Seatallan & Haycock
1
NY144055 A wide path runs uphill, north, through bracken. At a spur it levels to become an attractive path running above Greendale Gill. At this point fork off up to the right, on a smaller path. This follows the spurline up northeast. It becomes faint as it wanders among small outcrops to the well built cairn at the summit of Middle Fell.
2
NY150072 A direct line towards Seatallan would lead down a steep drop into Greendale Tarn. So don’t do that! Follow the path north along the plateau, and gently downhill off its end. At the slope foot the path bends left, north-west, across a wide and rather damp saddle. Where the path forks, the contouring path ahead would bypass Seatallan, so bear up left. The slope gets quite steep, then eases to Seatallan’s plateau. Head to the big shelter cairn and trig point at the west corner. It’s not actually the highest point, but has great views overlooking Sellafield nuclear power plant and the coast.
3
NY139084 Head north-east past the small cairn at the actual high-point, and down the spurline, still north-east. As the grassy spur gets less steep, the path bends north to cross the wide, wet col called Pots of Ashness. As you head slightly uphill out of the col, the path forks. The direct line to Haycock would take you over the outcrops of Gowder Crag, with steep stonefields to left of that – this could be interesting under good snow but is otherwise nasty. So take the right fork path, north-east. This leads to the foot of the spurline to right of Gowder Crag.
4
NY147101 Head up the spur, north-west, with no real path; the way is on grass between rocky outcrops. After a preliminary cairn, you reach Haycock plateau at another cairn. Continue north to a broken wall, fence with stile, and Haycock’s large shelter cairn.
5
NY144107 Head down east, with the better path to right (south) of the wall and fence.
At the major col below, with a dilapidated stile over the fence, turn down right for a faint path into the top of Netherbeck valley. The path runs down to the right of the stream, with some boggy bits.
6
NY153083 Passing under Rough Crag the path gets rather clearer for the rest of the way. As Wast Water appears below, pass above a micro hydro intake, though the works will soon fade back into the surroundings. As the valley opens out above Wast Water, a fence is below the path. The fence follows the stream-side, while the path bears down to the right; stay with the path as it’s swampy beside the fence. Just above the road, bear down right to a rocky knoll which is just above a parking space.
7
NY157061 Follow the road, or the grassy lake shore, to a junction (the famous ‘best view in England’) and turn right to Greendale.