Blencathra, Mungrisdale Common & Lonscale Fell - Saturday 11 November 2023
Route
Threlkeld - Fell Side - Gategill Farm - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra - Atkinson Pike - Blue Scree - Mungrisdale Common - Cloven Stone - The Stake - Burnt Horse - Lonscale Pike - Lonscale Fell - Cumbria Way - Whit Beck - Brundholme - Threlkeld
Parking
Threlkeld Cricket Club on the A66 (Charge) - Grid Reference is NY 3254 2541. Nearest postcode is CA12 4TZ. If coming from Keswick the access point is via a filter lane just after the turning into Threlkeld.
Mileage
11.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout. Hall's Fell Ridge is a Grade 1 Scramble and care should be taken along the arête. Mungrisdale Common has a reputation for being extremely boggy however it is my honest opinion that this is vastly exaggerated. There is some surface water but nothing more than that.
It is stressed that the ascent of the upper reaches of Hall's Fell is classed as a Grade 1 Scramble and due to the nature of the slate rock it can be extremely hazardous when wet. It is advisable to stay on the side paths under these conditions. In snow and ice the ridge is a sustained Winter Grade 1 climb.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with no wind and excellent visibility
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3405ft (1038m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
Threlkeld - Fell Side - Gategill Farm - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra - Atkinson Pike - Blue Scree - Mungrisdale Common - Cloven Stone - The Stake - Burnt Horse - Lonscale Pike - Lonscale Fell - Cumbria Way - Whit Beck - Brundholme - Threlkeld
Parking
Threlkeld Cricket Club on the A66 (Charge) - Grid Reference is NY 3254 2541. Nearest postcode is CA12 4TZ. If coming from Keswick the access point is via a filter lane just after the turning into Threlkeld.
Mileage
11.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout. Hall's Fell Ridge is a Grade 1 Scramble and care should be taken along the arête. Mungrisdale Common has a reputation for being extremely boggy however it is my honest opinion that this is vastly exaggerated. There is some surface water but nothing more than that.
It is stressed that the ascent of the upper reaches of Hall's Fell is classed as a Grade 1 Scramble and due to the nature of the slate rock it can be extremely hazardous when wet. It is advisable to stay on the side paths under these conditions. In snow and ice the ridge is a sustained Winter Grade 1 climb.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with no wind and excellent visibility
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3405ft (1038m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
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GPX File
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Route Map
There are several options for parking on this walk. The Cricket Club Car Park on the A66 has plenty of spaces.
Looking across the A66 from the Cricket Club Car Park. Over to the left is Knott Halloo with Gategill Fell above whilst to he right is our route of ascent via Hall's Fell Ridge to the summit of Blencathra.
Once the A66 is crossed, the route heads in to Threlkeld then to the right up Fell Side
After a 1/4 of a mile along Fell Side a farm track on the left leads to Gategill Farm
The waterfall above Gategill Farm (Click Play to view)
From the waterfall a path leads to cross Gate Gill to the base of Hall's Fell ridge
The path up Hall's Fell starts off on a gentle & benign gradient - all would change pretty soon
Looking back to the crossing point over Gate Gill with Threlkeld beyond
The ridges of Doddick Fell & Scales Fell from Hall's Fell
The path turns north and from here the gradient starts to increase
Looking across to Middle Tongue and Gategill Fell
Now the fun starts - the base of Hall's Fell ridge known as Narrow Edge with Blencathra's summit up above
Gategill Fell across Middle Tongue
Scales Fell & Doddick Fell with Great & Little Mell Fell beyond
Continuing along Narrow Edge
All smiles as the group pose at the lower reaches of Narrow Edge
The scrambling starts in earnest now as we head along Narrow Edge. In ideal conditions (as we had today) the scrambling is easy enough providing you take your time and watch where you are putting your feet.
Another look to Doddick Fell & Scales Fell from the ridge
Fudge has done Hall's Fell ridge many times and was clearly enjoying himself - someone just needs to tell his face!
Looking down to Gate Gill
Members of the group heading along Narrow Edge
The superb view down Hall's Fell ridge to Clough Head and The Dodds
Hands on rock now as we continue up Narrow Edge
This is a cracking part of the scramble
Looking back to the most difficult part of the ascent whereby a narrow rib of rock has to be negotiated - again, just a question of taking ones time
Gategill Fell with some low cloud creeping in
Looking down Hall's Fell ridge as we approach the summit of Blencathra
The ridge between Gategill Fell & Blencathra
Atmospheric conditions now as we near the summit
And here we are after an exhilarating climb - the summit of Blencathra. I think they enjoyed that!
