Led by Paul

Six Cumbria LDWA members plus a guest (who joined the LDWA the following day) met near Mungrisdale village hall at 09:30 on Sunday morning. The sun was shining, skies were clear but there was a keen wind blowing from the South-West.

Walking south on the road led to a footpath over the Glendaramackin river and on to the gated road that runs to Scales. Here the route climbed steadily to the north-east end of Souther Fell and then up the ridge, great views opening out behind towards the Pennines with Cross Fell prominent. After a pause to add some layers the group continued to the summit then down over some boggy ground to the top of Mousthwaite Combe. From here the route followed a path high above Scales Beck, with a refreshment stop taken in the lee of Scales Fell. The route continued up the valley with the shattered ridge of Sharp Edge looming menacingly to the West.

Eventually the path led up to the hause on the edge of Mungrisdale Common, whereupon a gently ascending path led South-East to the rocky summit of Bannerdale Crags. A brief pause for group photos and to admire the stupendous view was followed by a traverse of some boggy ground in order to reach the summit of Bowscale Fell which at just over 700 metres was the highest point of the day, and was the third and last of the "Back of Blencathra" (BOB) Wainwright Fells visited.

With an icy wind blowing the group did not linger at the top, but descended above Tarn Crags until a sheltered spot with a view of Bowscale Tarn was found for lunch. There are several paths that lead from the north end of the crags towards the tarn, and the group took one that ended in a steep and rough descent through bracken to reach a much better path lower down. After visiting this lovely and secluded tarn the route joined the good track down to Bowscale before returning to Mungrisdale via a lonning and minor road. A final footpath avoided more of the main road and emerged back at the village hall at 15:30 in time for the Annual General Meeting which was due to start in the nearby pub at 4pm. Walk stats: 10.6 miles (17Km) with 2,300 ft (700 metres) of ascent