Friday 12th July I had two fells left to climb in the Borrowdale area - both at either ends of the valley. It was time to get them done. I was on a long weekend. There had been heavy showers on the Friday morning, but it was forecast to clear so, after finishing work at lunchtime & nipping home to grab my gear I set off towards Borrowdale. Arriving at Seatoller's National Trust Car Park, I kitted up & set off down the road towards Seathwaite. After a mile or so, I reached Seathwaite Farm - the wettest inhabited place in England, which attracts an average of 140 inches of rain per year! Seathwaite Farm, with Seathwaite Fell beyond. Seathwaite is a small hamlet at the end of a minor road which turns into a rocky pack-horse route after the farm. It's name, of norse origin meaning 'the clearing in the sedges' first appeared in written records in 1340 spelt ' Seuthwayt'. In the 1550's graphite was discovered nearby, and began being mined . This went on

  Solstice on Souther Fell The summer solstice was here - June 21st - the longest day of the year. I'd managed to get out of work a couple of hours early & had my rucksack packed ready for a night on Souther Fell. Following the minor road from Scales below the flanks of Blencathra, I parked up at the small lay-by below Mousthwaite Comb. The path climbed relatively gently for starters as it followed the bottom of the valley, before climbing more steeply as it circled around to the head of the comb. Mousthwaite Comb There was a crossroads of paths on the hause at the top of the comb. Heading up Scales Fell, round to Scales Tarn, down along the Glenderamackin valley, or the route I would be taking - turn right up onto Souther Fell. From there it was a surprisingly simple ascent, a good wide path ascended the grassy slopes. There was a smaller subsidary knoll to my right, which I thought would make a good place to make camp. I had a quick wander over to see if it was suitable....an