Kirk Fell - Thursday 5 July 2012
Route
Wasdale Head - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Mosedale - Wasdale Head
Parking
Plenty of parking in Wasdale Head
Mileage
5 miles
Terrain
Steep ascent to Kirk Fell with some scree near the summit. There is a need to take care coming off Kirk Fell to the Black Sail Pass - otherwise good paths throughout.
Weather
Humid yet sunny with very good visibility. We had a 10 minute rain shower near High Crag.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3405ft (1038m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Wasdale Head - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Mosedale - Wasdale Head
Parking
Plenty of parking in Wasdale Head
Mileage
5 miles
Terrain
Steep ascent to Kirk Fell with some scree near the summit. There is a need to take care coming off Kirk Fell to the Black Sail Pass - otherwise good paths throughout.
Weather
Humid yet sunny with very good visibility. We had a 10 minute rain shower near High Crag.
Time Taken
6hrs
Total Ascent
3405ft (1038m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL4 The English Lakes (North Western Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
We were staying in Joss Naylor's birthplace at Middle Row for 2 weeks and could walk from the door today. Whilst it was July, we had pretty rotten luck with the weather therefore when the day dawned cloudless we walked straight up Kirk Fell - the hard way.
The walk up Highnose Head is unremitting in its steepness therefore we deployed the "little goals" tactic which means we aim for a particular point and once reached, we have a rest. This is not only psychological but makes you gain height pretty quickly and you are resting each time. We certainly needed the rest because the ascent was extremely tiring but worth it for the unfolding views around the valleys.
There is some scree near the top of Kirk Fell but once this is negotiated the summit becomes a mass of small stone and grass and is quite large in area. We made our way off to the North West to descend to Black Sail Pass. We needed to take care here and we took our time as the descent is quite steep and rocky. We had intended to carry on to Pillar but we had a feeling our luck would run out with the weather as the sky was starting to cloud over. The Black Sail Pass down to Mosedale is a super path and gives great views back down to Wasdale.
The Magners in the Wasdale Head Inn was very good!
The walk up Highnose Head is unremitting in its steepness therefore we deployed the "little goals" tactic which means we aim for a particular point and once reached, we have a rest. This is not only psychological but makes you gain height pretty quickly and you are resting each time. We certainly needed the rest because the ascent was extremely tiring but worth it for the unfolding views around the valleys.
There is some scree near the top of Kirk Fell but once this is negotiated the summit becomes a mass of small stone and grass and is quite large in area. We made our way off to the North West to descend to Black Sail Pass. We needed to take care here and we took our time as the descent is quite steep and rocky. We had intended to carry on to Pillar but we had a feeling our luck would run out with the weather as the sky was starting to cloud over. The Black Sail Pass down to Mosedale is a super path and gives great views back down to Wasdale.
The Magners in the Wasdale Head Inn was very good!
Lingmell with Great End behind
The steep, steep climb ahead up Kirk Fell
The head of Wasdale and Illgill Head
Great End, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell
Another view of Wasdale, this time a bit further up
Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar
Illgill Head, Yewbarrow centre with Dore Head and the slopes of Red Pike to the right. Seatallan is the fell in the distance to the right.
Lingmell and The Scafells
Wasdale even further up
Drawing from Wainwright's Western Fells Book Seven (Kirk Fell 4) is exactly how the steep ascent was today!!
Great Gable
Pillar with Looking Stead to the right
The smoky Scafell range
Dave on the Summit of Kirk Fell
The Gable Brothers - Green and Great
Haystacks in the foreground with the Grasmoor range behind
Who are ewe looking at?
No words can express how nice this pint was - it was so nice we had 3 each!