Led by Pat

 

Seven members of Cumbria LDWA met at Wet Sleddale reservior on a day that was mainly dry but with occasional drizzle. Ground conditions were wet.

 

Following the public footpath along the south side of the reservoir led to a bridge over Sleddale Beck then up to Sleddale Hall (photo).

A zigzag path led further uphill to the main track that was followed South-West towards Mosedale. The terrain was boggy in places with lots of cottongrass waving in the breeze and butterwort (an insectivorous plant) keeping low to the ground.

 

Descending the slippery grassy slope with care the plank bridge over Mosedale Beck was soon reached (photo). Here the party divided with two members taking a 2Km detour to visit Mosedale Cottage. This is one of four bothies in the Lake District National Park and was today occupied by 3 friendly young men with one dog and a blazing log fire.

Meanwhile the rest of the group headed down-dale from the bridge, the two parties would re-unite at Truss Gap farm. Before this, where Mosedale gives way to Swindale the groups passed Drumlins and an Esker (photo) formed from the debris carried along by a long-vanished glacier. The Simon Stone, a huge boulder and probably a glacial erratic lurked nearby under some trees.

 

Beyond Swindale foot with now united parties the route climbed steeply through bracken then down to the RSPB/United Utilities offices at Naddle farm.

Crossing the outflow from Haweswater at Naddle Bridge (photo) the route then followed the Coast-to-Coast route through Rawhead, up to Rosgill then down to the hillside above Shap Abbey, with lunch taken on Rosgill Moor.

After Keld and it's ancient chapel the route followed the stream across two fords before rounding Lingy Hill to pick up the old concrete road for a short distance. The outflow from Wet Sleddale reservior was crossed at a footbridge before following the reservoir access road back to the cars.

 

Walk length: 16 miles (17.2 miles including bothy detour)