Start Point: Hardknott Pass summit (NY 230 014)

Hardknott Pass – Border End – Eskdale Needle – Hard Knott – Hardknott Pass

Distance: 3.2 km
Total Ascent: 237 metres     
Time Taken: 1 hour
Start Time: 14:45
Weather: Partly cloudy. 3ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 17/214 (1 new this walk)

I did think it would be clearer this afternoon after a cloudy start but that never quite materialised. I can’t complain as the views from Hard Knott are always good, some of the best views of the Scafells and Upper Eskdale that can be had in my view. I love these frozen winter days when it really does give the feeling of peace and solitude.

The long and winding road – Wrynose Pass.

A breathtaking sight of the Scafells comes into view as the top of the small col between Border End and Hard Knott is reached.

Ask Pike has a sprinkling of snow on the top. Everything above the 500m level was frozen up here and the silence was deafening.

Eskdale with Hardknott Roman Fort visible below.

Once on top of Border End, the view really opens up and the full Scafell range comes into view and look superb across this frozen pool.

Seatallan and Haycock catch the last of the sun with a little bit of Yewbarrow visible beyond the Slight Side ridge.

The view from the summit cairn on Border End. I had a five minute conversation with someone that had climbed up from the fort and first time visiting the area – not a bad time to do it!

Fading light and the last of the sunshine on the slopes of Slight Side and Scafell.

I dropped off piste a little to find Eskdale Needle – always a treat to see this rugged rock tower with its even more rugged surroundings! This gave young Finlay a little taste of the rough stuff as we traversed towards it and a bit of ‘follow me closely’ training (plus of course ‘leave the sheep alone’ training – OFF!)

The light was fading fast now so it was on with the climb up to Hard Knott and just made it for the final part of the sunset, here looking towards the West Cumbrian coast.

Well done Finlay, Hard Knott is Wainwright #17.

The summit of Hard Knott.

A final shot of the sunset from the descent, the point towards the right is the cairn on Border End. On the descent I was thinking how good it was to have the frozen ground to walk across rather than finding a way across the bog – of course I thought too soon when I broke through an icy section and got a good boot full of freezing water. It was like quicksand. -I thought I was going to be dragged down to the icy depths and never be seen again 9thankfully I made it out alive!).