Blencathra, Mungrisdale Common, Skiddaw & Skiddaw Little Man - Sunday 21 September 2014
Route
Threlkeld Hall - Gategill - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra - Atkinson Pike - Mungrisdale Common - Skiddaw House - Sale How - Skiddaw - Skiddaw Little Man - Jenkin Hill - Gale Road Car Park - Brundholme - Wescoe - Threlkeld - Threlkeld Hall
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
Parking
We started the walk from our Caravan at Threlkeld Hall but there is room for a few cars on the verge at Gategill Farm.
Mileage
14.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths - the ascent of Halls Fell is rocky and involves some scrambling with care required in wet conditions.
Weather
Warm and sunny with a light haze. Fresh breezes on the summits
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
5206ft (1587m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Threlkeld Hall - Gategill - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra - Atkinson Pike - Mungrisdale Common - Skiddaw House - Sale How - Skiddaw - Skiddaw Little Man - Jenkin Hill - Gale Road Car Park - Brundholme - Wescoe - Threlkeld - Threlkeld Hall
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
Parking
We started the walk from our Caravan at Threlkeld Hall but there is room for a few cars on the verge at Gategill Farm.
Mileage
14.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths - the ascent of Halls Fell is rocky and involves some scrambling with care required in wet conditions.
Weather
Warm and sunny with a light haze. Fresh breezes on the summits
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
5206ft (1587m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
We had done a variation of this walk before (link) a few years ago but last time we went via Latrigg & Blease Fell - we thought we would give Hall's Fell a go this time as we both fancied a bit of a scramble today. We were staying on the Caravan Site at Threlkeld Hall therefore we could walk from the door today. The weather forecast was for a sunny day - we hoped the visibility would be good too and so it proved to be.
Passing over the A66, the route heads up a farm track to Gategill Farm, home of The Blencathra Foxhounds and then a gate leads on to the open fell side. The climbing pretty much begins straight away and we were soon gaining height and able to look back down over towards the North Western Fells. Whilst Hall's Fell ridge looks pretty daunting, as long as you take your time and are careful the scrambling should pose no danger. After a lengthy ascent the ridge pops you out on Hallsfell Top, the summit of Blencathra where there is a Trig Circle in the ground.
The top was busy and after deciding not to transit over to Gategill Fell, we walked along the summit ridge to take a look at Sharp Edge. Looking down to Scales Tarn and the Edge itself, it was like the queue in a supermarket with people waiting behind each other to ascend the ridge. We then made our way over to Atkinson Pike which was free of people.
The path over to Mungrisdale Common is readily apparent and does appear to some as a featureless trudge but there are views to be had back to Blencathra and over to the Back O' Skidda and, agreed, it is not the most exciting summit but is a good walk all the same. From the summit we made our way over to the junction with the Cumbria Way passing the Cloven Stone on the route down. After a bit of lunch, we passed Skiddaw House and climbed up to the summit of Sale How.
From Sale How the route took us up to the col on Skiddaw where we then turned right and joined the merry throngs on their way up to the summit. As expected, it was busy up there and for once we had a view. Leaving Skiddaw the way we came we dropped back into the col and headed up to Skiddaw Little Man which gives great views over the North Western fells. The descent was busy down to the Gale Road Car Park but once we passed this we were on our own all the way to Threlkeld which was a lovely stretch of the walk in the early evening sun.
This is a fantastic walk but is best done on a good day weather wise - purely to appreciate the fantastic views on offer from two of the best summits in the District - Blencathra & Skiddaw.
Passing over the A66, the route heads up a farm track to Gategill Farm, home of The Blencathra Foxhounds and then a gate leads on to the open fell side. The climbing pretty much begins straight away and we were soon gaining height and able to look back down over towards the North Western Fells. Whilst Hall's Fell ridge looks pretty daunting, as long as you take your time and are careful the scrambling should pose no danger. After a lengthy ascent the ridge pops you out on Hallsfell Top, the summit of Blencathra where there is a Trig Circle in the ground.
The top was busy and after deciding not to transit over to Gategill Fell, we walked along the summit ridge to take a look at Sharp Edge. Looking down to Scales Tarn and the Edge itself, it was like the queue in a supermarket with people waiting behind each other to ascend the ridge. We then made our way over to Atkinson Pike which was free of people.
The path over to Mungrisdale Common is readily apparent and does appear to some as a featureless trudge but there are views to be had back to Blencathra and over to the Back O' Skidda and, agreed, it is not the most exciting summit but is a good walk all the same. From the summit we made our way over to the junction with the Cumbria Way passing the Cloven Stone on the route down. After a bit of lunch, we passed Skiddaw House and climbed up to the summit of Sale How.
From Sale How the route took us up to the col on Skiddaw where we then turned right and joined the merry throngs on their way up to the summit. As expected, it was busy up there and for once we had a view. Leaving Skiddaw the way we came we dropped back into the col and headed up to Skiddaw Little Man which gives great views over the North Western fells. The descent was busy down to the Gale Road Car Park but once we passed this we were on our own all the way to Threlkeld which was a lovely stretch of the walk in the early evening sun.
This is a fantastic walk but is best done on a good day weather wise - purely to appreciate the fantastic views on offer from two of the best summits in the District - Blencathra & Skiddaw.
Blencathra from the Threlkeld Hall access road
Gloriously sunny and warm on the early stages of Hall's Fell
Poor old Fudge was feeling the heat today in his fur coat
The North Western Fells from Hall's Fell
Looking across to the Gategill Fell Ridge
Looking right to Doddick Fell and over to Scales Fell
Either up over the top of the rock band or around to the right
This is the path to the right
Some light scrambling as we approach Narrow Edge
This was easy scrambling today but would be totally different in snow & ice plus wind!
Another look down Doddick Fell
Narrow Edge - the ridge brings you out at the summit
Narrow Edge and an impatient Cocker
Looking back down Narrow Edge
Angie quite rightly taking her time on Narrow Edge
The route of ascent up Hall's Fell - exhilarating walking, especially on a day like today
Looking along the summit ridge to Gategill Fell
The summit of Blencathra
Doddick Fell ridge
Another look along the summit ridge to Gategill
Sharp Edge
Another view of Sharp Edge - too busy for us today
The route up to Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge
Looking back to Blencathra's summit from Atkinson Pike
The white cross near Atkinson Pike
The path over to Mungrisdale Common
The summit of Mungrisdale Common
One of the two "Stone Men" on Mungrisdale Common
The Cloven Stone (Mungrisdale Common 4)
Great Calva
Heading down to the junction with the Cumbria Way - Skiddaw House is to the right in the trees with Skiddaw on the horizon
The Stake (Mungrisdale Common 5)
Skiddaw House Youth Hostel
Blencathra left with Lonscale Fell in the centre
At the junction of paths from Sale How - Skiddaw is behind us with Skiddaw Little Man on the right
Long Side, Ullock Pike and a hazy Bassenthwaite Lake
The summit of Skiddaw looking to Blencathra - first time we have been up here with an actual view!
The directional cairn on Skiddaw
The 3 of us on Skiddaw - Fudge doing his usual trick of looking away
On our way to Skiddaw Little Man looking back to Skiddaw
The summit of Skiddaw Little Man
The path off Little Man to Jenkin Hill
The Hawell Monument
Clough Head
Blencathra from the path to Threlkeld
A really lovely end to the walk - a meal and a pint in this lovely pub in Threlkeld