| Blencathra - Route One |
| Start - Scales NY 340 267 | Distance - 2.3 miles | Ascent - 2,325 feet | Time - 2 hours : 05 minutes |
|
Warning - The ascent of the upper crest of Hall's Fell is classed as Scrambling Grade 1 and due to the nature of the slate rock it can be particularly hazardous when wet. It is advisable to stay on the side paths under such conditions. Under snow and ice the ridge is a sustained Winter Grade 1 climb |
|
Our friends from Warwickshire, Angie and Joy, on a short visit to the Lake District wanted to try a fell walk . . . "something high" Angie said. We thought Blencathra via Hall's Fell ridge would fit the bill, AW described the route as "positively the finest way to any mountain top in the district" - you can't get a better recommendation than that! We started from Scales rather than the direct way from Threlkeld because our return would be by the Glenderamackin Valley and Scales Fell, to take in the views of Sharp Edge. |
 |
| Scales, at the start of the walk with the Hall's Fell ridge in sunlight on the skyline |
 |
| A gate in the intake wall above Scales Green gives access to the open fellside. We turned left to follow the wall alongside the base of Scales Fell towards Scaley Beck. The path visible beyond the wall will be our return route |
 |
| Looking south west from path alongside the wall to High Rigg and Bleaberry Fell |
 |
| Great Dodd and Clough Head across the valley |
 |
| Approaching Scaley Beck |
 |
| The valley of Scaley Beck dominated by the fine ridge of Doddick Fell in the centre of the photo. To exit Scaley Beck requires a short but steep scramble up the rock outcrop seen here on the lower left. A walker can be seen at its base |
 |
| Conor showing Kate how to scramble up the awkward rock step! |
 |
| Looking back towards Great Mell Fell from the top of the rock step |
 |
| Past Scaley Beck the path crosses the base of Doddick Fell towards Doddick Gill |
 |
| Approaching Doddick Gill with the lower part of Hall's Fell straight ahead |
 |
| Doddick Gill with the top of Doddick Fell on the horizon |
 |
| Clough Head from Doddick Gill, the path now continues around the base of Hall's Fell towards Gate Gill |
 |
| Looking up to the Hall's Fell ridge from Gate Gill. The summit of Blencathra (Hall's Fell Top) on the left skyline |
 |
| The path climbs the blunt lower part of the ridge in a series of wide zigzags, intially on grass overlooking Gate Gill, before gaining the heather clad spine of the ridge where the path becomes much stonier |
 |
| A closer look at Narrow Edge, the upper part of Hall's Fell ridge, leading directly to the summit of Blencathra |
 |
| Joy leads the way on the approach to the first zigzag |
 |
| Looking across to the adjacent ridge of Gategill Fell from the path |
 |
| Approaching the spine of the ridge which is marked by a substantial cairn |
 |
| Past the cairn the path becomes a little steeper |
 |
| Looking down the lower part of the ridge |
 |
| The slope eases on the approach to a rock band which marks the end of lower part of the ridge |
 |
| The rock band is easily climbed and on reaching its top ..... |
 |
| .... the full length of upper part of the ridge, known as Narrow Edge, is revealed. The crest of the ridge is a series of low crags and pinnacles, the direct ascent of which is a grade one scramble but almost all difficulties can be avoided by using the side paths below the crest |
 |
| Starting up the lowest rocks of Narrow Edge |
 |
| Typical pinnacles on the ridge, the path tends to avoid all of them but they are easily climbed - if the rock is dry ! |
 |
| Approaching the steepest part of the ridge, a series of pinnacles culminating at a rock tower |
 |
| Looking across to the Gategill Fell ridge |
 |
| And over to the right, the rocky crest of the Doddick Fell ridge |
 |
| Open scrambling at the start of the steep section of the ridge over the pinnacles, the path avoids them on the right |
 |
| Jasper enjoying the view ! |
 |
| Scrambling up to the rock tower which AW notes on his diagram of this ascent |
 |
| The upper arete from the rock tower |
 |
| Looking down to Gate Gill |
 |
| Looking back from the start of the climb of the upper arete |
 |
| Looking across the Gategill Fell ridge to Derwent Water from the arete |
 |
| Looking up to the summit from the arete |
 |
| Thirlmere from near the top of the arete |
 |
| The final slope below the summit |
 |
| Joy, Kate, Conor and Jasper at the top of the arete |
 |
| The summit of Blencathra |
 |
| Kate congratulates Angie and Joy on their ascent of Hall's Fell ridge - Well done ! |
 |
| Helvellyn from the summit of Blencathra |
 |
| St. John's in the Vale and Thirlmere from the summit of Blencathra |
 |
| Derwent Water from the summit of Blencathra |
 |
| The summit ridge leading to Gategill Fell Top |
 |
| Skiddaw from the summit of Blencathra |
 |
| The Back o' Skiddaw fells, Bakestall, Great and Little Calva with the slopes of Knott on the right |
 |
| Combe Height and High Pike on the left with the top of Atkinson Pike on the right which will be our return route |
 |
| The Pennines on the horizon beyond the Eden Valley |
 |
| The view over Flaska and Threlkeld Common to the Far Eastern Fells |
|