Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike & Harter Fell - Monday 20 May 2024
Route
Kentmere - Green Quarter - Wray Crag - Shipman Knotts - Goat Scar - Kentmere Pike - Brown Howe - Harter Fell - Nan Bield Pass - Hallow Bank Quarter - Overend - Low Lane - Green Quarter - Kentmere
Parking
Kentmere Institute (Donation) on the left after passing St Cuthbert's Church - Grid Reference NY 45601 04114 (Postcode is LA8 9JL). At weekends you will need to be here very early in order to nab one of the 9 or so available spaces. Please be considerate and do not block the entrance.
Please do not park on the road or in passing places as it makes the road too narrow for farm vehicles and the emergency services. Please also avoid parking in field gateways – farmers need these to be kept clear at all times. Occasionally, a field is opened for parking at Grid Reference NY 45815 03980 (Postcode is LA8 9JP). Be aware that this is agricultural land and therefore not a permanent car park. Due to Planning Regulations, this field can only be opened on a limited number of days each year (weekends). It is also sometimes too wet to allow parking. If you are planning to visit Kentmere and want to park, please ring 01539 821689 to enquire if the field will be open on the day of your planned walk.
Mileage
10.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Mixed bag - some weak sunshine but mainly overcast
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3024ft (922m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Kentmere - Green Quarter - Wray Crag - Shipman Knotts - Goat Scar - Kentmere Pike - Brown Howe - Harter Fell - Nan Bield Pass - Hallow Bank Quarter - Overend - Low Lane - Green Quarter - Kentmere
Parking
Kentmere Institute (Donation) on the left after passing St Cuthbert's Church - Grid Reference NY 45601 04114 (Postcode is LA8 9JL). At weekends you will need to be here very early in order to nab one of the 9 or so available spaces. Please be considerate and do not block the entrance.
Please do not park on the road or in passing places as it makes the road too narrow for farm vehicles and the emergency services. Please also avoid parking in field gateways – farmers need these to be kept clear at all times. Occasionally, a field is opened for parking at Grid Reference NY 45815 03980 (Postcode is LA8 9JP). Be aware that this is agricultural land and therefore not a permanent car park. Due to Planning Regulations, this field can only be opened on a limited number of days each year (weekends). It is also sometimes too wet to allow parking. If you are planning to visit Kentmere and want to park, please ring 01539 821689 to enquire if the field will be open on the day of your planned walk.
Mileage
10.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Mixed bag - some weak sunshine but mainly overcast
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3024ft (922m)
Wainwrights
3
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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 walk started from the Kentmere Institute where there is a small parking area. There is additional parking for 3 or so cars where the van is however please don't block access to the main door.
Kentmere Women’s Institute was formed in 1924 and they soon decided that they needed a hut for their meetings. Their menfolk said they wouldn’t build a hut, they would build a hall. The land was donated and they then set up a trust which collected money to build the Kentmere Institute near the Church. The construction was undertaken by local craftsmen and in 1925 the opening ceremony was reported in the Westmorland Gazette which said that 300 people attended. Following the ceremony they all sat down and played whist! Between 1987 and 1993 the community raised a further £42,000 to modernise its village hall.
Kentmere Women’s Institute was formed in 1924 and they soon decided that they needed a hut for their meetings. Their menfolk said they wouldn’t build a hut, they would build a hall. The land was donated and they then set up a trust which collected money to build the Kentmere Institute near the Church. The construction was undertaken by local craftsmen and in 1925 the opening ceremony was reported in the Westmorland Gazette which said that 300 people attended. Following the ceremony they all sat down and played whist! Between 1987 and 1993 the community raised a further £42,000 to modernise its village hall.
Just opposite the Kentmere Institute is St Cuthbert's Church
The present structure was built in the early 1500s and the timber beams in the ceiling date from that time. The roof, originally lead covered, was replaced with a pitched, slated roof in the middle of the 17th century. Parts of the building are, however, even older; the base of the tower dates from 11th century. It has been concluded that the presence of the ancient yew tree in the churchyard which is over 1000 years old, dating back to the reign of William I and among the oldest in Europe, and that it is in the middle of a previously circular churchyard, would indicate that worship has been taking place on this site from an early stage in Kentmere village's history.
The present structure was built in the early 1500s and the timber beams in the ceiling date from that time. The roof, originally lead covered, was replaced with a pitched, slated roof in the middle of the 17th century. Parts of the building are, however, even older; the base of the tower dates from 11th century. It has been concluded that the presence of the ancient yew tree in the churchyard which is over 1000 years old, dating back to the reign of William I and among the oldest in Europe, and that it is in the middle of a previously circular churchyard, would indicate that worship has been taking place on this site from an early stage in Kentmere village's history.
