Eagle Crag, Sergeants Crag, High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Rossett Pike & the Langstrath Valley

Stonethwaite - There's parking in a few spots on the lane approaching this small hamlet, but today I managed to grab a place next to the 'real' telephone box.

Weather looking promising as I head towards Stonethwaite Beck Bridge.

Once over the bridge it's a left turn and onto the Cumbria Way path for a while.

Eagle Crag to my right as I start the ascent. A familiar route for many, as this is part of the Coast to Coast route.

Now my original plan was to continue on this well established path, up and over Lining Crag and onto Greenup Edge.

But at this point I decided to change the plan, and turn right and head up to Eagle Crag first. So it was over and onto the soft green ground and a hop over the beck.

Nearing the summit of Eagle Crag.

After a short climb up the gentle grassy slopes to the summit, I enjoyed the views from the top back down into the beautiful Borrowdale Valley.

Fifteen minutes later I was enjoying similar views from the top of Sergeant's Crag.

Now heading in the direction of High Raise (Langdales).

Looking back towards Sergeant's Crag.

Without realising, I veered off slightly to the right during the ascent and climbed to the top by a slightly more direct route, but lost the advantage of a reasonable path.

No harm done, just a bit more tiring.

High Raise summit. I must have been here twenty times ! It seems to offer itself to visits from many different starting points and it's always worth popping over.

Now over to Thunacar Knott - another that I've visited too many times to remember. A much maligned fell, but one that can often offer shelter from the wind due to the undulations and large rocks spread around. So time for lunch it is - hidden behind a group of vertically facing sharp rocks.

Well I've only gone and done it again - two walks in a row I've left my lunch in the car !!

Fortunately, I had a packet of peanuts in a pocket of my bag - so with hot coffee and my peanuts, I studied Harrison Stickle over there and wondered whether I had enough calories to survive the 15 mile/4000ft walk. Didn't really have any choice to be honest.

Setting off from Thunacar Knott, Pike of Stickle is very prominent on the walk westwards.

Bowfell

The small tarn at the top of Stake Pass.

Really, I should have headed over to and down Stake Pass and back into Langstrath considering I'd had nothing to eat - this would have shortened the walk by one and a half hours. But I was too determined to get to Rossett Pike, so I turned left towards the wide ridge of Buck Pike & Black Crags and cracked on.

I was feeling fine anyway.

Straight on to Stake Pass - Left to Rossett.

A bit of boulder hopping as I approach the summit.

The summit of Rossett Pike - looks like the cairn is in need of some TLC.

A brief look down into Mickleden before heading down to Angle Tarn.

Angle Tarn with Esk Pike behind.

Crossing the source of Langstrath Beck.

You can't get a better path for a long descent. Generally soft and reasonably level, plus a gradual consistent downwards route. None of that never ending rock clambering that is usual in descent at the end of a long day.

Langstrath Beck - I walked alongside it for a bit too long, so I had to adjust slightly and head back up to the main path near the bridge at the start of the Stake Pass.

The sides of Rosthwaite Fell and Coombe Door.

Blea Rock below Sergeant's Crag.

Crossing Langstrath Beck before it joins into Stonethwaite Beck.

I really fancy a pint - but my sandwiches in the car are just a tad more important at the moment.