Chapel Stile to Sergeant Man
Above the village of Chapel Stile stands Raven Crag, a great spot for an evening’s entertainment if you are a rock climber.
To start the walk, follow a minor road from the centre of the village up the hillside towards the crag and then head through a gate on the left just by a lay-by. This path skirts the hillside below the rockface. After passing the crag follow a path leftwards up the hill which winds quite steeply up to a little saddle of ground where views to the north begin to open up towards Fairfield and the Helvellyn ridge.
From the cairn head left (north west) to follow a path along the undulating land that rises between the Vale of Grasmere and Great Langdale. The path is generally easy to follow but there are myriad little tracks snaking off in all directions. The key is to keep going in a generally north westerly direction without getting drawn down to the left or right into the valleys. There are great views in every direction, particularly towards Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle at the head of Great Langdale.
Eventually you will reach a point where the path splits, with one strand heading towards Stickle Tarn to the west. Stay on the path that heads north west in the direction of Sergeant Man. This path generally heads uphill and, in clear weather, you should be able to see the prominent little lump of Sergeant Man up ahead.
The path follows quite a rocky shoulder of land up towards Sergeant Man and then onto its bouldery summit. Sergeant Man really is just a little lump in terms of prominence but has a fantastic outlook across the Lake District in every direction, all the way out to Skiddaw and Blencathra and across to Morecambe Bay.
Sergeant Man to Grasmere
From the summit of Sergeant Man retrace your steps down the rocky shoulder of land you ascended. Keep on going until you reach a path heading downhill in an easterly direction, which is marked by a cairn. If the weather is clear you should be able to see Codale and Easedale Tarn in the bottom of the valley in the distance.
The path drops down towards the tarns quite steeply at points and all four limbs are occasionally required. Eventually the way flattens out beside beautiful Easedale Tarn (a great spot for a swim in the right weather or even an overnight camp) and then continues to drop down beside Easedale Beck, with some attractive little waterfalls en route.
The path passes through fields beside the beck and eventually reaches the tarmac road heading into Grasmere. Follow the road all the way into the village and turn right following signs towards Red Bank.
Grasmere to Chapel Stile
The road leads around the village and eventually a right hand fork heads uphill with a finger post sign pointing the way to Loughrigg Terrace, the YHA and Great Langdale. Keep following the tarmac, which eventually runs out to become a stone and then gravel track. This continues uphill to another sign, pointing to Loughrigg Terrace in one direction and Elterwater in the other. Follow the path towards Elterwater, which follows a wall for a while before eventually descending to join a road. This road goes downhill towards Elterwater.
Do not go down all the way to the main road and village but look out for a junction, with an old fashioned white sign painted onto the wall pointing to Dungeon Ghyll in one direction and Colwith, Coniston and Grasmere in the other. Follow the road towards Dungeon Ghyll, which will eventually take you all the way back to Raven Crag and then down into Chapel Stile.
Posted:
Author: Andrew
