A difficult route in Eastern Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Cow Bridge car park (NY 402 133)
Terrain: Track south along Brothers Water, Hartsop Hall, path south, Kirkstone Beck, footbridge, wall, relentlessly steep ridge path south, Middle Dodd summit, ridge south, Red Screes summit, retrace north, path southwest to stile, path northwest following wall, Scandale Pass, climb northeast, Little Hart Crag summit, ridge descent northeast, final climb, High Hartsop Dodd summit, descent northeast, retrace north to car Notable features: Brothers Water, Hartsop Hall, Kirkstone Beck, Middle Dodd (654m — Wainwright 1), Red Screes (776m — Wainwright 2), Scandale Pass, Little Hart Crag (637m — Wainwright 3), High Hartsop Dodd (519m — Wainwright 4), Brothers Water, Patterdale
A varied and satisfying circuit above Brothers Water taking in four Wainwrights across some of the finest and most varied terrain in the eastern Lake District. The lakeshore approach to Hartsop Hall is a gentle and beautiful opener — Brothers Water at its most tranquil — before the walk announces its true intentions with the uncompromising ridge to Middle Dodd. Relentless is the right word: the ridge gives no quarter and the faint path provides little comfort, but the views that open behind as height is gained are the reward that every step of the ascent is earning. Red Screes delivers a summit of genuine stature — the highest point of the day with a panorama that justifies the name of the fell and the effort to reach it. Scandale Pass is a quiet and atmospheric interlude before the less frequented Little Hart Crag, and High Hartsop Dodd closes the circuit with a summit that overlooks Brothers Water with particular grace. A walk that is better than its modest distance suggests — and considerably more demanding.