Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Scoat Fell & Steeple - Thursday 11 January 2024
Route
Overbeck Bridge - Over Beck - Dropping Crag - Bell Rib - Bull Crag - Yewbarrow - Dore Head - Chair Cairn - Red Pike - Scoat Fell - Steeple - Little Lad Crag - Nether Beck - Overbeck Bridge
Parking
Overbeck Bridge (Pay & Display) - Grid Ref NY168069 (nearest post code CA20 1EX)
Mileage
9.6 miles
Terrain
Very good mountain paths throughout although care needs to be taken on the ascent of Bell Rib on Yewbarrow which requires careful but not difficult negotiation over loose stone and ideally should be left for a day with dry conditions. The transit over to Steeple from Scoat Fell looks precarious but is less so on the ground.
Weather
A beautiful and crisp winters day with very little wind. We had some light cloud as we ascended Red Pike but this soon moved on.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3353ft (1022m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Sara Boyle, Rowena Donald, Sue Lennon & David Johnson
Overbeck Bridge - Over Beck - Dropping Crag - Bell Rib - Bull Crag - Yewbarrow - Dore Head - Chair Cairn - Red Pike - Scoat Fell - Steeple - Little Lad Crag - Nether Beck - Overbeck Bridge
Parking
Overbeck Bridge (Pay & Display) - Grid Ref NY168069 (nearest post code CA20 1EX)
Mileage
9.6 miles
Terrain
Very good mountain paths throughout although care needs to be taken on the ascent of Bell Rib on Yewbarrow which requires careful but not difficult negotiation over loose stone and ideally should be left for a day with dry conditions. The transit over to Steeple from Scoat Fell looks precarious but is less so on the ground.
Weather
A beautiful and crisp winters day with very little wind. We had some light cloud as we ascended Red Pike but this soon moved on.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3353ft (1022m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Sara Boyle, Rowena Donald, Sue Lennon & David Johnson
GPX File
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Route Map
The Car Park at Overbeck Bridge which used to be free but sadly is now Pay & Display
Bell Rib on Yewbarrow from Overbeck Bridge
Lokking over Wastwater to Lingmell, a cloudy Scafell Pike, Scafell & Slight Side
Yewbarrow's impressive south ridge with Bell Rib towering above. From the start at Overbeck Bridge there is a path either side of the fenceline. Both paths are steep however I always ascend via the right hand side of the fence and cross over via the large ladder stile which can be just about seen ahead.
The steep ascent at the start is certainly a wake up call for the legs. The Overbeck Bridge Car Park can be seen below to the left.
Middle Fell beyond Knott Ends with Seatallan just about in view
Dropping Crag now in view on the left with Bell Rib to the right
A closer look at Dropping Crag from our ascent to Great Door
Wastwater from the first part of the ascent to Great Door
Poles were put away now as the terrain required hand on rock
Looking down on our ascent to Great Door. The old path to reach Great Door is pretty unpleasant over very steep, loose stone. Therefore we kept well over to the left (right as we look down) and whilst still a decent scramble, is over better ground.
The huge cleft of Great Door looking over to Scafell - still a fantastic sight even though I have been here many times.
The Scafells from just above Great Door
Once above Great Door the terrain becomes easier as we now headed to Yewbarrow's summit with Wastwater & Whin Rigg behind us
The route along the ridge drops into a small col and then onwards to Yewbarrow's summit
Another view of Middle Fell & Seatallan over Knott Ends
Red Pike, Black Crag, Wind Gap, Pillar & Looking Stead across Dore Head with Yewbarrow North Top to the right
Yewbarrow North Top, Kirk Fell & Great Gable from the summit of Yewbarrow
Seatallan, Caw Fell & Haycock with Low Tarn just about visible in the foreground
My 5 walking companions on the summit of Yewbarrow - Sara, Sue, Rowena, Nicky & David
With Sara, Sue, Rowena & Nicky on Yewbarrow's summit
At Grid Reference NY 17461 08806 is the side path that can be used to reach Dore Head should you not wish to descend via the steep scramble from Stirrup Crag. Due to the conditions today, I decided to err on the side of caution and give the Stirrup Crag descent a miss.
The path to Dore Head descends fairly gently across Yewbarrow's western flank
Looking across to Red Pike
Looking back at our descent on the side path - in today's frosty and icy conditions this descent still needed us to take a bit of care
Kirk Fell from Dore Head with Great Gable beyond in cloud - Sty Head is a distant right
Starting the ascent of Red Pike from Dore Head with Stirrup Crag to the rear
Another view of Kirk Fell from the ascent of Red Pike
Yewbarrow & Stirrup Crag from half way up the ascent of Red Pike. Scafell Pike is in cloud to the left with Mickledore, Scafell & Slight Side in the centre.
The final part of the ascent to Red Pike
About a 100 or so yards from the main path at Grid Reference NY 16555 10051 is the Chair Cairn - worth a visit
Leaving the Chair Cairn to rejoin the main path a bit of low cloud came in which gave me an atmospheric shot of Haycock over Scoat Tarn
It got even better as we left the Chair Cairn with Wastwater just about visible
The summit of Red Pike
Scoat Fell just about visible as we head along Red Pike's summit ridge
Scoat Fell now in full view as the cloud starts to move off
Looking back to Red Pike
The wall running along the top of Scoat Fell - the summit is on the other side of the wall in line with the cairn
David poses for effect as we look across Mirk Cove towards Black Crag & Pillar which were still in cloud
Steeple across Mirk Cove
Looking down Ennerdale from the ascent of Steeple
Haskett Buttress, Haycock & Little Gowder Crag from the ascent of Steeple
The final approach to Steeple - I have done this ascent many times and never tire of it
Pillar in cloud, Black Crag & Scoat Fell from Steeple
Looking back to our route from Scoat Fell over to Steeple
The final part of the ascent to Steeple's summit
The summit of Steeple
The path from Scoat Fell to Haycock - we would be turning left in the col below to join the path down Nether Beck
The col below Haycock - left for Wasdale and right for Ennerdale via Tewit How
The start of the long but thoroughly enjoyable descent via Nether Beck to Wasdale
Nether Beck below as we continue our descent
The late afternoon sun shines on us as we continue our descent
Little Lad Crag
Middle Fell now in view as dusk falls
Looking back along Nether Beck to Great Lad Crag & Haycock
The waterfalls of Nether Beck
The falls in flow at Nether Beck (Click Play to view)