Clough Head via Fisher’s Wife Rake

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.

Clough Head route map.

First view of Skiddaw and Lonscale Fell from the Old Coach Road.

There were some big clouds to the south, here looking into St. John's in the Vale.

High Rigg.

Following the wall to Fisher's Wife's Rake beneath Wanthwaite Crags.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from the foot of Fisher's Wife's Rake.

Climbing the rake.

The key to finding the rake is the single Rowan tree at the bottom of these crags.

The view down Fisher's Wife's Rake - it's a steep climb but not as bad as it looks on this photo as the path crosses from right to left across this scree run.