• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hugh Stewart

  • Home
  • Books
    • Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations
    • Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route
    • Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain
  • About Hugh
    • Author
    • Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Walking Blog
  • Contact

Broadrick’s route direct, Dow Crag.

By Hugh Stewart July 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

Broadrick’s route was put up in 1899. We should have known better: such vintage climbs graded Hard Severe are always harder, and the first pitch of the direct is the same as its parent. (RW Broadrick was killed on a rope of four in 1903 on Scafell, there being no proper belays then) My guide of 1993 gives the first pitch no grade, so I led off, not really understanding where it went, and after some hesitations and messing about I found a good belay somewhere above. 4a probably. Ian then ignored the steep groove above, probably the direct, and wandered off to the right , out of sight. This turned out to be the original route. We think. And hard enough. It is likely that a nasty V groove with little handholds which followed was the third guidebook pitch, now updated to 4c, and added today to the second, and the last pitch could be anywhere, but I didn’t lead it, mumblings of benighting were heard, but instead took the rope for a 30m scramble to the top. Still, this was after work, an improvement on the last three years, and a rapid descent down the grassy area  below the tarn, now drier than ever known, got us the last pint in the Sun, after much begging, bowing and scraping. I paid, again, possibly as punishment, the route being my idea.

Ian pleased to finish possibly pitch 1
Deep gully side of A buttress
Ian summiting

Filed Under: climbing

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Post Categories

The Latest Comments

  • Hugh Stewart on Ambleside Grasmere circular via Loughrigg.
  • Monica Placzek on Ambleside Grasmere circular via Loughrigg.
  • Dave Burch on Caton Moor circular.
  • Richard Kenyon on Troughton Beck, Langdale.
  • John Bush on Caton Moor circular.

Enjoying the Blog Posts?

If you are enjoying my content please consider supporting my passion by purchasing one of my books. Many thanks, Hugh.

Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

View Book

Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Footer

Caw to Walna Scar traverse.

Another quiet Lakeland walk, (except the Walna Scar track descent), with 6.5 miles and 2330ft of ascent. The Duddon Valley makes a pleasant change from the classic walking valleys: no made steps, only old tracks and rough rocky terrain. Park near the Newfield Inn, a car park exists by the Parish

Continue Reading

Malham Tarn and More

Actually the title is misleading, but kept as it sounded good; the walk goes round the "moor" north of the Tarn and only back along its north bank, and includes the wonderful boardwalk near the Tarn for a floral treat. It has 7.6 miles of limestone scenery, completely avoiding the crowds around the

Continue Reading

The middle Pap of Jura – Bienn an Oir

This route has been written about many times, but as we disagree with the Cicerone guide's recommended route and this was the first eight mile plus mountain walk I'd done in 18 months, we thought it worth a celebratory shout. Why just the middle Pap? Because it's the easiest as you might imagine,

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022 · Hugh Stewart All rights reserved. · Website created by LeePritchard.com