A difficult route in Southern Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Forestry car park (SD 235 995)
Terrain: Clear track bending southwest, Dunnerdale Forest, track winding right then left, sharp left off main track, path getting more boggy, clear but slightly boggy path (doesn't follow OS map), path winding around crags, path heading north then bearing northeast over Ulpha Fell (good path, ground boggy in places), gate, steep climb to Harter Fell, steep descent not easiest to find, descent through Maiden Castle (CRITICAL: ground very loose/scree in places - be careful), retrace route.
This is a rewarding circular walk taking in two Wainwrights I had to go back and do because weather stopped play the first time I attempted them. The clear track from the forestry car park bends southwest towards Buck Crag before continuing into Dunnerdale Forest where it winds right then left past Kepple Crag. A sharp left turn at SD 214 988 leaves the main track for an increasingly boggy path before turning right onto a clear but slightly boggy route that doesn't follow the OS map but winds toward Green Crag. The path heads west around the crags to Green Crag's summit with amazing 360-degree views - perfect for sitting and enjoying on your own for a while! The path continues north then bears northeast over Ulpha Fell where ground proves boggy in places despite a good path, reaching a gate where the steep climb to Harter Fell begins and ends with amazing views of the Scafells and Irish Sea stretching to the Isle of Man - all brilliant. The descent proves not the easiest to find, heading southeast to pick up the path at SD 220 995 before steep descent through Maiden Castle requires careful attention as ground underneath is very loose and scree-like in places. After reaching Mart Crag and the track at Buck Crag, retracing the route completes the circuit. Second time lucky after weather prevention on the first attempt - two more Wainwrights successfully bagged!