Height: 760 metres / 2493 feet Grid reference: NY 44760 10118 Category: The Far Eastern Fells
Haweswater and the easterly view from Mardale Ill Bell
Mardale Ill Bell
Kentmere Horseshoe
Start point: Kentmere (NY 456 041)
Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke – Ill Bell – Froswick – Thornthwaite Beacon – High Street – Mardale Ill Bell – Nan Bield Pass – Harter Fell –Kentmere Pike – Shipman Knotts – Kentmere
Distance: 13 miles Total Ascent: 1161 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 07:00
Weather: Overcast, 10C
The good weather certainly deserted me this morning and the walk from Kentmere to the top of the Garburn Pass was completed in pouring rain. The weather improved by drying up but the tops were shrouded in mist throughout the walk, although the sun did have a good attempt at trying to burn through but never quite made it. There were no views and no other people around today.
Kentmere Horseshoe route map.
Badger Rock in the rain.
Looking back to Kentmere.
A bit brighter now but still raining climbing the Garburn Road.
Heading for Yoke - what's that over there boys?
A glimpse of Windermere from the 'motorway'.
Yoke.
Ill Bell - there are only two cairns standing now...
...although there are three 'monuments' in this photo. Cheer up Dougal, it might never happen.
Casper checks out Kentmere Reservoir below.
Froswick.
Lingmell End on Mardale Ill Bell across Upper Kentmere.
Thornthwaite Beacon.
The summit of High Street.
Looks a bit clearer over on The Knott and Rest Dodd from the Roman Road.
Hayeswater.
In the absence of any views whatsoever, here is another dog/summit photo of Dougal on Mardale Ill Bell!
This is how to grade a path so that packhorses can get up them - the ancient track across Nan Bield Pass from Kentmere.
Kentmere Pike.
Shipman Knotts across the stile.
Kentmere Pike from Shipman Knotts.
Longsleddale from Shipman Knotts.
It looks a bit brighter now looking towards the Ill Bell ridge from Stile End.
Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts from Low Lane.
Crossing a sunny River Kent.
Sunshine over Green Quarter.
Kentmere Church.
Mardale Round
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 127)
Mardale Head – Hollow Stone – Branstree north ridge – Artlecrag Pike – Branstree – Gatescarth Pass – Little Harter Fell – Harter Fell (Mardale) – Nan Bield Pass – Mardale Ill Bell – High Street – Rough Crag (Riggindale) – Mardale Head
Distance: 8.2 miles Total Ascent: 960 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and bright, becoming cloudy. 10oC.
It was sunny and bright first thing this morning with hardly a cloud in the sky – fantastic conditions for a walk around Mardale Head. Once up to High Street, the clouds came in and made it all a bit flat and I felt in hindsight it might have been better walking anti-clockwise…but then again, who knows? You never can tell what the weather will do.
It's a lovely morning with sun shining at the head of Mardale.
The route from the road up to the north ridge of Branstree is certainly initially steep and direct. There is a great view over Haweswater into Riggindale, the rock in the foreground being the Hollow Stone.
Kidsty Pike above Riggindale.
The head of Riggindale.
Kidsty Pike and Kidsty Howes.
High Street with a touch of snow on top from the old sheepfold.
Selside Pike from the north ridge.
Looking north east from Artlecrag Pike.
The view to the west from the same place.
The summit of Branstree with a hot air balloon over Harter Fell.
Harter Fell from the descent of Branstree. The path used in ascent across Gatescarth Pass can be seen starting from the mid-left.
Looking back to Branstree.
The path to Harter Fell.
Casper Wainwright (see Harter Fell 10, The Far Eastern Fells below). The benchmark in the Wainwright self-portrait can be seen on the rock in the photo. All you need now is a pipe Casper!
High Street and Small Water from Harter Fell.
The summit of Harter Fell.
Mardale Ill Bell and High Street.
Descending to Nan Bield Pass.
Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick above Kentmere Reservoir.
Harter Fell from Nan Bield pass.