Cowsty Knotts on Crag Quarter over Kentmere Church
Crossing Low Bridge over the River Kent
On the right off the lane a path leads to Green Quarter
Green Quarter - our route headed up the hill to the left............
...... and further up the lane passes to the left of Maggs Howe
Looking back to the buildings of Green Quarter
Looking back to Sallows as we head clear of Kentmere & Green Quarter
Low cloud engulfs the Kentmere Horseshoe. The Ill Bell group are to the left, Kentmere Pike over to the right & Mardale Ill Bell centre. At this point we were hoping that the low cloud would burn off and leave us with clear visibility.
The Garburn Pass in the distance
Looking across to Wray Crag with Shipman Knotts beyond. Our route of ascent would be up the ridge to the right, firstly to Wray Crag then on to Shipman Knotts. The path below Wray Crag can be taken from Kentmere and is ordinarily the one we would normally take however we had not done today's approach before. The upper path starts at the top of High Lane and passes via Stile End.
Nearing the junction with the upper path with Wray Crag beyond
At Grid Reference NY 47587 04974 the upper & lower paths meet with the upper carrying on to Sadgill. Our route now headed up to handrail the wall ahead which would take us all the way to Shipman Knotts.
Looking back to the path junction from the ascent of Wray Crag
Fudge arses about whilst we head up to Wray Crag via the wall
Continuing up to Wray Crag - the path moves left to right but does not stray too far from the wall
Another view back down the wall to the path junction
Our beautiful boy giving us "not another bloody close up photo" look
Disappointed at our lack of progress up the wall, Fudge gives us the "why can't you keep up with me you two" look
The route continues to handrail the wall to pass right of Wray Crag's eastern slopes
Approaching the summit of Shipman Knotts
Up on the summit of Shipman Knotts. The highest point and therefore the summit is 25 metres away over the other side of the wall.
The summit of Shipman Knotts and some Eriophorum (Cotton Grass)
Angie & Fudge on Shipman Knotts
Leaving Shipman Knotts we continued north to Kentmere Pike which is over to the left and unfortunately was still plagued by low cloud. Goat Scar is in the centre of shot and is well worth a visit being just a short diversion from the main path - we would be popping over there today.
Looking back to Shipman Knotts
I left Angie chatting to another walker whilst I wandered over the short distance to visit the summit of Goat Scar
Looking down Longsleddale towards Sadgill from Goat Scar
The Gatesgarth Pass from Goat Scar
Caught Fudge in "mid arse about" as we head along the fenceline up to Kentmere Pike
Looking back along the fence line - the low cloud was continuing to hang around unfortunately
With Fudge on the summit of Kentmere Pike
The summit of Kentmere Pike
Crossing The Knowe on our way to Harter Fell
The summit of Harter Fell. If time allows then follow the fence line for 0.4 miles to enjoy a fantastic view down Haweswater.
From Harter Fell we began our descent down to the Nan Bield Pass - the tarn down below is Small Water
The top of the Nan Bield Pass is below us with Mardale Ill Bell in cloud to the right. Our return route to Kentmere can be seen zig zagging into the valley in the centre of shot.
Three in a row - Yoke, Ill Bell & Froswick with Kentmere Reservoir below
The path to the Nan Bield Pass
A closer view of Small Water as we near the top of the pass
The top of the pass now in view with the path to Mardale Ill Bell stretching away up the fell side
The massive stone armchair shelter at the top of the Nan Bield Pass
We had brought our lunch with us therefore I was detailed off to make some Bacon & Egg Sarnies
You two can bugger off - I'm afraid there isn't enough for you interlopers
With our Bacon & Egg Sarnies eaten it was now time to descend into the Kentmere valley initially via a zig zag path
Looking back up to the top of the Nan Bield Pass
At the bottom of the zig zags the gradient eases and the remainder of the route back to Kentmere is fairly level
Ill Bell & Froswick above Kentmere Reservoir
The valley route back to Kentmere - this really was pleasant walking
An old stone sign pointing the way to Mardale
The footbridge over Ullstone Gill
Overend Farm
Looking back on our return route from below Hallow Bank
South of Hallow Bank the route joins a track called Low Lane
Fudge wasn't even contemplating turning left - he was intent on turning right and getting back to the car where treats were waiting
The first Post Office to open in Kentmere was in the Temperance Hotel (now Bridge End House) in 1910. Ahead is the field which provides a parking area on a weekend.