Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

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Mungrisdale Common

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

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

Mungrisdale Common from the slopes of Blencathra

Mungrisdale Common from the slopes of Blencathra

Blencathra via Hall’s fell Ridge

Walked on 29/04/2009

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.

Blencathra-map

Blencathra via Hall's Fell Ridge route map.

29.04.09-018

Early morning at Threlkeld heading for Hall's Fell. The summit of Blencathra is the point at the top of Hall's Fell Ridge.

Blencathra

Blencathra panoramic.

29.04.09-024

Crossing Gate Gill.

29.04.09-039

Doddick Fell from the climb.

29.04.09-042

The mist was constantly swirling around Hall's Fell then lifting giving some enticing glimpses of the way ahead.

29.04.09-059

Hall's Fell Ridge.

29.04.09-064

Further along.

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There is some excellent scrambling sections along here and the Hall's Fell Ridge makes a great alternative to the more popular Sharp Edge.

29.04.09-071

Casper the scrambler.

29.04.09-086

Narrow Edge.

29.04.09-088

Looking back down the ridge.

29.04.09-097

From further up with Clough Head and Thirlmere in view.

29.04.09-116

The summit of Blencathra.

29.04.09-118

It looks like there is plenty of sunshine over on Mungrisdale Common, so that's where we'll go Casper!

29.04.09-122

Lonscale Fell along Roughten Gill.

29.04.09-126

It is all cloudy over on Skiddaw from the cairn on Mungrisdale Common.

29.04.09-142

It looks like there is plenty of sunshine on Great Calva now Casper, so that's where we'll head for next!

29.04.09-144

There was one small problem and that was how to cross the River Caldew - wade or jump? I used the tried and tested method of trying break the Olympic long jump record - which worked out rather well as I made it across with dry feet!

29.04.09-173

One of the circular sheepfolds of Skiddaw Forest, Lonscale Fell behind.

29.04.09-177

Wiley Gill and Knott from the foot of Great Calva.

29.04.09-182

The view from Great Calva along the deep geological trough that runs to the south.

29.04.09-185

Casper in the sun, Knott behind.

29.04.09-187

Skiddaw from the descent.

29.04.09-196

Skiddaw House and Lonscale Fell catch the sun.

29.04.09-201

Heading for Skiddaw House YHA.

29.04.09-210

Great Calva from Skiddaw House.

29.04.09-214

Lonscale Fell.

29.04.09-221

Leaden skies now looking back along the Glenderaterra Valley.

29.04.09-229

High Rigg and Tewet Tarn from the path to the Blencathra Centre on Blease Fell.

29.04.09-234

Bluebells at the Blencathra Centre.

Blencathra via Sharp Edge

Walked on 11/09/2007

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.

Blencathra

11.09.07-001

Sunrise in Mungrisdale at the start of the climb to Souther Fell, Little Mell Fell and Great Mell Fell in view.

11.09.07-005

There was lots of early morning mist this morning lying in the valleys.

11.09.07-009

Mungrisdale mist.

11.09.07-011

The Bowscale Fell ridge from Souther Fell. The final route of ascent later will be along it.

11.09.07-018

The summit of Souther Fell looking to Clough Head and the Dodds.

11.09.07-023

Blencathra clearly showing where the alternative name of Saddleback comes from with Bannerdale Crags in the foreground.

11.09.07-024

A lie down after the steep warm-up for Casper.

11.09.07-030

Blencathra from the southern cairn on Souther Fell.

11.09.07-038

11.09.07-042

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.

11.09.07-043

Sharp Edge above Scales Tarn - it doesn't look quite as bad now.

11.09.07-050

The approach to Sharp Edge.

11.09.07-054

Up there?!

11.09.07-060

Climbing Sharp Edge.

11.09.07-062

Casper negotiates some of the slabs.

11.09.07-072

...and looking back down.

11.09.07-076

High above Scales Tarn now.

11.09.07-086

Made it! A lovely clear view from the summit of Blencathra today. To the north there were views to Scotland over low lying mist.

