Height: 726 metres / 2382 feet Grid reference: NY 33393 22541 Category: The Eastern Fells

Blencathra from Clough Head
Height: 726 metres / 2382 feet Grid reference: NY 33393 22541 Category: The Eastern Fells
Blencathra from Clough Head
Walked on
Start point: Wanthwaite (NY 316 232)
1Wanthwaite – Wanthwaite Bank – Buck Castle – Jim’s Fold – Clough Head – Old Coach Road – Wanthwaite
Distance: 4.4 miles Total Ascent: 595 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:50
Weather: Changeable but dry. 12°C
The Business Meeting? Well today was a bit of that, taking a walk with Clive Hutchby to discuss various things up to Clough Head. There were some good sunny spells but it was really quite cold on the top with a strong breeze blowing.
I took Wainwright's intermediate 'sporting' route (Buck Castle on the OS map), the line of the path can be seen in this photo. Clive took the easier and more usual grass slope route to the top.
Walked on
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
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.
Walked on
Start point: Wanthwaite (NY 316 232)
Wanthwaite – Fisher’s Wife’s Rake – Jim’s Fold – Clough Head – Red Screes – Wanthwaite
Distance: 3.7 miles Total Ascent: 592 metres Time Taken: 2 hours
Weather: Showers and sunny spells. 17C.
Fisher’s Wife’s Rake is one of those walks I have had on the agenda for a while and it certainly is the direct route to Clough Head, although it wasn’t as severe as I was expecting. There were showers at the start of the climb up the rake but the clouds miraculously cleared towards the end of the walk, reminding me that it is still late summer yet.
Walked on
Start point: Dockray, adjacent to the bridge. (NY 393 215)
Dockray – Bracken How (492) – Round How (493) – Common Fell – Watermillock Common –Swineside Knott – Brown Hills – Birkett Fell – Hart Side – White Stones on Green Side – Stybarrow Dodd – Watson’s Dodd – Great Dodd – Little Dodd (St John’s Common) (494) – Calfhow Pike (495) –Clough Head (496) – Dockray
Distance: 13.4 miles Total Ascent: 1156 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Overcast, rain later. 14oC.
Another grey day today with just the odd glimmer of sunshine and heavy rain at the end. This is quite a long circuit but relatively easy going across boggy grass. I visited a couple of small tops at the beginning of the walk that I had never been to before which offered great views over Ullswater with little effort. It was very quiet up there though, and we never saw a single soul all day.
You can't miss Birkett Fell with its name plaque set in the cairn. Named after Baron Birkett, KC MP, an early advocate of National Parks and a fierce opposer to Manchester Corporation's attempts to take water from Ullswater. He also went to the same school as me (though he wasn't in my class, I hasten to add!).
High Rigg and St John's in the Vale from Watson's Dodd. Beyond is Keswick, Bassenthwaite Lake, Dodd and Skiddaw (in mist).
A retrospective view from Great Dodd - in the distance is the pointed Catstycam with Helvellyn in cloud. Centre left is Stybarrow Dodd with Watson's Dodd to the right.
Walked on
Wanthwaite – Threlkeld Knotts – Clough Head (113) – Calfhow Pike – Little Dodd (St John’s Common) – Great Dodd (114) – Watson’s Dodd (115) – Great Dodd – Randerside – Mariel Bridge – Old Coach Road – Wanthwaite