BB2222 : TVM = 214 x W

Tuesday 26th July 2022

These were my summaries of Seat Sandal from previous visits (BB0713, BB1240, BB1415, BB1508).  It was a relief back in 2015 to know that I would never have to go there again.  Until today, that is.

Why?  Because TV Mike (fresh from yet another prizewinning competition) had wickedly kept it as his chosen hill on which to complete his first round of the Wainwrights and he wanted his pals to be with him to share his pain.

So Mike B, Stan, Terry and I joined forces with Mike’s other walking chums to be the support team for his triumph.  Actually his other walking chums didn’t seem to hold the same grudge against the hill. There again, one had been round all the Wainwrights five times.  Another had been building up his strength for a trip across the Arctic by running the fells whilst dragging a tyre behind him.  Yet another was training as a mountain leader.  And several of them were regular Monro baggers and had recently come back from Snowdonia having pummelled the Welsh hills into submission.  I may have the detail slightly wrong but you get the idea.

Did we feel the underdogs?  Well, Stan might not have done but I certainly felt outclassed.  I don't know about Mike B and Terry.  And talking of dogs, Howard’s hound took an instant dislike to Stan’s border terrier and there was nearly scrap before we set off.

To be fair to TVM, he had decreed that it should be a leisurely, non-competitive outing to enjoy the day and he was true to his word.  Only Howard and hound were anxious to display their fitness and shot off up Tongue Gill, .....

..... climbed Seat Sandal and returned back to Grisedale Hause to meet us just as we arrived there.

The day had started off cloudy but it was now starting to clear.  Howard’s challenge being completed, he made his way back down (probably taking in Skiddaw and Scafell Pike for good measure before lunch).  Meanwhile our leisurely group made our way round to the south side of Grisedale Tarn to visit the Brothers’ Parting Stone.  

This is where, inscribed on a rock, Wordsworth’s words record how he, William, and his brother, John, last bade each other farewell before the latter was drowned four years later when his ship, the Earl of Abergavenny, was wrecked.

You can read the sad tale of the parting and much more at William Wordsworth and Grisdale Money.

We stopped for first lunch sat by the side of Grisedale tarn, watching cows nonchalantly grazing whilst quite a lot of folk were coming up over the pass, some carrying huge rucksacks; most presumably undertaking the Coast to Coast long distance walk, or less likely, the Westmorland Way from Appleby to Arnside (or vice-versa).

The tale was told of the crown reputedly thrown into Grisedale Tarn by King Domnhail’s faithful warriors for safekeeping until such time as he should return.  Meanwhile his body lay (and presumably still lies) at the top of the pass named, somewhat anticipatedly after him, Dunmail Raise.  You can read more about him (and today’s other history lesson) at: King Domnhail and the Parting Stone.

Our ascent of Seat Sandal was to be from the north.  It looked easy from the map and also from across Grisedale Tarn but on closer acquaintance proved a little steeper than I had expected.  However the pace TVM was setting was kind and we all made the summit without too much difficulty.

There are two possible, stony bumps at the top and we found it difficult to decide which was the higher.  Our GPSs were similarly confused.  To make sure that we didn’t have to go there again (unlike the Mellbreak saga) we visited both.  

Mike’s triumph complete, he celebrated by cracking open the bottles of bubbly he had been carrying and provided us all with a generous helping to consume with our second lunch.  I later felt the weight of his rucksack, still with bottles but now empty, and it was immensely heavy.  No wonder he had advocated a leisurely pace.  

Terry, Keith,  Stan,  Mike B,  David,  Paul,  TV Mike,  Mick,  Dave, Don

Mention should also be made of Mick's contribution to the event- he had brought a tub of Cadbury's Heroes to share.  The tub had the slogan "WHO AM I?" which reminded me that Mike's latest competition success was The Sunday Times' "Where Was I?" for which he has been awarded a luxurious weekend somewhere.  Maybe a "Where is he?" competition beckons?

After the celebrations, we returned down to the valley by the southern nose, which proved to be a very pleasant path with superb views to Skiddaw in the north, .....

.....Great Gable to the west.....

.....and round to Heysham Power Station.  And I do believe I could see Blackpool Tower.  Can you?

Click on the picture above to see Terry's video of the panorama.

More celebrations followed at the Travellers Rest, thank you Mike.

The day has changed my opinion of Seat Sandal.  I now know that, properly handled, it is a worthy hill; one that I would be very happy to revisit with anyone else who is saving it for his 214th and last Wainwright and is carrying bottles of bubbly to share at the summit.  Any volunteers?

Don, Thursday 26th July 2022
Thanks to TVM for many of the photos and Mike B for Blackpool Tower

A New Map For Planning?

A few days ago I discovered by chance (although it is possible that Bryan had already told me about it but I had forgotten) some mapping software called WayMaps.  It can be found on the Walk Lakes website and is free to use in its simplest form.  Superficially it looks like an OS map but on closer examination you will see that shows many more footpaths that does the OS.  It seems a really good program for planning purposes.  Here is a comparison of WayMaps alongside the OS 1:25k map.  They are not depicted at quite the same size but you can easily see how many more footpaths are shown on WayMaps.

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STATISTICS

BB2222 : TVM = 214 x W

Date:

Tuesday 26th July 2022

Features:

Seat Sandal

Distance in miles (MM):

6.3

Height climbed in feet (MM):

2,440

GPX track:

BB2222 GPX

Comitibus:

TV Mike
Don, Mike B, Stan, Terry
Dave, David, Howard, Keith, Mick, Paul

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