11.09.07-087

Wisps of cloud hang around on Hall's Fell Ridge.

11.09.07-092

The north western fells above Derwent Water and Keswick.

11.09.07-101

Casper.

11.09.07-114

Skiddaw from the summit tarn on Blencathra.

11.09.07-117

The Skiddaw massif across Mungrisdale Common.

11.09.07-125

Mungrisdale Common, that most derided of Wainwright fells as it is merely a large and grassy expanse with not a lot going for it - apart from today that is because Casper is there to liven the scene up! (Note: he is not there every day, unfortunately).

11.09.07-142

Sharp Edge from the climb to Bannerdale Crags, here seen rising from the centre up to the right.

11.09.07-145

Blencathra from the summit of Bannerdale Crags.

11.09.07-154

Looking east from the summit of Bowscale Fell.

11.09.07-158

Looking over Bowscale Tarn to Mosedale and High Pike from the East Top of Bowscale Fell.

11.09.07-166

Carrock Fell from the east ridge of Bowscale Fell.

11.09.07-172

Souther Fell from the descent across a sea of bracken.

Back O’ Skiddaw

Walked on 13/07/2005

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…

 

Back O' Skiddaw

Back O' Skiddaw route map.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 001

Early morning light on Carrock Fell. This was to be the last fell of the walk, some 11 long hours later.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 002

Looking along the Mosedale valley.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 004

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...'

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 005

Strange light and a band of thick low lying cloud to the south from Bowscale Fell's subsidiary east top.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 010

The north western fells seen between Blencathra and Skiddaw.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 015

Blencathra from Bannerdale Crags.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 019

Skiddaw across the summit tarn on Blencathra.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 026

The summit of Blencathra.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 029

Skiddaw from that most derided of Wainwright fells (for not being a true summit), Mungrisdale Common.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 032

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.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 034

Great Calva from the climb to Lonscale Fell.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 035

The view from Lonscale Pike, the east peak of Lonscale Fell. In the centre is High Rigg with Tewet Tarn visible and Thirlmere behind.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 037

Skiddaw Lesser Man. Little Man and Skiddaw from Jenkin Hill.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 039

There were superb, breath taking views from the climb up to Skiddaw.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 042

The north-western fells from Skiddaw.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 048

Bassenthwaite Lake and Sale Fell from Skiddaw. Not as cold as the last time we were here.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 050

The view reached as far as Scotland over the Solway Firth to Criffel.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 053

Binsey along the Dash Valley. To reach this point was another steep drop off from Bakestall down Birkett Edge and then a hard climb following the fence up to Little Lingy Fell.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 055

The path to Knott.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 057

A quick rest on Coomb Height, Carrock Fell in the background.

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 062

High Pike had a welcoming seat...

Back O' Skiddaw - 13th July 064

Evening light and the cloud begins to form on Skiddaw, seen from Round Knott.

Mungrisdale Common

Walked on 17/02/2004

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.

Mungrisdale

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0421

Bannerdale Crags on the road from Mungrisdale.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0441

Blencathra appears over the lip of Bannerdale Crags.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0491

Blencathra from Bannerdale Crags summit.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0531

Skiddaw from the 'summit' cairn of Mungrisdale Common.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0601

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.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0621

'Cloven Stone' - marked on the O.S map and by AW.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0711

White Horse Bent

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0741

Sharp Edge and Blencathra from White Horse Bent.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0051

outhwest from Souther Fell, in the foreground Clough Head is to the left, Blencathra to the right. On the horizon L-R: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell, Lingmell, Great Gable, Brandreth and Kirk Fell.

Mungrisdale Common - 17th February 2004 0081

Blencathra and Scales Fell from the summit of Souther Fell.

Walking Diary

  • The Mosedale Horseshoe 01/03/2022
  • Caw 18/01/2022
  • Coniston sunset 17/01/2022
  • Blencathra 15/01/2022
  • Scafell Pike 14/01/2022

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