Wednesday 17th August 2011

Start point: Wanthwaite (NY 316 232)

Wanthwaite - Fisher's Wife's Rake - Jim's Fold - Clough Head - Red Screes - Threlkeld Knotts - Wanthwaite 

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 601 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes     Start Time: 12:25

Weather: Sunny and warm. 15oC

Route Map

It was a dogless walk today as I took the opportunity to get up to Clough Head in sunny weather with Robin. We ascended by the steep Fisher's Wife's Rake and descended by the even steeper Red Screes north face of Clough Head. Looking around, there were a few fells that were in and out of cloud and I think we caught best part of the day as well.

First view of Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell from the Old Coach Road.

There were some big clouds to the south, here looking into St. John's in the Vale.

High Rigg.

Following the wall to Fisher's Wife's Rake beneath Wanthwaite Crags.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from the foot of Fisher's Wife's Rake.

Climbing the rake.

The key to finding the rake is the single Rowan tree at the bottom of these crags.

The view down Fisher's Wife's Rake - it's a steep climb but not as bad as it looks on this photo as the path crosses from right to left across this scree run.

A panoramic view from the rake.

The view from the top of the rake.

Skiddaw and Blencathra.

High Rigg and layers of fells beyond.

Standing on the edge.

That's one way to get down quick!

Thirlmere across Sandbed Gill with the distant Scafells in cloud.

Sky.

Fells.

Jim's Fold.

Skiddaw from Clough Head, back in sunshine now.

A mono view of the Vale of Keswick.

Robin does a Wainwright (Clough Head 7).

The Skiddaw massif.

Great Mell Fell.

Blencathra.

A glimpse of Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake, Tewet Tarn in the centre.

At the top of the steep descent.

Looking back, it seems almost impossible to descend the north face of Clough Head but we came straight down the centre in this photo.

Threlkeld Knotts summit.

Hall's Fell Ridge.

The more substantial cairn further north of Threlkeld Knotts.

Much later, on the way home...

...a beautiful sunset over Windermere.

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