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Sheepbone rake, High Crag

By Hugh Stewart January 14, 2019 4 Comments

An obvious landmark looking south from Buttermere, and a route by Wainwright, although probably best left till spring or later!

From Buttermere the bridge at the Mere outflow is down at present, although stepping stones, if it’s not too wet, are fine on the left, or take the Scale Bridge route. The “climbers path” of Mr W, “120 yards past the wall in the Wood” does not exist here, but going up diagonally from here to a top forestry track leads to the path and the stile, then under a dripping crag and round to a metal gate and into Burtness Comb.The path leads to a stile and continues up. Cross the Beck when you want and by a small crag turn up into the rake, broader at the bottom than apparent from a distance.Boulders abound, then scree then grass higher up. Sheepbone buttress does not look appetising for a rock climber in January.

Over High Crag and Stile to Red Pike in mist, decided to try a new route down. The fouly eroded path to the Dodd Saddle, then the path from here left, curling round the Dodd and suddenly doubling back, as per the OS map, traversing then descending roughly to meet an infant Near Ruddy Beck, and following this down roughly, (not as per the OS) with some better diversions in the heather each side, through a wall by a wood fence and down on its left side through birch then oak, still pretty rough and not per the OS, to a Holly near a bridge over the Beck and back. Interesting ascent, awful descent, and I suspect the same in reverse! Over 6 miles and 3000ft ascent, it took me nearly 5 hours.

The obvious diagonal rake seen from near the National Trust Car Park
The definite path above Burtness Wood, with the “dripping” crag ahead
Crummack water from the rake.
The small crag lower right where to turn up.
The rake entrance.
Sheepbone Buttress
The descent path round Dodd, clearly seen on a spring day (in February!)
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: sheepbone.gpx

Filed Under: Walks

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Comments

  1. Judy Moffitt says

    April 19, 2023 at 2:50 pm

    Thanks, reminded me of doing it in February 1985 with two girl friends having stayed the night at Buttermere YHA. Elderly gent persuaded us to do it, and then pointed us out on the fells to fellow hostellers saying how brave we were! Did High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike. Down via Lingcomb Edge.

    Reply
  2. Hugh Stewart says

    April 20, 2023 at 3:34 pm

    Thanks, I am now an “elderly gent”!

    Reply
    • Laurence Anderson says

      July 18, 2023 at 8:08 am

      Hi there, I wonder if you grew up in Bulawayo, possibly? If so, we were childhood friends. Yrs, Laurence Anderson

      Reply
      • Hugh Stewart says

        July 18, 2023 at 3:48 pm

        Sorry, grew up in Yorkshire.

        Reply

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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)

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