Irton Pike

Height: 229 metres / 751 feet Grid reference: NY 12073 01547 Category: The Outlying Fells

Wasdale Head from Irton Pike

Buckbarrow, Seatallan, Red Pike and Middle Fell from Irton Pike

Wasdale and Irton Pike

Walked on 07/11/2011

A few sunset photos, a wander around Wasdale and then…

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 1.3 miles Total Ascent: 125 metres Time Taken: 30 minutes Start Time: 14:40

Weather: Sunny and bright. 9C

Firstly, some photos of a glorious sunset up on Birkrigg Common near Ulverston on Sunday evening…

Morecambe Bay from Birkrigg Common.

Sunset over Ulverston and The Hoad monument with the Fairfield Horseshoe beyond.

The Coniston fells.

Lowering sun.

Blackpool Tower across the bay.

Lowering sun lights up the offshore wind farm.

Birkrigg Common.

Melting away the day.

Going...

...gone. Monday was lovely and sunny so I wanted to visit Wasdale to see what it was like there and I wasn't disappointed - it was absolutely fantastic. Wast Water was flat calm and the views were clear - obviously, many of the shots are similar but it is a nice view...

The classic view, or one of them. Yewbarrow, Great Gable and Lingmell.

Similar, but different.

Reflected giants.

A different perspective with the dark and brooding screes reflected.

From a different place.

Lingmell and the Scafells.

Scafell Pike and Scafell.

I think this was my favourite of them all, those colours have run into the water.

The Screes.

Reflected Screes.

Britain's favourite view...with some mountains and a lake as well! I spent so long soaking in the delights of beautiful Wasdale, I ran out of time for the planned walk but decided to stop off at little Irton Pike for a quick walk and a different perspective.

Harter Fell and Green Crag from the climb to Irton Pike. When I set off up this way it looked easy peasy and Dougal seemed quite keen on it to. It was a direct ascent from the start of the felled section, it should no problem at all. Well, it was until about a third of the way up when we encountered the fells trees, the thick gorse, the thick and prickly brambles... an army assault course. Once we were into the thick of it there was no going back and it took twice as long as if I'd gone right round. At one point I was sure I would get through to an enchanted castle and find sleeping beauty. Did anyone hear any loud cursing from over this way yesterday?

At least the views made up for it! Buckbarrow, Seatallan, Red Pike and Middle Fell from Irton Pike.

Wasdale, this time from a bit further away. Those trees are growing quickly and the walk is now through an avenue of trees, it feels much more like a forest than last time I was here.

Whin Rigg, the top of The Screes.

Colourful trees.

No wonder they have long tongues after that climb.

Sun reflected in Morecambe Bay. Keep in mind that big bank of cloud out there.

Wast Water and the giants.

The way back. On the way home, at Wreaks above Broughton...

The Hand of Doom reaches out to for the Coniston fells. That big bank of cloud mentioned earlier was now rolling right into the Lake District.

Miterdale Round

Walked on 02/02/2007

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Irton Fell – Whin Rigg – Illgill Head – Burnmoor Tarn – Miterdale – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 745 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Sunny with a cool wind on the tops. 10°C.

It turned out to be a really sunny day today, the early clouds soon cleared from the high fells and although there was a cold wind on the Whin Rigg – Illgill Head ridge, the walk back along Miterdale was in very Spring-like conditions. This is a lovely walk and Miterdale feels really remote; we didn’t see a soul today.

Early morning sunshine on Irton Pike. The way ahead is to Whin Rigg up to the right.

Whin Rigg.

Casper enjoys soaking up the sunshine on Irton Pike. This fell has now been completely denuded of trees on its southern slopes.

Looking back to Irton Pike from Irton Fell.

Whin Rigg ahead from Irton Fell.

Looking south to Irton Fell from the slopes of Whin Rigg with Muncaster Fell in the distance.

The view from the summit of Whin Rigg.

Casper with Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable in the distance.

Illgill Head from the edge of the screes.

The route to Illgill Head.

Yewbarrow across Wasdale - a fine fell.

Time for a dip in one of the tarns on the ridge.

Illgill Head.

Looking back to Whin Rigg.

Middle Fell and Seatallan across Wast Water.

The ridge between Whin Rigg and Illgill Head.

Angus and Casper on Illgill Head, behind are Great Gable, Lingmell and Scafell.

The head of Wasdale from Illgill Head.

Yewbarrow with Red Pike and Pillar behind.

Great Gable.

They're loving it!

Lingmell and Scafell.

Great Gable and Lingmell.

Scafell and Slight Side from the descent of Illgill Head.

Eskdale Fell across Burnmoor Tarn. Beyond is Slight Side with Burnmoor Lodge to the right of the tarn.

The same view from the path into Miterdale.