Gategill Fell with the Skiddaw range over to the right
The replacement Trig Ring that marks the summit of Blencathra - the original one was vandalised a few years ago
Very proud to be wearing my Falklands Scarf on Remembrance Day. We held a 2 minute silence on Hall's Fell Ridge to commemorate those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
Looking to Atkinson Pike from the summit of Blencathra - we were off over that way next
Fudge arsing about in the snow (Click Play to view)
The White Cross just north of The Saddle
On a good day the White Cross can clearly be seen from Blencathra's summit. The cross is made up of many crystallised white stones and owes its existence to Harold Robinson of Threlkeld. The original cross was much smaller than this and was first placed here to commemorate a walker who lost his life on an adjacent rough slope. Mr Robinson collected more stones of locally veined quartzite and extended the cross to its present size. (Blencathra 33)
On a good day the White Cross can clearly be seen from Blencathra's summit. The cross is made up of many crystallised white stones and owes its existence to Harold Robinson of Threlkeld. The original cross was much smaller than this and was first placed here to commemorate a walker who lost his life on an adjacent rough slope. Mr Robinson collected more stones of locally veined quartzite and extended the cross to its present size. (Blencathra 33)
The path to the much maligned Mungrisdale Common from Atkinson Pike
The Skiddaw group from Blue Screes just below Atkinson Pike
Descending Blue Screes to the Mungrisdale Common path
Sharp Edge & Foule Crag from Blue Screes
Heading for Mungrisdale Common
The group at the cairn near Mungrisdale Common's summit. The highest point of the fell is a few yards to the east amongst a tussocky and boggy mess. For the purists amongst you then it must be visited but to be honest there is very little height (if any) between both points. Most people consider this cairn as the top. I never understand why people give MC a hard time - the views to Blencathra & Skiddaw on a clear day like today are superb. Maybe they just need to open their eyes.
The Cloven Stone - no prizes for guessing how it got its name. As with "The Stake" which is a bit further on in this walk, in the past it has served as a Boundary Stone.
The glorious view over to the Skiddaw group from just below the Cloven Stone. Skiddaw House can be seen encircled by trees right of centre. The area Skiddaw House is located in is called "Skiddaw Forest" - the word "Forest" is used here in its original sense, meaning land used for hunting, rather than a woodland.
The Stake (Mungrisdale Common 5) with Great Calva beyond
The gate which gives access to the path over to Skiddaw House which forms part of The Cumbria Way. We completed the Cumbria Way in 2021 and our journal detailing this wonderful long distance path can be found here
We were off to Lonscale Fell & Pike next via Burnt Horse which is a less trodden way back to Threlkeld. The path handrails a fence to the right - Lonscale Fell (& Pike) is over to the left.
Lonscale Fell from Burnt Horse
The transit to Lonscale Fell via Burnt Horse drops into a col - it is a steep up and down but a wonderful route
Looking back to Blencathra from Burnt Horse
Great Calva & Burnt Horse from near the top of the rise out of the col
The group make their way up out of the col with Blencathra providing the backdrop
A fantastic view of Burnt Horse from near Lonscale Fell
The shadow of Lonscale Fell falls upon the lower slopes of Blencathra as we near the summit
Fudge and I with the group on the summit of Lonscale Pike.........................
........... whilst a few hundred yards away is the summit of Lonscale Fell with Skiddaw over to the left
Clough Head, The Dodds & the Helvellyn range from the descent of Lonscale Fell. In the centre of shot lies St John's in the Vale, High Rigg & Low Rigg with Blueberry Fell to the right.
Keswick & Derwentwater now in view as we continue the descent from Lonscale Fell
To reach the Cumbria Way and the valley floor a rough path needs to be negotiated. It is not a well trodden route therefore needs bit of care taken as you make your descent.
Safely down on the Cumbria Way as we cross Whit Beck
Looking back to Whit Beck from the Cumbria Way - the popular path up Skiddaw can be seen over to the left
Blease Fell from above Brundholme
The route crosses the River Greta just below Brundholme to join the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail. Moyra & Sioelan can be seen discussing whether or not to grab a 99 before the Ice Cream Van departs.
The Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail
As a result of the Beeching cuts, the line beyond Keswick to Cockermouth and Workington was closed on 18 April 1966, leaving a single branch line between Keswick and Penrith. It closed in 1974 and the track was taken up. The trail, which was reopened in December 2020 following damage in Storm Desmond in 2015 starts from just beyond Keswick Leisure Pool close to Fitz Park and runs for 5km to Threlkeld making a 10km out and back route. The trail is multi user suitable for walkers, runners, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and cyclists.
As a result of the Beeching cuts, the line beyond Keswick to Cockermouth and Workington was closed on 18 April 1966, leaving a single branch line between Keswick and Penrith. It closed in 1974 and the track was taken up. The trail, which was reopened in December 2020 following damage in Storm Desmond in 2015 starts from just beyond Keswick Leisure Pool close to Fitz Park and runs for 5km to Threlkeld making a 10km out and back route. The trail is multi user suitable for walkers, runners, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and cyclists.
A small tunnel which the Victorian builders blasted through the crag which leads to Rawsome’s Bridge.
Just love these old signs - and long may they remain
Arriving in the lovely village of Threlkeld and a welcome post walk pint in The Horse & Farrier