Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
Make no mistake about it, Blencathra is a marvellous mountain. AW dedicated 36 pages
in Book 5 to it, spending months climbing it by all the different routes (12).
Knowing our climbing capabilities we decided to use one of the less adventurous routes
with the intention of manually assessing the Sharp Edge route before taking it on.
Whilst the walk was fantastic, the dense mist covering most of the views and routes
prevented me from looking down the edge from the top of Foule Crag. In typical
fashion the mist lifted on our way down but this in no way detracted for a wonderful
day out on the mountain.
As well as layby parking along the side of the A66 there is also free overspill
parking as you turn off at Scales to head towards the White Horse Pub
From the car park walk past the front of the Pub and climb a wooden staircase that leads
onto what is an additional patio area. From then gain access to a very steep climb
onto the main path that cuts up the flank of Scales Fell
It`s very steep right from the off. Note the length of piping after the fence which
can be used to pull yourself up with. This leads on towards the main path
Starting out on the main path up Scales Fell
We pause to look over to Clough Head to try and assess whether or not the mist
is lifting. Probably not
The path twists and turns occasionally to assist with the steepness. At this point
we are looking over towards Souther Fell
The path is very well defined throughout and thankfully easy to follow in mist.
At this point you should be able to see the massive bulk of Doddick and Halls Fells
but not today
All of a sudden, a break in the mist and a brief glimpse of Doddick Fell
Swing left to cross the ridge of Scales Fell
Further up the shelf on Scales Fell and a brief glimpse of the neighbouring ridges
The mist descends again. Here we are at about 2000 feet and the path becomes
less steep
Further along and is that the summit?
No .. not quite. We still have a fair way to go; however much of the steepness is
behind us and the walk becomes a gentle stroll
The path provides easy access to the edge of the escarpment that gives
some dramatic views. The summit is not too far away now
The summit Trig point on Blencathra
Team shot on the summit of Blencathra. As the picture hopefully depicts it`s just
like a point in the sky with steep drops on either side. At this point you should be able
to see Keswick and all of the North Western Fells but not today. We stayed on top
for at least an hour or so and it was extremely busy. I took a detour across the "saddle"
of Blencathra to see if I could get a close up of Sharp Edge from the top of Foule Crag
but that wasn`t happening
As we started to journey back down the mist slowly started to lift
Looking at the length of the Halls Fell ridgeline that leads directly to the
summit point of Blencathra
Looking East towards Sharp Edge that is slowly clearing from the mist
Rising up from the base of Scale Tarn to the start of Foule Crag, Sharp Edge is
sloping arete of naked rock and is officially rated as a Grade One scramble
Three scramblers on Sharp Edge. I thought that the person at the back had a
baby strapped to his back but it turned out to be his walking bag with a pinkish
rain cover on top
The "Bad Step". This is the final awkward bit of scrambling before you have
to climb up Foule Crag
Scrambling up Foule Crag
Looking towards Foule Crag
Doddick Fell and Halls Fell ridgelines
In the distance Great Mell and Little Mell Fells
A much clearer view of Clough Head now as we head down to the car park
Back at the car park now and it seems that even "Wiggo" had a jaunt up the
mountain today, but presumably not on his bike
Typical !! - as we journey to Ambleside - clear skies and mist free, Blencathra
in all its majesty. A fantastic mountain day out and certainly one to revisit
