Stonycroft Gill Wild Camp

Prior to meeting up with Walking Forum members for a walk up Grisedale Pike, I decided to catch a bus to Keswick and spend a night on the fells.

15th – 16th July 2022

The first part of my walk took me from Keswick to Braithwaite, where I met up with Walking Forum members (click to enlarge)

I arrived in Keswick just before 3pm, and headed west, keen to escape the hordes milling around the streets. A mile of easy walking found me in the Farmers Arms in Portinscale; a further two miles took me to the Swinside Inn, an old haunt of mine. Sufficiently refreshed, I made my way across the Newlands Valley, to the foot of Stonycroft Gill.

The path from Portinscale leads pleasantly across open fields, with Causey Pike and Barrow ahead.

Looking up the Newlands Valley towards Dale Head and Hindscarth (centre)

Rather than head up the main track that climbs above the northern bank of Stonycroft Gill, I climbed steeply up through bracken to gain the path that traverses into the valley from the south, across the steep slopes of Rowling End. My choice was rewarded by masses of bilberries, still somewhat tart, but delicious none the less. My fingers quickly became stained with their purple juice…..

Looking back towards Skiddaw and Blencathra from the lower slopes of Rowling End

The Swinside Inn, an old haunt of mine, with mighty Blencathra beyond

I crossed the stream by some old mine workings and doubled back to gain the main path on the northern side of the valley. Although the track isn’t steep, I took my time under my full pack, perhaps feeling the effects of my liquid lunch. The gorgeous views unfolding behind me gave me plenty of excuses to stop. The colours were lovely, the bright green of the bracken contrasting nicely with the darker heather, which was about to flower.

As I climbed, Derwent Water came into view.

The Stonycroft Gill valley was gorgeous in the afternoon sunshine, with the Helvellyn range visible on the skyline.

The valley started to open out a bit as I approached Outerside, and I took a traversing path that doubled back towards Stile End, thinking to camp somewhere on the ridge to the north, where there is a small tarn. However, I passed a level terrace of flat grass amongst the heather, too good an opportunity to miss, with lovely views eastwards down the valley and across to the Helvellyn range in the far distance. I pitched my tent and settled in for the night.

The view eastwards towards Helvellyn, the shadows starting to lengthen.

After a comfortable night’s sleep I was up before seven, keen to get an early start so that I could meet up with forum members outside Braithwaite at the appointed time of 0930. I didn’t bother ‘bagging’ Outerside, which was but a short distance away to the west; instead I headed on down into Braithwaite via Stile End, descending its at times steep north eastern ridge. The gradient eased as I descended towards the village, and I had time to visit the local shop for fresh baked pain au chocolat, still warm, and a brace of sausage rolls, some ‘pocket meat’ for the day ahead, before meeting up with Mel and Paul in the car park at the start of the track into Coledale.