Looking back to Harter fell from the climb to Mardale Ill Bell.
Small Water and Haweswater.
High Street from Mardale Ill Bell.
Casper on Mardale Ill Bell.
Once on High Street, it started to cloud over. This view is to the western fells with the Scafells and Great Gable in the distance and Helvellyn mid distance on the right. That's an icy looking puddle!
Helvellyn from High Street.
The wall on High Street.
The flat top of Harter Fell from High Street.
Long Stile and Rough Crag, the route of descent.
Blea Water from the snowy eastern edge of High Street.
Long Stile.
It has completely clouded over now looking back to High Street and Long Stile over Caspel Gate Tarn from Caspel Gate.
High Street from Rough Crag.
Colourful trees on The Rigg looking along Haweswater.
Haweswater.
Autumn on The Rigg.
Orange grass crossing Mardale Beck.
Kentmere Horseshoe
Start point: Kentmere (NY 456 041)
Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke – Ill Bell – Froswick – Thornthwaite Beacon – Mardale Ill Bell – Nan Bield Pass – Harter Fell – Kentmere Pike –Shipman Knotts – Kentmere
Distance: 12 miles Total Ascent: 1100 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Sunny and clear with high cloud. 3°C.
Another fine and sunny day! It was even colder than ever in the valley this morning as temperatures struggled to get above zero – once up onto the fells however, it was really quite warm again in the sun. Only Casper for company today; Angus had a day off for a good sleep after the previous few days excursions!
Blue sky climbing the Garburn Road.
Heading across to Yoke.
Looking back to Windermere, the early morning mist still hanging on the lake.
The Coniston fells from the southern end of Yoke.
Looking west to the Scafells.
The route ahead is Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Thornthwaite Crag.
Ill Bell from Yoke.
A lovely panorama from Yoke with Black Combe on the distant left, the Coniston fells over to Crinkle Crags and the Scafells with Great Gable and Pillar distant right.
Harter Fell from the frozen summit tarn on Yoke.
The route of the return leg - Mardale Ill Bell, the Nan Bield Pass and Harter Fell over Kentmere Reservoir.
The view from Ill Bell.
Climbing to Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag beyond.
Red Screes over Caudale Moor with Lingmoor Fell, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell beyond.
Mardale Ill Bell and Kentmere Common across Kentmere.
Harter Fell from Froswick.
Heading along the frozen Thornthwaite Crag summit plateau.
Looking south-west from Thornthwaite Crag with Bow Fell distant centre.
Fairfield and Helvellyn.
Striding Edge and Helvellyn.
Bow Fell with the Langdale Pikes in front and the Scafells.
Fairfield and Dollywaggon Pike.
High Street.
Rest Dodd and The Knott across Hayeswater.
Casper on the summit of Mardale Ill Bell, Haweswater and The Pennines beyond.
Haweswater and the easterly view from Mardale Ill Bell.
Looking back to Thornthwaite Crag.
The flat top of Harter Fell ahead.
Small Water in shadow.
The climb to Harter Fell across Nan Bield Pass.
Looking back to Mardale Ill Bell and High Street.
High Street and Rough Crag with a glimpse of Blea Water from Harter Fell, Rampsgill Head and Kidsty Pike to the right.
The westerly view from the summit of Harter Fell.
Heading to Kentmere Pike.
Kentmere from Shipman Knotts.
Longsleddale from the descent of Shipman Knotts.
Kentmere from Stile End.
Fell ponies in Kentmere.
Kentmere Horseshoe.
Hollow Moor, Green Quarter and Low Bridge from Kentmere.
The Kentmere Horseshoe
Start point: Kentmere (NY 176 011)
Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke (313) – Ill Bell (314) – Froswick (315) – Thornthwaite Beacon – Mardale Ill Bell – Nan Bield Pass – Harter Fell – Kentmere Pike (316) – Goat Scar (317) – Shipman Knotts (318) – Kentmere
Distance: 13.7 miles Total Ascent: 1436 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
The day started off brightly for today’s long Kentmere Horseshoe walk with the grey clouds gathering by lunchtime and taking the edge off the fine views. There is still plenty of snow on the tops although it was warmer than of late. This is a fine round with great views in all directions.
