Clough Head - Wednesday 8 January 2025
This walk is dedicated to the memory of Sue Lennon who sadly passed away a few months after we completed this walk. Sue was a good friend of ours and a regular walker with Lakeland Meet Ups - a genuinely lovely person, she will be very much missed by all who knew her and had the privilege to spend time in her company.
Route
Threlkeld - Mill Bridge - Newsham - Old Coach Road - Threlkeld Knotts - Clough Head - White Pike - Old Coach Road - Hausewell Brow - Newsham - Mill Bridge - Threlkeld
Parking
Threlkeld Cricket Club on the A66 (Charge). The Grid Reference is NY 3254 2541 and the nearest postcode is CA12 4TZ. If coming from Keswick the access point is via a filter lane just after the turning into Threlkeld.
Mileage
6 miles
Terrain
Tough walking in deep snow for the most part. This was hard work on challenging terrain but great fun. It is recommended that walking poles are used when transiting through deep snow - we all found them invaluable on this walk.
Weather
Gloriously sunny yet bitingly cold. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
2395ft (730m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with Lakeland Meet Up members Jane Clark, Andy McGuirk, Christine Backhouse, Sheila Watts & Sue Lennon
Route
Threlkeld - Mill Bridge - Newsham - Old Coach Road - Threlkeld Knotts - Clough Head - White Pike - Old Coach Road - Hausewell Brow - Newsham - Mill Bridge - Threlkeld
Parking
Threlkeld Cricket Club on the A66 (Charge). The Grid Reference is NY 3254 2541 and the nearest postcode is CA12 4TZ. If coming from Keswick the access point is via a filter lane just after the turning into Threlkeld.
Mileage
6 miles
Terrain
Tough walking in deep snow for the most part. This was hard work on challenging terrain but great fun. It is recommended that walking poles are used when transiting through deep snow - we all found them invaluable on this walk.
Weather
Gloriously sunny yet bitingly cold. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
2395ft (730m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL5 - The English Lakes (North Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with Lakeland Meet Up members Jane Clark, Andy McGuirk, Christine Backhouse, Sheila Watts & Sue Lennon
|
GPX File
|
| ||
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Route Map
The entrance to the Car Park at Threlkeld Cricket Club, the start of today's walk
Blencathra over the A66 looking to Blease Fell, Knott Halloo, Gategill Fell, the summit, Hall's Fell Ridge & Doddick Fell
Today's destination of Clough Head
Crossing Mill Bridge over the River Glenderamackin. On leaving the Car Park the route follows the access lane to Newsham.
Another view of Blencathra, this time from near Newsham
Newsham - the road ends here and a gate to the right just out of shot gives access to the open fell side
Looking back to the North Western Fells with Lonscale Fell over to the right and Skiddaw poking out behind
The open fell side leading to the Old Coach Road & Hausewell Brow - Clough Head is centre with Threlkeld Knotts over to the right
Reaching the Old Coach Road which is a 100 or so yards away. We would be heading to the right up to Threlkeld Knotts as I reckoned the going would be easier. Ordinarily, I would make my way up through the gap to the right of Clough Fold which is in the centre of shot. However, it was my guess that the route would be harder going that way due to the amount of snow on the ground.
Looking back to Blencathra from the Old Coach Road
Looking down on the Old Coach Road and Clough Fold from the ascent of Threlkeld Knotts. Without snow on the ground it would be easy to see the road from here although it can just about be made out to the left of the fence in the centre of shot. The road is an old track running from St John's in the Vale to Dockray.
The climb to Threlkeld Knotts from the Old Coach Road - normally this would be an easy ascent but today it was hard work
Skiddaw, Lonscale Fell & Blease Fell on Blencathra from the ascent of Threlkeld Knotts
There are two recognised summits on Threlkeld Knotts - this one to the north west of the spot height is marked by a large cairn. The view from here over to the North Western Fells, Skiddaw & Blencathra is just superb.
A panorama from Threlkeld Knotts
The fantastic view from Threlkeld Knotts (Click Play to view)
Leaving Threlkeld Knotts for the col below Clough Head
Threlkeld Knotts & Blencathra
After a deep snow walk from Threlkeld Knotts we finally arrived in the col below Red Screes - our route of ascent can just about be seen sloping across the fell from left to right. Ordinarily this would be an easy ascent however it was my guess that we would be in for an hour or so of hard graft in deep snow - and so it proved.
A walker makes his way up to the sloping path over to our right. This chap had come up from Wanthwaite and luckily for us would be in front therefore we were able to step into his footprints which made the ascent a lot easier.