Scafell, Slight Side, Eskdale Fell and Burnmoor Tarn from Miterdale.

Scafell at the head of remote and quiet Miterdale.

Irton Pike

Walked on 14/08/2006

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 1.3 miles Total Ascent: 125 metres Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Dry with long sunny spells. 19oC

Today started off dull but quickly cleared to give a pleasant, sunny day. After the walk up to Irton Pike and a spot of lunch, Connie and I fancied a swim – there was only one place to go in this area really…

The Scafells from the Birker Fell road en route to Eskdale.

Scafell with cloud sitting on Slight Side to the right.

Esk Pike and Bow Fell.

Kirk Fell.

Ascending Irton Pike through the bracken.

Casper finds all the flies an irritating nuisance!

The view from the summit of Irton Pike.

A panoramic view from Irton Pike. Select on the image for a larger version.

Casper, still having problems with that tongue!

Angus manages to keep his in check though.

Connie has a rest on Irton Pike.

Whin Rigg.

Buckbarrow, Seatallan, Haycock and Middle Fell.

Irton Pike from the descent - the young trees will obscure the view from there soon. After lunch, we had a short drive to Wasdale...

Yewbarrow and Great Gable.

It's a familiar story, but all that water proved irresistible for Connie, Angus and I. Is there a grander place for a swim than England's deepest lake in the shadow of the highest fells?

Lingmell.

Connie and Angus have a splash, The Screes behind.

Irton Pike

Walked on 26/02/2006

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 1.3 miles Total Ascent: 125 metres Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Dull and grey with the odd snow flurry. 5°C

We had a late afternoon walk up to Irton Pike today to try and work off the Sunday lunch. It was a bit grey and cold but there are great views to Wasdale from here even in the failing light.

Looking east over Miterdale and Eskdale to Harter Fell from Irton Pike summit.

Muncaster Fell over Parkgate Tarn.

Sellafield and the west Cumbrian coast.

Connie, Louise and Angus on Irton Pike.

Buckbarrow and Seatallan with Haycock beyond.

A panoramic view of Wasdale.

Whin Rigg with Great Gable in the left distance.

Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable at the head of Wast Water.

Buckbarrow, Middle Fell and Yewbarrow in the middle distance, Latterbarrow is in the foreground.

Colourful trees and the steep slope we climbed to the summit of Irton Pike.

It may have been a short walk, but I ran three times further than you did - round and round in circles!

Illgill Head

Walked on 11/01/2006

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Irton Fell – Whin Rigg (445) – Illgill Head (446) – Burnmoor Tarn – Miterdale – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Grey to start, ever brightening. 7°C

It started off a bit grey and murky this morning, but at least it wasn’t raining after the downpour yesterday which left many places waterlogged and boggy. These fells overlooking Wast Water are perhaps better known from the side as ‘The Screes’, where the steep and treacherous western face looks almost insurmountable. The contrasting eastern side falling to Miterdale is quite gentle and grassy and this is the route I took for the return leg after the ridge walk above Wast Waster.

The sun shines on Sellafield and the West Cumbrian coast from Irton Pike.

Wast Water and Wasdale from Irton Pike. The way ahead is the ridge running to the right above Wast Water.

The path to Whin Rigg from Irton Fell.

Greathall Gill - a great slice cut out of the fellside.

Looking back along the path, over Greathall Gill to Irton Fell and a sunlit Irton Pike.

Contemplation on Whin Rigg for Angus.

Middle Fell over Wast Water from Whin Rigg.

A glimpse of Wast Water down Great Gully.

Something has caught his eye.

Illgill Head in mist over the tarns.

Mountain tarns - they are a great place...

...for a swim.

There are plenty up here.

Looking over to Yewbarrow.

Scary scree slopes.

Middle Fell and Yewbarrow over Wast Water.

The jagged edge of Whin Rigg.

A dull looking Wasdale Head with Kirk Fell and Great Gable in the mist.

Burnmoor Tarn - note the isolated Burnmoor Lodge to the right of the photo.

The sunrays burst out over Miterdale.

A nice place to live.

Sunshine and blue skies now on Whin Rigg.

Great Grain Gill.

Cascades on the River Mite.

Further along the river.

You need to think in the local dialect to translate this sign.

Irton Pike

Walked on 01/08/2005

Start point: Old Quarry car park (NY 121 012)

Old Quarry car park – Irton Pike (OF) – Old Quarry car park

Distance: 1.3 miles Total Ascent: 125 metres Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Dull but warm and still. 18°C.

It was grey and overcast yet again this morning but very still and warm, the peacefulness shattered by many RAF jets screaming overhead today. We had a walk up to Irton Pike above Eskdale, the easy walk was made harder by the amount of trees still lying across the paths around the afforested base of Irton Fell.