Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike & Ennerdale

Sunday 6th March 2022

Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike & Ennerdale.

A fantastic walk in lovely warm (March) sunshine.

It sometimes doesn't get any better than this, as someone I know would sometimes say. To walk in amongst the beauty of the lakes with clear skies and warm sunshine having just got through a wet and cloudy winter, it was a much welcome relief today to have a taste of the summer to come. With all the troubles in the world Covid/Ukraine etc. it was lovely to escape to the tranquility and beauty of lakelands finest Ennerdale and some of its surrounding fells. I could really spend all my life here - I would miss my family and football and Friday nights and take-aways though, so maybe not - Plus my wife wouldn't let me anyway. But for 5 glorious hours today, I had nothing else to worry about other than where was the best place to sit down in the sun and enjoy my lunch.

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Distance: 8.5 miles

Duration: 5:15 hours

Ascent: 3271 ft

Difficulty: Hard

Accompanied By: On my Own

Weather: Sunny

Wainwrights Visited

Great Borne Red Pike (Buttermere) Starling Dodd

3D outline of route

Parking

Parked up at Bowness Knott - Probably one of the best places to park in the whole of the lakes. Picturesque and free !

Heading along the road in the direction of Herdus first

After about 5 minutes I left the road, turned right and headed up this path that bisected Herdus and Bowness Knott

A glance back towards the western end of Ennerdale Water and Crag Fell

Heading up the steep Rake Beck ravine

Little bit of hand to rock at times - the path is well worn and eroded. Time to take my coat & fleece off, it's getting warm.

A drink of water and a brief rest on this short but certainly steep ascent. Time to take in the ever increasing views

Great Borne summit with views over to Starling Dodd and Red Pike - the direction I'll be heading.

Next stop - Starling Dodd

The first glimpse of Crummock Water on my left with the bulk of Grasmoor in the distance and Mellbreak to the left of the water

Summit number two for the day - Starling Dodd

A glance back to where I started earlier on in the day

It's amazing how these county border fence posts become useful. They once signified the boundary of Westmoreland and Cumberland. Now it's all just plain old Cumbria - but the posts now serve to identify the summit of Starling Dodd instead.

Last Wainwright for the day - Buttermere's Red Pike and its summit wind shelter

Beautiful views from the top - Here's looking down towards Crummock Water

And an even better view down to Buttermere

A final glance back looking at most the route I have taken since leaving this morning.

I did briefly consider adding the High Stile ridge walk into the days walk since I was enjoying it so much, but I think I'll leave the really big walks for the long summer days. So instead of walking over to High Stile there, I stuck to my original plans and turned Southwards towards Ennerdale.

Found a lovely spot for a late lunch and relaxed in the sun for half an hour - It doesn't get much better than this !

Pillar dominates this part of the valley.

Looking Eastwards and Upper Ennerdale with Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable (just in view) and of course Pillar.

Following the path down towards the water as it eases from the steep descent. It often amazes me how many people climb up here on the coast to coast and add in the High Stile ridge onto the already big day from Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite. On a hot day, I think it's just too much - we have seen some who have done that alternative/additional climb and have suffered badly - causing them to ditch the rest of the long distance walk. Agree, its really good - but that leg is good enough without doing AW's alternative section. Mind you - that's just my opinion !

Arriving at the track that links Bowness Knott CP with the Black Sail Hut at the top of the valley.

I love this track - I've walked it loads of times, it's just so peaceful and tranquil - and it's got the splendour of the 'big boys' at the Black Sail end and the stunning beauty of Ennerdale Water further west. Always good to finish a walk here I think, as you slowly wind down with no significant work left to do

The River Liza

Just about back at the car park now as I ponder what to listen to on the journey home. One cracking day today, that's for sure ! Let's hope my next trip to the lakes next weekend is just as good.