The smile says it all - despite the hard going I was having an absolute ball today
Another cracking view of Lonscale Fell & Skiddaw - this time from the sloping path to Clough Head
My walking companions make their way towards me roughly about half way up the sloping path. We really took our time on this ascent and rested often as the depth of the snow sapped our energy very quickly.
Snowy sastrugi as we reach the top of the sloping path
The top of the sloping path is roughly where our back marker is - the gradient eases once this point is reached however sadly for us the depth of snow increased. What normally would be a gentle 600 yard walk to the summit was extremely hard work.
The approach to Clough Head over virgin snow - believe it or not there is a very good path under all that white stuff
Looking back to the final few yards of ascent to the summit of Clough Head
Another cracking view of Blencathra as we near the summit
Here at last - the summit of Clough Head looking to Blencathra with the Skiddaw range to the left
Clough Head has an affinity with the global superstar Sting. He cut his teeth in the teaching profession below Clough Head at Threlkeld School and was given a tough decision to make following an assessment as to his future employment. He clearly did well at the school, so much so that they offered him a permanent position. The following extract from his book explains the thought process behind what was clearly a tough decision for him:
“The teaching practice is a success, largely because Mr Sturridge seems to like me, so much so as to offer me a permanent job there in the autumn term. He tells me that the kids like me too. I’m very flattered and I thank him for the compliment, but ask for some time to consider the offer. That evening I climb up to the top of Clough Head. On the crest of the high ridge I turn back and I can see my life spread out like the valley below me: growing old like Mr. Sturridge, a village teacher, gray-headed and stooped, with worn leather patches on the elbows of my jacket, going home each night to a stone cottage on the hillside with an older Megan standing in the garden, roses in a trellis around the front door, a wood fire in the hearth, my books and my music, idealized, peaceful, devoid of complexity or worry or the vanity of ambition. Whatever is comforting about this image of a possible future, however different it is from the harsh industrial landscape of my childhood, it holds me for no more than a moment and then it is gone. I know the answer I shall give the headmaster, and as the evening draws in I make my way at a brisker pace down the mountain to my digs in the village.”
― Sting, Broken Music: A Memoir
Clough Head has an affinity with the global superstar Sting. He cut his teeth in the teaching profession below Clough Head at Threlkeld School and was given a tough decision to make following an assessment as to his future employment. He clearly did well at the school, so much so that they offered him a permanent position. The following extract from his book explains the thought process behind what was clearly a tough decision for him:
“The teaching practice is a success, largely because Mr Sturridge seems to like me, so much so as to offer me a permanent job there in the autumn term. He tells me that the kids like me too. I’m very flattered and I thank him for the compliment, but ask for some time to consider the offer. That evening I climb up to the top of Clough Head. On the crest of the high ridge I turn back and I can see my life spread out like the valley below me: growing old like Mr. Sturridge, a village teacher, gray-headed and stooped, with worn leather patches on the elbows of my jacket, going home each night to a stone cottage on the hillside with an older Megan standing in the garden, roses in a trellis around the front door, a wood fire in the hearth, my books and my music, idealized, peaceful, devoid of complexity or worry or the vanity of ambition. Whatever is comforting about this image of a possible future, however different it is from the harsh industrial landscape of my childhood, it holds me for no more than a moment and then it is gone. I know the answer I shall give the headmaster, and as the evening draws in I make my way at a brisker pace down the mountain to my digs in the village.”
― Sting, Broken Music: A Memoir
All of a sudden a paraglider appeared - hats off to the guy for lugging all that gear up to the summit
My walking companions on the summit of Clough Head - it was a tough climb but they were brilliant company. Left to right Sheila, Sue, Jane, Christine & Andy. After we had posed for the photo we had lunch and some bloke waltzed up on skis - sadly I didn't get a pic of him.
More snow sastrugi as we descend from the summit towards White Pike - the snow was 'kin deep here
Looking over to Great Dodd as we negotiate the deep snow towards White Pike
Approaching White Pike - the path down to Hausewell Brow leaves to the left then swings right
Time for some falling down practice as we negotiate more deep snow on the steep descent to Hausewell Brow. Despite the conditions underfoot all I could hear behind me was the sound of laughter.
At last - after what seemed like ages we reached the Old Coach Road although we were well above the base of this normally rough stone track
Threlkeld Knotts from Hausewell Brow on the Old Coach Road - all that was left was to retrace our steps to Newsham then walk back along the lane to Threlkeld. This was a hard but extremely enjoyable day out.