Height: 633 metres / 2077 feet Grid reference: NY 31059 29231 Category: The Northern Fells

The grassy summit of Mungrisdale Common, with Skiddaw in the background

Mungrisdale Common from the slopes of Blencathra
Height: 633 metres / 2077 feet Grid reference: NY 31059 29231 Category: The Northern Fells
The grassy summit of Mungrisdale Common, with Skiddaw in the background
Mungrisdale Common from the slopes of Blencathra
Walked on
Start point: Threlkeld (NY 318 256)
Threlkeld – Hall’s Fell Ridge – Blencathra – Mungrisdale Common – Great Calva – Skiddaw House – Blencathra Centre – Threlkeld
Distance: 10.7 miles Total Ascent: 1123 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Sunny spells, cold on the tops. 12°C.
Blencathra was not even considered when I set out from home this morning but when I saw it I knew I had to climb it. I decided on Hall’s Fell Ridge as it must be a good 10 years since I have climbed this way, the bonus of it is that it climbs directly to the summit cairn. After that I just made it up as I went along and it turned out to be quite a pleasant walk although towards the end it looked as though I might get a soaking as the clouds thickened and hovered ominously overhead, but in the end I thankfully made it back dry.
Early morning at Threlkeld heading for Hall's Fell. The summit of Blencathra is the point at the top of Hall's Fell Ridge.
The mist was constantly swirling around Hall's Fell then lifting giving some enticing glimpses of the way ahead.
There is some excellent scrambling sections along here and the Hall's Fell Ridge makes a great alternative to the more popular Sharp Edge.
It looks like there is plenty of sunshine over on Mungrisdale Common, so that's where we'll go Casper!
It looks like there is plenty of sunshine on Great Calva now Casper, so that's where we'll head for next!
Walked on
Start point: Mungrisdale (NY 361 303)
Mungrisdale – Souther Fell – Scales Tarn – Sharp Edge – Blencathra – Mungrisdale Common – Bannerdale Crags – Bowscale Fell – East Top on Bowscale Fell – Mungrisdale
Distance: 10.4 miles Total Ascent: 960 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Sunny and bright. 18oC.
It was an early start again today, climbing Souther Fell with the sun rising across the low lying mist. By the time I reached Scales Tarn for the start of the climb of Sharp Edge, the sun was shining and the weather was glorious with lovely clear views all around; a glorious walk on a glorious day.
Sunrise in Mungrisdale at the start of the climb to Souther Fell, Little Mell Fell and Great Mell Fell in view.
Blencathra clearly showing where the alternative name of Saddleback comes from with Bannerdale Crags in the foreground.
A first glimpse of Sharp Edge from Mousthwaite Comb - it is the light band of rock arcing upwards to the highest pinnacle and looks almost impossible to climb from here.
Made it! A lovely clear view from the summit of Blencathra today. To the north there were views to Scotland over low lying mist.
Walked on
Start point: Bowscale (NY 358 317)
Bowscale – Bowscale Tarn – East Top on Bowscale Fell (387) – Bowscale Fell (388) – The Tongue (389) – Bannerdale Crags (390) – Blencathra – Mungrisdale Common – Cloven Stone – Lonscale Pike (391) – Lonscale Fell (392) – Jenkin Hill (393) – Skiddaw Lesser Man (394) – Skiddaw Little Man (395) – Skiddaw – Bakestall – Whitewater Dash – Little Calva (396) – Knott – Coomb Height (397) – Little Lingy Hill (398) – Great Lingy Hill (399) – Hare Stones (400) – High Pike (401) – Miton Hill (402) – Round Knott (403) – Carrock Fell (404) – Mungrisdale – Bowscale
Distance: 25.8 miles Total Ascent: 2447 metres Time Taken: 10 hours 50 minutes
Weather: Sunny and warm with a slight breeze. 25°C.
Today’s walk was a long circuit of the quiet fells known as ‘The Back o’ Skiddaw’. The weather was very pleasant, not as hot and muggy as it has been recently with a slight, welcome, cooling breeze. The views were absolutely superb at times and I was glad I chose today to do this long walk. The only problem was I forgot my food and 26 miles is a long way without any fuel…
Early morning light on Carrock Fell. This was to be the last fell of the walk, some 11 long hours later.
Bowscale Tarn, keeper of two immortal fish so legend has it and mentioned by Wordsworth in his poem 'Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle', 1807. '...And both the undying fish that swim, Through Bowscale Tarn did wait on him, The pair were servants of his eye, In their immortality, They moved about in open sight, To and fro, for his delight...'
Strange light and a band of thick low lying cloud to the south from Bowscale Fell's subsidiary east top.
Skiddaw from that most derided of Wainwright fells (for not being a true summit), Mungrisdale Common.
Lonscale Fell from Mungrisdale Common. It was a sharp drop off from Blencathra down to Mungrisdale Common then an incredibly steep pull to get back up onto Lonscale Fell via Burnt Horse.
The view from Lonscale Pike, the east peak of Lonscale Fell. In the centre is High Rigg with Tewet Tarn visible and Thirlmere behind.
Walked on
Mungrisdale – Bannerdale Crags – Mungrisdale Common (177) – Cloven Stone – Mungrisdale Common – White Horse Bent – Souther Fell (178) – Mungrisdale
A clear day at last, there was a cold wind above 500 metres.
Derwent Water and the distant Fells from Mungrisdale Common. L-R: Bowfell, Esk Pike Scafell, Lingmell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Dale Head, Hindscarth, Pillar, Robinson. In the foreground, Blease Fell is to the left and Lonscale Fell to the right.