Kirk Fell from Gatesgarth - Monday 12 October 2015
Route
Gatesgarth - Peggy's Bridge - Scarth Gap - Black Sail Youth Hostel - Black Sail Pass - Kirk Fell - Rib End - Beck Head - Moses Trod - Great Round How - Warnscale Bottom - Gatesgarth
Parking
Gatesgarth Farm (Charge) - Grid Ref NY194150
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for most of the walk. There are 2 steep descents - descending Rib End to Beck Head from Kirk Fell and the drop on to the Warnscale Bottom path from near Little Round How. The ascent of Kirk Fell from the Black Sail Pass is an easy scramble.
Weather
Warm & sunny with fresh breezes on the summit. Very good visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3089ft (1161m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Gatesgarth - Peggy's Bridge - Scarth Gap - Black Sail Youth Hostel - Black Sail Pass - Kirk Fell - Rib End - Beck Head - Moses Trod - Great Round How - Warnscale Bottom - Gatesgarth
Parking
Gatesgarth Farm (Charge) - Grid Ref NY194150
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for most of the walk. There are 2 steep descents - descending Rib End to Beck Head from Kirk Fell and the drop on to the Warnscale Bottom path from near Little Round How. The ascent of Kirk Fell from the Black Sail Pass is an easy scramble.
Weather
Warm & sunny with fresh breezes on the summit. Very good visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3089ft (1161m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
We have visited Kirk Fell before (link) from Wasdale and fancied a different way up today. Having had a good look at the maps (any excuse) we decided on making the approach from the bottom of the Honister Pass at Gatesgarth. The walk would take in Scarth Gap, Ennerdale, Black Sail Hut, Black Sail Pass and a delightful scramble up to the summit. The return promised to be good too - coming back via Rib End, Beck Head and Moses Trod. All in all it promised to be a great day out. There is a charge for parking at Gatesgarth - either that or park a bit further up towards Honister on the verge.
Leaving Gatesgarth we made our way to Peggy's Bridge and up on to the path to Scarth Gap - having walked this path many times it is a lovely walk. The view to the rear of Buttermere opens up the higher you get. The path steepens as the Gap is approached and arriving at the junction there are options to climb up left to Hay Stacks or right to Seat. Heading straight over the top of the col we dropped down into Ennerdale where there was a great view over to Pillar and down the Ennerdale valley towards Great Gable.
Reaching Black Sail Hut all was quiet therefore we enjoyed a peaceful lunch - not even the Warden was about. For anyone who has not visited Black Sail Hut, it is owned and run by the YHA and is in the most idyllic spot - we have never stayed there but would love to in the future. Leaving the Hut, we then headed for the footbridge over the River Liza before starting the long, steep climb up the Black Sail Pass. There was a good path all the way up and the large cairn at the top of the pass was soon reached and from here the views down to Wasdale open out. At the top of the pass we got chatting to Callum, a Freelance Outdoor Instructor (what a job) who was wild camping each night and making his route up as he went along - he was heading for Buttermere via Kirk Fell & Great Gable and he joined us for the delightful scramble up Kirk Fell's North Face. The route up was steep but soon relented into a nice incline to the stony summit of the fell.
The views, particularly to Great Gable and The Scafell range are amazing and saying goodbye to Callum, we hung around here for quite a while just to take in the superb vistas over Lakeland. Leaving the summit, we then headed to Rib End via the East Top of Kirk Fell where the view of Great Gable got even better. The descent of Rib End to Beck Head contains a bit of scree and is steep but not overly difficult providing you take your time. From Beck Head there was a short, sharp pull up to join the Moses Trod path and tempted as we were to climb Great Gable for the second time in a week, we headed off left to head across the lower slopes instead.
The Moses Trod path cut across the slopes of Brandreth before rising to give us a lovely view down over Ennerdale, Hay Stacks and the Buttermere valley. Just after passing Great Round How the path steepened markedly before crossing the beck to join the Warnscale Bottom path coming over from Honister. There now began a long and sometimes steep descent back to the valley floor to finally reach the end of the walk at Gatesgarth. This was an exhilarating walk to Kirk Fell by a route we just made up ourselves from getting the maps out and planning our day out.
Leaving Gatesgarth we made our way to Peggy's Bridge and up on to the path to Scarth Gap - having walked this path many times it is a lovely walk. The view to the rear of Buttermere opens up the higher you get. The path steepens as the Gap is approached and arriving at the junction there are options to climb up left to Hay Stacks or right to Seat. Heading straight over the top of the col we dropped down into Ennerdale where there was a great view over to Pillar and down the Ennerdale valley towards Great Gable.
