Dales 30
Personal Journey

Lovely Seat

Route Options
Height

675m (2,214ft)

Location

Central Dales

Neighbours

Great Shunner Fell

Height

675m (2,214ft)

Location

Central Dales

Neighbours

Great Shunner Fell

Gallery of Lovely Seat

The infamous seat
The infamous seat
Approaching the summit
Approaching the summit
Snowy scenes
Snowy scenes
Lovely Seat from near Buttertubs
Lovely Seat from near Buttertubs
Winter views from Great Shunner
Winter views from Great Shunner
The long approach
The long approach
On neighbouring Great Shunner
On neighbouring Great Shunner

Jonathan’s View

" Lovely Seat is a vast area of high moorland, separated from its higher neighbour Great Shunner Fell by the high col of Buttertubs Pass. The two mountains are usually climbed together either as a quick up and down from Buttertubs Pass or a long circular walk from Hardraw to the South. However I am going to investigate the route from the North, a bridleway at Greenseat Gate may offer an option.

And yes, there is a seat on the summit! Sadly the large stone seat is not natural but built as a shelter for suffering walkers. It must have taken an effort to carry the stone to build it though and is welcome in bad weather. In all areas near the summit there is rough ground, not overly steep but riven with river beds making it awkward to walk on a consistent compass bearing. 

Lovely Seat is not visited much, less so since it was demoted by Marilyn status, but hopefully with the increasing coverage of the Dales 30 as wonderful challenge, more will explore its hidden delights"

Routes up Lovely Seat

There is a choice of routes up Lovely Seat . They are shown on the map and described below. The GPX file describes my favourite route.

click the image to see a larger version of the mao

My Favourite Route

From Hardraw

Height to Climb

680m (2,230ft)

O/S Explorer Map
Parking

SD 849973 Hardaw. Roadside to the west of the Green Dolphin.

  1. Climbing Great Shunner Fell from Hardraw is straightforward, the Pennine Way is clearly marked, obvious on the ground and leads directly to the summit. The crossing to Lovely Seat is also not difficult to follow thanks to a convenient fence line. From the summit of Lovely Seat there is a choice; either take on the peat hags on a direct descent over the shoulder of Lovely Seat or, particularly in bad/wet weather, return to the road at Buttertubs Pass.
  2. From Hardraw take the Pennine Way path bordered by stone walls that leaves the road just to the west of the Green Dolphin pub. After 1 km the lane becomes more open and the track winds its way steadily NW. From the gate (shown on the photo in the snow) the path turns north, with some paved sections  and leads direct to the summit of Great Shunner Fell.
  3. From Great Shunner follow the fence for 2km ESE then turn south for 1/2km to the high point of the road (known worldwide as Buttertubs). Cross the road to the south of the cattle grid and head alongside the fence (initially boggy but improving) which carries on up to Lovely Seat.
  4. After spending 5 minutes in the summit ‘Seat’ head south and then SSW over trackless land (proper compass territory as it is easy to go wrong). The views compensate for the rough terrain which continues to Pike Hill and a bridleway. Follow the track down to the road and enter the hamlet of High Shaw. Rather than stick to the road a footpath cuts across fields to Hardraw just before Simonstone Hall.
  5. To walk Great Shunner Fell from Hawes add 1 1/2km each way

Approaching the summit

Alternative Routes

From Thwaite/Muker

11.5km (7 miles) returning via Buttertubs Pass

450m (1,480 feet)

  1. This is an unusual climb of Lovely Seat from Thwaite to the North. Join the bridleway West and then South to Greenseat Gate. From here climb up trackless moors, initiallty steep and then flattening until meeting a gate and following it to the summit.

2. The easiest descent is to follow the boundary West to Buttertubs Pass. From Buttertubs you can either climb Great Shunner Fell and rejoin the Pennine Way at its summit or if you only want to climb Lovely Seat follow the Buttertubs Road back to Thwaite. Many, including Jeremy Clarkson, believe this is the most scenic road in England.

From Buttertubs - Quick

2 miles/150m

Park in the small car parking area near the cattle grid at Buttertubs Pass. Cross the road and pick your way across some flat peat hags before joing the faint path climbing steeply to the summit of Lovely Seat. Follow the fence and you cannot go wrong.

Return the same way.

 

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