, join path on R towards Seathwaite.

2 After footbridge over Sourmilk Gill, turn R to begin ascent beside gill.

3 About 300m after gate in wall, leave path by heading SSE for roughly 140m to largest boulder at foot of Hanging Stone crags. Head up distinct line of stones towards base of crag. Follow faint trail SE for further 130m, bypassing crags, and then climb steep, pathless ground on R. On reaching ridge just above Hanging Stone, continue uphill on faint path.

4 From Base Brown’s summit cairn, walk SW along path, later joining clearer route from R.

5 Just after path bends L on reaching Green Gable’s N ridge, head N, following line of old fenceposts down to pools at Gillercomb Head. Keep to R of pools.

6 Just as path begins climbing again, follow cairns NW across SW flank of Brandreth.

7 Turn R on reaching wide, raised path – remains of old tramway – at Drum House. At bottom, turn R to enter Honister Slate Mine car park.

8 Turn right along B5289. After 450m, take signed ‘Coast to Coast’ path on L. Rejoining road, continue downhill and then take broad track on L. After four gates, turn R at squat fingerpost. Go L at road through Seatoller. Car park is on L on far side of hamlet.