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- Borrowdale 10 Challenge
The Borrowdale 10 Challenge is a unique challenge created by The Lake District Walker.
The Challenge is designed to put your endurance and mental strength to the test as we climb ten of Borrowdale’s greatest, tallest and most spectacular mountains, including England’s Highest, Scafell Pike.
Summits included on this route:
Base Brown646 metres / 2419 feet
Green Gable801 metres / 2628 feet
Great Gable899 metres / 2949 feet
Lingmell800 metres / 2625 feet
Scafell Pike978 metres / 3209 feet
Broad Crag930 metres/3069 feet
Ill Crag935 metres/3085 feet
Great End910 metres / 2986 feet
Allen Crags785 metres / 2575 feet
Glaramara783 metres / 2569 feet
This challenge would be regarded as being slightly harder than the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, on par with the National 3 Peaks Challenge, but easier than the 24 Peaks Challenge or the Welsh 3000’s. The Borrowdale 10 Challenge is ideal for charity fundraising, team building or as a training challenge before tackling the National 3 Peaks, 24 Peaks Challenge or the Welsh 3000’s.
The challenge starts in the popular location of Seathwaite. The challenge starts with a steep climb up the fellside next to Sourmilk Gill. After warming up on these steep steps we make our way to our first summit, Base Brown.
Now at over 600m we follow the grassy ridge to the south and climb gently to our second summit, Green Gable. After a short descent into Windy Gap we are back on a bouldery ascent. We will pick our way through the boulders and onto the flat, but fine summit of Great Gable. With the first leg of the challenge complete we will take a few minutes to admire the views over Wastwater, and over to the next leg of the walk.
We descend steeply off of the summit of Great Gable to Styhead Pass, where if anyone is finding it hard or has picked up an injury they can easily descend back to the start point. From Styhead Pass we will join the Corridor Route, a path that climbs steadily up the fellside to Lingmell Col. As we reach Lingmell Col we will branch off and summit Lingmell, another amazing viewpoint. We will return back to Lingmell Col and before climbing steeply up to the summit of Scafell Pike, the highest peak of the challenge, and in England. Once again we will take a moment to enjoy the views and admire what we have already achieved.
Now essentially heading back towards the start point we descend off of the summit into Broad Crag Col before again climbing to the boulder strewn summit of Broad Crag. A short walk from this summit will also bag us Ill Crag. From Ill Crag we will descend a short way to Calf Cove before once again climbing gradually up to the summit of Great End. Great End has fantastic views over the Borrowdale Valley, with Derwent Water and Skiddaw in the distance.
Great End marks the end of the second leg of the Challenge and we follow the track down into Esk Hause. This is once again a great opportunity for anyone who is feeling tired or injured to take the easier route back down to Seathwaite. With eight peaks bagged, we have two more remaining.
A short ascent from Esk Hause brings us number nine, which is the Allen Crags. From this summit we will follow the wide grassy ridge to the north, weaving past tarns and rocky outcrops up to our final summit, Glaramara. With all the peaks completed we now have to descend back to Seathwaite to complete the challenge.
Continuing north we will descend down Thorneythwaite Fell to the valley bottom. A gentle walk along a public footpath brings us back to Seathwaite, and completes the Challenge.
This challenge is designed to be strenuous, but it acts as a great training challenge for harder events such as the 24 Peaks Challenge. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your groups suitability to this challenge.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Postcode: CA12 5XJ
Grid Reference: NY 235 121
Directions
From Keswick: Leave on the Borrowdale Road (from the mini roundabout near the co-op).
Follow this road for approx 8 miles, passing through Rosthwaite until just before reaching the village of Seatoller a narrow lane leads off to the left on the bend, signposted to Seathwaite, camp site and Sty Head. This road can be busy and has passing points (unmarked), blind bends and walkers in the road, also a few sheep for good measure, please drive carefully.
Follow this lane, parking as close to the end near the farm as possible, we will meet at the turning circle before the farm entrance gate.
Bus Services
The nearest bus stop to Seathwaite is Seatoller, around 20 minutes walk away from the meet point
- The 78 bus runs regularly between Keswick and Seatoller
- The 77/77a also runs from Keswick to Seatoller and then on to Buttermere, this however is a seasonal service from Easter to October
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
Each participant is expected to have suitable personal equipment for their activity this should include the following:
- Walking shoes / Boots
- Waterproof clothing (Jacket and trousers)
- Suitable clothing for walking (no jeans)
- Warm tops
- Packed lunch
- Spare clothing
- Water
- Hat
- Gloves
- Torch (preferably a headtorch)
- Spare batteries for the above
For winter walks (November to March) events please also bring the following:
- Spare Gloves
- Flask & Hot Drink
The Following equipment may also be useful if owned:
- Snow Goggles
- Gaiters
The following equipment will be provided by The Lake District Walker should winter conditions require:
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
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7 Sep 19 - 10 Peaks Challenge Review by Phil Whyte
Overall Experience Absolute perfect conditions for the challenge. Neil the guide was extremely friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable making the tough walk very interesting. The views were awesome too. Highly recommended and we will definitely be back. Thank you. (Posted on 15/09/2024)
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Borrowdale 10 Review by Susan Simpson
Overall Experience Completed the Borrowdale 10 yesterday in amazing weather. It’s a tough walk, with plenty of steep ascents & tricky descents & scrambling over rough ground & boulders at times. But the views were amazing, the group very friendly & our guide Neil very knowledgeable, calm & patient. It’s quite an achievement but don’t underestimate it! (Posted on 15/09/2024)
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Brilliant day. Review by Alex
Overall Experience Did the challenge on the 07/09/19. Neil was our guide, he made the day easier with his knowledge of the mountains and was good company. Absolutely brilliant day. Had a great group which made the day better. Loved it. (Posted on 08/09/2024)
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Questions:
Question:
Is there a minimum number of participants for this event to go ahead?
Answers:
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Posted by John Scadding on Wednesday, 8 November 2017
For the majority of our events we do not require a minimum group size, however for some events, due to running costs and lengths of day we do have to stipulate a minimum group size for an event to go ahead.
For this event we have a minimum group size of 3 people.
Should we not reach this minimum number one month prior to the event we will contact you and offer you your choice of the following options:
- The option to wait until nearer the event date to see if we reach the minimum number.
- A transfer to another event of your choice (either on the same date or another).
- A Full refund
Question:
What is the minimum age for children on this event?
Answers:
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Posted by John Scadding on Thursday, 12 October 2017
We do not have a set minimum age for this event, however, you know your child best, therefore please bear in mind this is an open event of varying ages, if you are not confident your child can complete this event then hiring a private guide could be a more suitable option.
As this is an open event all under 18's must be accompanied by an adult.
Question:
What happens if the weather is bad?
Answers:
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Posted by John Scadding on Thursday, 12 October 2017
We plan to walk whatever the weather, unless it is dangerous to do so.
Mountain weather can be a little unpredictable, but we do keep an eye on the forecasts leading up to walks, should the forecast mean that the walk is not possible then we will contact you as soon as we have the forecast and offer you the following options:
- A more suitable walk on the same date taking into consideration the weather conditions
- A transfer to the same walk on another date
- A full refund
Question:
Are dogs allowed on this walk?
Answers:
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Posted by John Scadding on Monday, 18 September 2017
Yes, dogs are allowed on all our walks.
However we do cross farmland and common land where animals will be grazing, there will be large sections of the walk, if not all, where dogs will be required to be on a lead.
There are sections of this walk across rough ground and boulders and as such this walk may not be suitable for all dogs.
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