8:00 start with 17:30 return
Dedicated to the memory of Ken Brooks WCFA, who devised and led this walk long ago on a very misty day in November 1992. Swindale is a Lakeland gem, one of the most unspoilt dales in the National Park and the focus of an ongoing rewilding programme led by the RSPB to restore lost habitats. Selside Pike’s only claim to fame is that it is the most easterly of the 214 ‘Wainwright’ tops.
The hike starts on the A6 about a mile or so south of Shap village and follows various roads and tracks up Wet Sleddale, eventually descending to cross Mosedale Beck at the foot of Brunt Tongue. It’s then uphill to the cairn on Nabs Moor, from where we make a rising traverse around the hanging valley of Hobgrumble Gill to the rather curiously named Captain Whelter Bog. Just who the Captain was and why he comes to have a bog named after him has been the subject of research by Dr Bente Kanin-Vakmester from the University of Snittlegarth, but neither he nor anyone else is any the wiser. The grassy mound of Swinside Pike at 655m/2,150ft is the high point of the day with views across Haweswater to the High Street range. We descend by its north-east ridge to the Old Corpse Road for the drop down into Swindale. Our route to Shap then takes us from Truss Gap below Trussgap Brow and across Dog Hill to the small settlement of Keld and a visit to the ‘Goggleby’ Stone.
10 Miles / 16km with 900ft / 274m Total Ascent
Leaders beware some of the paths are extremely rough and wet, think wild Galloway bog, tussocks, rampant marsh grass and at lower levels shoulder high dry thistles. Notably the paths from White Crag over Cocklethwaite and Lingy Hill are awful the latter we gave up on after we’d all fallen off tussocks into bog. This is a revamped walk with the best bits of my original plan included. I may not be able to reccy it though.
From Shap path west by fire station (easy to miss) passing the Goggleby Stone, look for 2nd stone in field to right (NW).
Continue to junction, turn north to lane, west on lane briefly then north on walled track passing 3rd stone in wall on right after about 250 yards, 2nd stone visible too.
East on path at road junction passing the tumulus continue round Skellaw Hill to road near the Thunder Stone, no 4.
South on road then west on path alongside lane towards Shap Abbey. Take path north west to Rosgill, just before descent to Abbey. The Buck Stone, no 5, may be visible about halfway along to the left in the field across the River Lowther. We couldn’t spot it.
At Rosgill south west on road crossing River Lowther taking path south to Fairy Crag and Parish Bridge, a lovely little footbridge and a great place for lunch.
Continue south on path through Rayside to Tailbert. (Path is on a track wide ledge so it may be easier to go into field the other side of wall as there were cows and calves on this section which drops steeply on left. South west on path to Swindale Foot and lane to footbridge over Swindale Beck at Truss Gap. Descent is very steep, covered in thick tall bracken, hidden rock and holes, very tricky. It finishes with a stream crossing which was about 6 ft wide and at least a foot deep when we reccy’d on Oct 5th. Cross Swindale Beck on new footbridge and turn north east on path along Trussgap Brow to road near Tailbert. Start is very brambley, we cleared some!) Avoid descent and stream by turning east at Tailbert to take an out and back route to Trussgap Brow and if time another out and back to Blaze Hill. East then north east on road to Keld joining path along side road just after village. Path east just after 1st stile. Cross walled track continuing on field paths to 6th stone just behind the pub.
8½Miles / 13.6km with 800ft / 244m Total Ascent
Leaving Shap we make our way to the Hamlet of Keld where we can see the 16th century chapel. Then it's on to Shap Abbey. Leaving the Abbey we make our way to Rayside and then above Talbert Gill to Talbert and Talbert Head.
From here we descend into Swindale to Swindale Foot. There is now a climb up Bewbarrow Crag and then across Rosgill Moor with its wild ponies. Finally we descend to Rosgill and head back passing above Shap Abbey back to the coach in Shap village.
6Miles / 9.7km with 550ft / 167m Total Ascent
Today Shap is a quiet and peaceful village, situated on A6 road, but before the M6 opened in 1958 there were 9000 vehicles passing through each day.
Setting off from the center of Shap (toilets here), we go along a field path passing the Goggleby Stone, a 10 ton monolith and over 3500 years old. Walking along stone walled paths we eventually reach the road that descends to Shap Abbey. The Abbey which was founded in the late 12th century lies in a secluded valley by the River Lowther.
After looking around the grounds we head in a north westerly direction along a path through the fields to Rosgill. This path is undulating but we will take our time and enjoy the scenery. On reaching Rosgill we take the Coast to Coast road, crossing a very old Pack Horse bridge and on to Rayside. Here we will return, by a different path, to the valley by the Abbey to retrace our steps to Shap.
A lovely walk with great views of the Lake District hills!