Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
AW described this walk as the most charming of ascents, delightful from start to finish.
True, it is a nice walk along a good path that does disappear a tad in the final stretches,
but the summit is comfortable near the Trig column and invites you to stay a while
to take in the views (cloud cover permitting)
Approaching from the South through Eskdale, past Wha House Farm at the foot of
the Hardknott Pass there is plenty of space for free road side parking. The shot above
is looking back down South and is the direction of travel when starting the walk
After about 30 yards or so take a left turn at a sign posted path leads down to
cross Dodknott Gill and a series of hand gates
Crossing Dodknott Gill
Through the first hand gate to get on the path proper
The second hand gate and the path ahead that rises gently along the side of the Fell
Looking back towards Bowfell and the Scafell group under cloud
The Eskdale valley from the path
The path climbs gently as it reaches the third hand gate
The path continues through the bracken
The South face of Harter Fell from the upper reaches of the path
After about three quarter of a mile or so the path levels off as it approaches
the Southern boundary fence of the Hardknott Forest
Approaching the boundary gate of the Hardknott Forest. At this point the path
turns left to start the climb of the shoulder of Harter Fell
Forestry Commission information board
Starting the climb up the Eastern shoulder of Harter Fell
The path tends to become more intermittent as it approaches a belt of crags
As the path tends to fade in and out there is no right or wrong way to continue.
We just took the path of least resistance through the crags
Looking towards Green Crag and Crook Crag as we climb up the shoulder
Higher up the shoulder and another path branches off left to cut across
the belt of crags
Looking over Green Crag towards Devoke Water
A natural break in the crags leads towards the summit approach
The marker cairn indicates the route to the summit
Approaching the summit Trig column
On the summit of Harter Fell. Click here for a 360 degree view
We settled down on the summit for lunch, but were soon interrupted by a
swarm of Digger wasps. These two in quite a compromising position !
Unfortunately for us the views towards the Scafells were hampered by low cloud
The summit Trig column
As we jouneyed back down the layer of cloud that had hit the Scafells
had now shifted and provided some dramatic views ... Typical !
