Start Point: Jubilee Bridge, Eskdale (NY 213 011)
Jubilee Bridge – Harter Fell (Eskdale) – Hardknott Pass – Mediobogdum (Roman Fort) – Jubilee Bridge
Distance: 8.6 km
Total Ascent: 539 metres
Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes
Start Time: 10:00
Weather: Wet. 4ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 12/214 (1 new this walk)
Route Map – GPX download available (this is the cleaned up version where I should have walked, my navigational issues are not included!)
I had picked out Harter Fell as a possibility today and the intention was to do it from the Duddon valley side…but…the Duddon Valley road was closed beyond the Birker Fell turning. That meant initiating plan B and walk from Jubilee bridge at the foot of Hardknott Pass. Eskdale was deserted as I drove along the valley and apart from a couple of walkers at the start ion the walk I saw no one all day (but neither did I see much else given the weather!). All more experiences in Finlay’s fell walking journey though, he’s coming along well.
A view into Upper Eskdale looking back along the path from Jubilee Bridge.
The view in the opposite direction along the length of Eskdale. The weather was changing quickly with some bright spells appearing, albeit fleetingly. Looking up to higher ground it didn't look so great with the tops shrouded in mist.
Sometimes it looked as though it might clear...but then any views were soon gone again as quickly as they appeared. You have to be optimistic if you are a fell walker!
Once we rounded the corner to climb steeply to the summit, the weather really did take a turn for the worse with quite strong winds and constant drizzle. Here's a 'quick on the draw' type shot of the trig. column and the true summit beyond. As I descended from here I slipped on a sloping section of rock, banging my left arm and hip quite badly - ooh yah!!
There were some navigational issues leaving the confusing summit of Harter Fell - initially I set off down the wrong way heading for the Duddon valley side then had to double back, climbing to the summit again to get my bearings before heading off down to Hardknott Pass. Even that wasn't straightforwardd in the mist and boggy mess as I seemed to be veering off the path. On the map it shows a lot more forest than there actually is these days and that threw me off a bit as well. It wasn't too bad in the end though, one final navigation mistake was around the un-named tarn below Peathill Crag. I found the right way after a little bit of wandering around and there was a stile with barbed wire which was not dog friendly. I followed it back until I came to a gate I had spotted earlier. From then on it was an easy descent to the pass.
Then out of nowhere the mist finally parted, this is looking across the road to Border End.
Hardknott Pass looking down into Eskdale.
I walked through the Roman parade ground to the fort (Mediobogdum) and had a little look around, what a place!
Hardknott - Fort and Pass.
Finlay - the centurion!
It was very atmospheric with the cloud swirling over the fells and not a soul around. I tried to imagine what it was like here 2000 years ago, I wonder what those stationed here thought of it?
Ready for action - sir!
Heading back to the car at Jubilee Bridge - let's go and get dried off Finlay my lad!
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