The Kentmere Horseshoe route map.
Elevation profile of the route.
3D image of the walk route.
Yoke ahead, with Ill Bell and Froswick appearing to the left.
The Coniston Fells from Yoke.
The view along Windermere from the summit of Yoke.
Panorama of the way ahead from Yoke.
The three summit cairns on Ill Bell.
The sun shines on Yoke from Ill Bell.
One man and his dog on Ill Bell.
Ill Bell from the approach to Froswick.
The head of Kentmere from Froswick.
Looking north-west towards Helvellyn from Thornthwaite Crag.
The view north on the way to Mardale Ill Bell.
A glittering Kentmere Reservoir with Yoke - Ill Bell - Froswick to the right.
Small Water and Haweswater from the descent to the Nan Bield Pass.
Yoke - Ill Bell - Froswick from Harter Fell.
No need to use the stile with all the snow drifting against the wall on Kentmere Pike.
Longsleddale from Goat Scar.
The wild ponies have come down to the valley for winter.
The Kentmere Horseshoe. Select on the image for a full size version.
Mardale Skyline
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 127)
Mardale Head – Gatescarth Pass – Adam Seat (1) – Little Harter Fell (2) – Harter Fell (Mardale) (3) – Nan Bield Pass – Mardale Ill Bell (4) – High Street (5) – Rough Crag (Riggindale) (6) – Rampsgill Head (7) – Kidsty Pike (8) – Mardale Head
Weather: Sunny with snow and hail showers.
This is the start of my quest to climb the 541 Birkett Fells!
Haweswater from Mardale Head...
and Gatescarth Beck.
The Boundary Stone at the summit of Adam Seat, 'L' on one side
'H' on the other (Longsleddale and Haweswater).
Haweswater from the summit of Little Harter Fell. (Compare AW The Far Eastern Fells - Harter Fell 10).
Harter Fell summit in a snow shower.
Kentmere
A rainbow over Small Water ('the finest of Lakeland's tarns), from the descent to Nan Bield Pass.
Mardale Ill Bell summit with Yoke, Froswick and Ill bell in the background.
Two views of High Street summit.
Rough Crag and Haweswater from High Street. The area around the small tarn is called Caspel Gate.
Harter Fell and the Nan Bield Pass from Rough Crag summit, Small Water is just visible.
Hayeswater and the distant Patterdale Fells from the Roman Road.
The mist swirls across High Street on the walk to Rampsgill Head.
Looking North from Rampsgill Head's summit. The Nab is to the left with Hallin Fell in the centre adjoining Steel Knotts. Ullswater is just visible right of centre.
High Street from Kidsty Pike summit.
The sun shines on Riggindale and Rough Crag.
A long meander of Riggindale Beck...
and the ruins of Riggindale Farm.
The Mardale Skyline.
Kentmere Horseshoe
Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke (53) – Ill Bell (54) – Froswick (55) – Mardale Ill Bell (56) – Harter Fell (Mardale) (57) – Kentmere Pike (58) – Shipman Knotts (59) – Kentmere
Thornthwaite, Ill Bell and Yoke from the Garburn road.
Cairn on Yoke.
Ill Bell from Yoke.
Windermere from Ill Bell, Troutbeck Tongue in the centre, Wansfell to the right.
Thornthwaite Crag from Froswick summit.
Kentmere Reservoir.
Windermere from Froswick.
Wild ponies on Thornthwaite.
Mardale Ill Bell summit, Haweswater Reservoir behind.
Small Water and the southern end of Haweswater Reservoir from Mardale Ill Bell.
The Nan Bield Pass - Mardale or Kentmere?
Harter Fell summit.
Kentmere Pike summit.
Shipman Knotts summit looking over to Yoke and Ill Bell.