Mardale Head to Swindale Head via Branstree and Selside

From the car park at Mardale Head, we make a steady ascent up the zig zag path of Gatescarth pass, pausing occasionally to take in the views across Haweswater, High Street and the fells beyond. At a crossroad of paths we take a left turn and walk parallel to the fence continuing up Branstree to the summit of Artlecrag Pike. We continue on to the summit of Selside Pike. From here there are views of the Lakeland fells to the west, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, Kidsty Pike and to the East, The Pennines.

From Selside Pike, beside a cairn, we turn right to follow the line of a fence downhill towards Nabs Moor. At Swine Gill we turn left onto a bridleway that takes us to Swindale Head.   From Swindale Head we take the Old Corpse Road.  The views of Hawswater appears again in front of us as we make our descent, passing by several derelict buildings and down to the road which we follow to take us back to the car park at Mardale Head.