Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
The Mosedale Horseshoe is a very challenging but rewarding walk. There are a
number of steep climbs and drops, particularly Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow. Anyone
walking this must assess their capability if they choose the Stirrup Crag route down to
Dore Head. For those who prefer a safer way down without exposure, a path that
branches off to the left just before the Crag can be taken. This blog describes that route.
The rest of the circuit is on a good track making navigation straightforward.
Allow yourself plenty of time (and light) in which to complete this classic Lakeland walk
The "classic" view down Wastwater on the road to the car park at Overbeck Bridge.
Due to the hot weather we started the walk at 08:00 in order to get the initial height
of the climb out of the way in the cooler part of the morning
The car park at Overbeck Bridge is the starting point for the walk. It`s free to
park but there is an honesty box in which to leave a donation
A track at the bottom end of the car park leads out to the open fell side
at the base of Yewbarrow
Out on to the open fell side now and looking up to the imposing
sight of Bell Rib on Yewbarrow
A path that cuts through a heather patch leads up to a hand gate
Through the gate and the path becomes stepped to assist with the steepness
Into the climb properly now and the ground rises steeply towards a wall stile
The wall stile. Cross over this and take the path that heads left leading
towards Dropping Crag and Bell Rib
Over the wall stile and the path swings left of the main bulk of the mountain, and
heads towards another gate. The second fell of the day, Red Pike can be seen
in the background
Through the gate and Sue pauses to look back at the wonderful view
of Wast Water and The Screes
The climb now starts in earnest as the path zig-zags its way towards Dropping Crag
Sue on the scramble up the gulley. The track is quite safe to climb
and there are no areas of exposure
Nearly at the top of the gulley now and if you want to avoid Bell Rib shown here,then
keep left when climbing the gulley
Sue, having emerged from the top of the gulley
The views really start to open up now. Here looking across Wast Water
towards the Scafells
Sue at the South summit cairn. Click here for a 360 degree view
The imposing sight of Kirk Fell and Great Gable from the summit
We set off towards the North top to pick up the side path off Yewbarrow
therefore avoiding Stirrup Crag
The side path lies roughly in the dip between the two tops (seen here branching left)
This is for those walkers who would not feel safe descending Stirrup Crag
The path, cut in the side of the mountain journeys over a set of boulders
as it leads gently down to Dore Head and is a perfectly safe route
Approaching Dore Head and the start of the climb up to Red Pike. Pillar, the last
fell in the horseshoe walk, can be seen in the background
Sue, here at Dore Head and feeling very glad to have swerved Stirrup Crag
By now the heat was ramping up as we started the climb to Red Pike.
The path is good throughout
The well defined path zigs zags around boulder outcrops and eventually levels out.
Here the summit of Red Pike can be seen in the centre of the shot
On the approach to the summit. Very easy walking
Me on the summit of Red Pike. The summit cairn is right on the edge of a steep
precipice, so be careful to exit the fell on the left hand side !!!
Click here for a 360 degree view
Great Gable peeping over the top of Kirk Fell from the summit of Red Pike
Looking North towards our third fell of the day ... Scoat Fell
The path is very easy to follow as it journeys towards a boundary
wall on the top of Scoat Fell
Looking back to Red Pike from the path to Scoat Fell
The wall that runs the length of Scoat Fell. A small pile of stones denotes the summit.
Click here for a 360 degree view
Just the other side of the wall and our first view of Steeple. It looks precarious but
it is a 10 to 15 minute stroll along a narrow path that does require a little caution
Looking towards Ennerdale Water on the route to Steeple
The start of the short walk to Steeple. It`s a bit scrambly but nothing too onerous
The final part of the path up to Steeple
Sue on the extremely small summit of Steeple. Click here for a 360 degree view
After returning back to Scoat Fell from Steeple, we then head East towards
the final Fell of the day ... Pillar. The descent to Wind Gap is a boulder run to start with
Having crossed the first boulder field we head down to Wind Gap to
begin the climb up to Pillar
A side profile of Steeple on the way to Wind Gap
Looking back to Wind Gap
More boulders to contend with to get on the summit approach path to Pillar
At Wind Gap now and the path to Pillar summit
The summit approach requires a little more rock handling but nothing too serious
After the final scramble, the very welcome sight of the summit Trig Point
and Shelter cairn on Pillar
The route back down to Wasdale follows the line of the old Ennerdale fence posts
The path is easily followed as it makes its way unerringly towards Looking Stead
and the Black Sail Pass
Looking Stead and the Black Sail pass path down to Wasdale Head
Almost on the valley floor now and that long awaited ice cold drink
at the Wasdale Head Inn
The imposing Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow
A lingering last look towards the head of the Mosedale valley in the early evening
at the end of a rewarding day out on the Fells