Reaching Black Sail Hut all was quiet therefore we enjoyed a peaceful lunch - not even the Warden was about. For anyone who has not visited Black Sail Hut, it is owned and run by the YHA and is in the most idyllic spot - we have never stayed there but would love to in the future. Leaving the Hut, we then headed for the footbridge over the River Liza before starting the long, steep climb up the Black Sail Pass. There was a good path all the way up and the large cairn at the top of the pass was soon reached and from here the views down to Wasdale open out. At the top of the pass we got chatting to Callum, a Freelance Outdoor Instructor (what a job) who was wild camping each night and making his route up as he went along - he was heading for Buttermere via Kirk Fell & Great Gable and he joined us for the delightful scramble up Kirk Fell's North Face. The route up was steep but soon relented into a nice incline to the stony summit of the fell.
The views, particularly to Great Gable and The Scafell range are amazing and saying goodbye to Callum, we hung around here for quite a while just to take in the superb vistas over Lakeland. Leaving the summit, we then headed to Rib End via the East Top of Kirk Fell where the view of Great Gable got even better. The descent of Rib End to Beck Head contains a bit of scree and is steep but not overly difficult providing you take your time. From Beck Head there was a short, sharp pull up to join the Moses Trod path and tempted as we were to climb Great Gable for the second time in a week, we headed off left to head across the lower slopes instead.
The Moses Trod path cut across the slopes of Brandreth before rising to give us a lovely view down over Ennerdale, Hay Stacks and the Buttermere valley. Just after passing Great Round How the path steepened markedly before crossing the beck to join the Warnscale Bottom path coming over from Honister. There now began a long and sometimes steep descent back to the valley floor to finally reach the end of the walk at Gatesgarth. This was an exhilarating walk to Kirk Fell by a route we just made up ourselves from getting the maps out and planning our day out.
The Car Park at Gatesgarth Farm
Heading to Peggy's Bridge with High Crag prominent ahead
The first part of the Scarth Gap path looking back to Buttermere - Grasmoor, High Snockrigg & Robinson provide the backdrop
Fleetwith Pike
Buttermere from further up the Scarth Gap path - this is a path we have been on many times and never tire of
If you were going up High Crag and on to the High Stile ridge then the path can be seen heading up to Gamlin End & High Crag. This path can be taken or head to Scarth Gap and climb Seat and head back along the ridge to Gamlin End
The Grasmoor group & Robinson from Scarth Gap
Seat
Scarth Gap panoramic looking back towards Buttermere
Looking back up to Seat & Scarth Gap as we head down into Ennerdale
The remote and beautiful valley of Ennerdale heading to Black Sail Hut
Fudge standing guard at Black Sail Hut
.Lunch at Black Sail Hut - feels weird with nobody here. Fudge is wondering if he is getting his lunch here too.
Pillar from Black Sail Hut
Lunch over it was time to make our way down to cross the River Liza - Great Gable is central with Kirk Fell right. Once the footbridge is crossed, the path cuts up below Kirk Fell to the right.
Looking North West from the footbridge over the River Liza
The top of the Black Sail Pass - left for Kirk Fell, right for Pillar and straight on for Wasdale. Yewbarrow & Dore Head are to the left with Red Pike centre.
Scoat Fell, Black Crag, Pillar & Looking Stead from the ascent to Kirk Fell
The scramble up Kirk Fell from the Black Sail Pass - someone is mocking our progress!
A closer view of Pillar & Looking Stead with the High Stile ridge to the right
Callum and Dave approaching the summit of Kirk Fell
Always remember to look around when out walking - you would not want to miss this sort of view.
Approaching the summit, the upturned pudding shape of Great Gable comes into view.
The Scafells with Lingmell in the foreground
Burnmoor Tarn, Illgill Head, Wastwater and Yewbarrow from the summit of Kirk Fell
Callum the Freelance Outdoor Instructor - nice bloke
Most of The Mosedale Horseshoe - Red Pike, Scoat Fell, & Pillar
A Kirk Fell summit panoramic
The Scafells and Lingmell in mono
Kirk Fell tarn and the East Top of Kirk Fell
Green Gable and Great Gable from near the summit of Kirk Fell
A panoramic looking to Great Gable and The Scafells
Heading down from the summit towards the East Top of Kirk Fell
The Gable brothers from Kirk Fell's East Top - spot the Cocker!
This was great today - looking to The Scafells
Just never get tired of looking at Great Gable from here
Descending Rib End to Beck Head - the path to Moses Trod leaves on the ridge just before the ascent of Great Gable
Looking back to Kirk Fell, Beck Head and Rib End
A last look at Wasdale before it disappears from view
Hay Stacks with the bulk of Grasmoor behind to the right
On Moses Trod with Green Gable in sunshine - the path going up to the right leads to Windy Gap
Windy Gap
The path moves left to head across the slopes of Brandreth
Nearing the top of the rise before the descent to Great Round How
A last look back along Moses Trod to the Gables
Heading down to Great Round How with Haystacks ahead and the High Stile ridge behind. Ennerdale Water is to the left with Buttermere and Crummock Water to the right.
The steep descent down to the Warnscale Bottom path which is coming in from the right
Dave & Fudge on the Warnscale Bottom path
Warnscale Bothy