Ennerdale to Wasdale Head - MASARNEN RAMBLERS

Ennerdale to Wasdale Head - Wednesday 10 January 2024

Route

Whorl Gill - River Calder - Whoap - Iron Crag - Caw Fell - Little Gowder Crag - Haycock - Scoat Tarn - Low Tarn - High Fell - Overbeck Bridge - Down in the Dale Bridge - Wasdale Head - Burnthwaite Farm

Parking

Not required as Angie dropped us off at Whorl Gill and met us at Wasdale Head as we were staying at Burnthwaite Farm

Mileage

12.4 miles

Terrain

Good paths for the most part although from the turn off on the Nether Beck path below Haycock via Scoat & Low Tarns to Over Beck the going was over pathless terrain. Whilst pathless, the going was surprisingly good.

Weather

Overcast at the start but brightened up in the afternoon. I had some low cloud but the visibility was surprisingly good.

Time Taken

6hrs 25mins

Total Ascent

2342ft (714m)

Wainwrights

2

Map

OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)

Walkers

Dave & Fudge

GPX File

gpx enn_to_was_actual_10_jan_24.gpx

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

A lovely linear walk today. We were staying over in Wasdale in the evening therefore whilst Angie drove around there from home, Fudge and I decided to walk over via Caw Fell & Haycock etc. We sort of made the route up as we went along today however if the weather remained favourable then we intended to visit Scoat Tarn & Low Tarn. Here we are crossing a ford near the River Calder on our way up to the first of todays fells - that of Whoap.

Whoap ahead now as we near the start of the short climb to gain the summit

Lank Rigg across Kinniside Common

Looking over to Grike from the ascent of Whoap

It was extremely cold today as can be seen by the solid icy patches. It wasn't quite micro spike weather however they were in my rucksack just in case I needed them.

Blakeley Raise & Grike from Whoap

Arriving at the small cairn & boulder on Whoap. The highest point is a short distance to the east.

The summit of Whoap looking to Lank Rigg - Fudge acts as a temporary cairn (unpaid)

From Whoap we headed east to join the wall which would lead us all the way to Caw Fell. On the way it passes the cairned summit of Iron Crag with Haycock & Caw Fell over to the right.

Continuing to follow the wall, the path drops into a depression below Caw Fell. Where the wall heads to the right there is a stile which I crossed to then head up the left hand side of the wall to gain the ridge.

Looking back to Iron Crag from just below Caw Fell

The summit of Caw Fell looking to Iron Crag - Fudge gives me his "is it lunchtime yet" look

From Caw Fell we now headed over to Haycock which is ahead with Little Gowder Crag centre left

The weather decided to close in therefore we sat down against the wall and had our lunch whilst the cloud cleared off. As is usual, Fudge hoovered his down straight away then started to scrounge mine. Having been told "no", he turned his back on me for a good old sulk.

Passing Little Gowder Crag on our way to Haycock

The summit of Haycock

From the summit we dropped down into the col between Haycock & Scoat Fell. At the bottom we would be heading to the right on to the Nether Beck path - the route to the left returns to Ennerdale via Tewit How.

Looking down the Nether Beck path to Middle Fell, Wastwater, Whin Rigg & Illgill Head

After a few hundred yards on the Nether Beck path I headed off piste to pass this split boulder which Wainwright drew in his Western Fells Pictorial Guide (Scoat Fell 5). My aim was to stay around the 600m contour as best I could to then drop down to Scoat Tarn.