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Gatescarth Pass, Longsleddale
Gatescarth Pass
site name:-   Adam Seat
site name:-   Selside Brow
civil parish:-   Shap Rural (formerly Westmorland)
civil parish:-   Longsleddale (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   pass
locality type:-   cirque (at head) 
coordinates:-   NY47390927
coordinates:-   NY47420920 (track summit) 
1Km square:-   NY4709
10Km square:-   NY40
altitude:-   1920 feet
altitude:-   585m
SummaryText:-   The track is not the lowest part of the pass between the hills, it runs a little up the side of Adam Seat.

photograph
BOT60.jpg (taken 4.3.2008)  
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
placename:-  Goatscar
source data:-   Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.
image WS21P190, button  goto source
Page 190:-  "A TABLE OF THE Height of Mountains and Lakes SEEN IN THIS TOUR, ... TAKEN FROM THE LEVEL OF THE SEA. ... by Mr. John Dalton."
"Goatscar, summit of the road from Hawes-water to Kendal ... 663 [yards]"
evidence:-   old text:- Housman 1800
item:-  clouds
source data:-   Guide book, Descriptive Tour, and Guide to the Lakes, Caves, Mountains ..., by John Housman, published by F Jollie, Carlisle, Cumberland and C Law, Ave Maria Lane, London, 1800; published 1800-21.
Page 72:-  "..."
"The road now contracts into a rugged path, and winds curiously half way up the side of a steep mountain, whence a more easy ascent is had to its summit. It then descends, in a like serpentine manner, down to the vale of Mardale. Notwithstanding the difficulty of this road, the stranger enjoys the satisfaction of being assured that he cannot possibly deviate from the right path. - When we traversed this Alpine pass, the broken scattered clouds were hurried along before a brisk wind, just touching the tops of the mountains, while the sun shone bright through among them. The dark coloured and well defined shadows of these dense vapours, sweeping rapidly over the heathy surface in a variety of figures, like immense carpets, occasioned a very singular appearance in this elevated region."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
item:-  viewpoint; horse
source data:-   Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.
image OT01P115, button  goto source
Page 115:-  "The road over Gatescarth, between Branstree and Harter Fell, is steep on both sides, yet such as a horse may be ridden, or rather led; and from the highest part there is an extensive view towards the sea. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Hodgson 1828
placename:-  Gate Scarth
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, 4 sheets mounted together on linen and rolled, Plan of the County of Westmorland, scale about 1.25 inches to 1 mile, by Thomas Hodgson, engraved by W R Gardner, Harpur Street, London, published by Thomas Hodgson, Lancaster, and perhaps by C Smith, 172 Strand, London,1828.
image
HDG6lsl5.jpg
map courtesy of Mark Cropper
"GATE SCARTH"
item:-  private collection : 371
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Gatescarth Pass
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2NY40.jpg
"Gatescarth Pass"
pass between hachures 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- OS 1881-82 New Series (outline edition) 
placename:-  Gate Scarth
source data:-   Map, engraving, area north of Kendal, Westmorland, New Series one inch map, outline edition, sheet 39, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, 1881-82.
image
O21NY40U.jpg
"Gate Scarth"
item:-  JandMN : 61
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Wilson 1912
source data:-   Guide book, Longsleddale, by F M Wilson, published by T Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, 1912.
WILSON1.txt
"The pathway up to the elevated plateau of Gatescarth is very steep and rough, but when you reach the top, the view is indescribably grand. On one side is the beautiful Mardale valley, and on looking back you see the range of Kentmere hills in all their beauty of form and colour; the Yorkshire hills - Ingleborough; a little further on Morecambe Bay; and nearer, the town of Kendal."
evidence:-   map:- OS Six Inch (1956) 
source data:-   Map series, various editions with the national grid, scale about 6 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, scale 1 to 10560 from 1950s to 1960s, then 1 to 10000 from 1960s to 2000s, superseded by print on demand from digital data.
image
SINY4709.jpg
evidence:-   old print:- Prior 1865
placename:-  Gatescarth Pass
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Gatescarth Pass and Longsleddale, Westmorland, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, 1865.
image  click to enlarge
PI0107.jpg
Included on page 51 of the guide book, Ascents and Passes in the Lake District of England, by Herman Prior. 
printed at bottom:-  "BRANSTREET. / GATESCARTH PASS AND LONG SLEDDALE. / HARTER FELL."
item:-  JandMN : 235.9
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BUY27.jpg  From Mardale Head
(taken 15.7.2011)  
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