Striding Edge

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Blencathra

Walked on 10/01/2025

Walking Diary 2025

Scales – Blencathra (Scales Fell – Doddick Fell – Hallsfell Top – Gategill Fell – Known Crags – Blease Fell – Atkinson Pike) – Scales

Distance: 12.7 km     Total Ascent: 745 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes (moving time)   Start Time: 10:55

The wintry weather continued in the Lake District so I headed north today to make the most of it and wow, I wasn’t disappointed. This was a perfect winter’s day one of the best and very enjoyable on one of my favourite fells. There was a surprising bit of cloud around the summit for a while but when that cleared it was indeed magical. What a great day out on the fells!

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Great Mell Fell at the start of the climb from Scales.

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It looked as though it was going to be the perfect winter day.

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A beautiful sun filled sky but the temperatures were sub-zero still. It was warm enough climbing in the sunshine though and the going was easy in soft snow.

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Plenty of ski tracks on the side of Mousthwaite comb.

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The Pennines to the east. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, blue skies everywhere with all the fells being visible...

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...until we got to the top of Scales fell when there was one fell covered in cloud - and we were on it!

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Seemingly out of nowhere and un-noticed until now the cloud has covered the top of Blencathra.

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What a view to the south.

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Climbing higher the wind really picked so it was time to layer up and get the micro-spikes on at the same time.

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Sharp Edge.

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Getting colder as we climbed higher.

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Someone is climbing Sharp Edge today.

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Looking back before we were enveloped in cloud.

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A Brocken Spectre.

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Cornice.

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It was eerie at the top with the sun trying to burn through the cloud.

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Hurry up Dad!

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Blencathra summit. It was like Piccadilly Circus behind me so I carried on across the summit to see if I could get out of the cloud again.

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Yes, I could! Skiddaw now has a cloud cap.

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That's more like it! Wow, the view was fabulous now looking to Gategill Fell Top.

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Great Calva.

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Snowy edge.

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The Coledale fells from Blease Fell.

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Superb! Depending on where you were on the ridge, the wind was quite fierce - you can see the spindrift in the sky in this photo.

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Skiddaw is clear of cloud now.

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Looking back from Blease Fell.

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We found a nice, sheltered spot between Gategill and Blease Fell with a lunch spot with views to die for. There was only one thing on Fletcher's mind - it was Bonio time! I talked to quite a few passing folk here including people on skis, the conditions were peect for that with the deep snow.

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Something to look at over lunch.

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...and the view the other way.

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Heading back to the summit now with the moon rising over Hall's Fell.

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A long view to the east.

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The summit of Blencathra, now clear of cloud (and people!).

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Hall's Fell Ridge.

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Looking back up from the descent, the Saddleback clearly visible now.

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Blencathra in the setting sun.

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Comments

  1. Judith Griffiths says

    12/01/2025 at 11:29 am

    What a totally fantastic day and set of pictures Sean. A real joy to see them, knowing I’ll never have a day anything like that again (age!). I used to see your site regularly, starting from when Connie was small, but haven’t looked for ages, then I noticed you pop up on Facebook, where I do follow various Lake District pages, and checked you out. What a set to return to! I’ll have to look again more often. Thanks for all your pics over the years anyway.

    Reply
    • Sean McMahon says

      13/01/2025 at 5:14 pm

      Thanks Judith, nice to ‘see’ you again 🙂

      Reply
    • Beverley Kelly says

      14/01/2025 at 1:21 pm

      I am the same. It’s good to see Sean back to putting walks on this site.

      Reply
      • Sean McMahon says

        15/01/2025 at 10:31 am

        Thanks Beverley, hope you are well.

        Reply
  2. Carl says

    15/03/2025 at 11:57 am

    Welcome back, Sean. Sorry to hear about poor Fletch. We were privileged enough to meet him in the shop once. RIP.

    Reply
    • Sean McMahon says

      16/03/2025 at 9:48 am

      Thanks Carl.

      Reply

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Walking Diary

  • Walla Crag 27/03/2025
  • Bowfell 19/03/2025
  • Farewell Fletcher 27/02/2025
  • Scafell Pike & Lingmell 16/01/2025
  • Blencathra 10/01/2025

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