Great write-up Nick.

I experienced much the same as you. On the way up to High Street I spotted the path dropping away left and knew to keep right. I think I may have then gone too far up to the right, as I found myself pretty much at the summit of Rampsgill Head.

I also had a brief dalliance with the path down to Hayswater, but like yourself corrected it, and a mad dash across rough ground and that steep sided stream, saved the situation.

It was certainly character building up on Place Fell, I wonder if the route would have even gone up there if the organisers had known the severity of the conditions up there...