Three Shire Stone – Long Scar – Black Crag – The Needle, Black Crag – Pike o’ Blisco – Red Tarn – Cold Pike – Cold Pike Tooth – Red Tarn – Three Shire Stone
Distance:
8.2km
Total Ascent:
493m
Time Taken:
3 hours
Start Time:
09:10
Weather:
Sunny. 4ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright Count:
23/214 (2 new this walk)
After another spell of poor-ish weather, finally a good day was forecast – and they were not wrong with this one! What a beautiful morning, even though the temperature on the car was down to freezing at the beginning of the walk, the sun was blazing and the whole walk was completed in a long sleeve mid-layer, no other clothing required! It was lovely to get out once more and this route reminded me of how most routes were not that long ago – a bit wild and rugged and only the main path down to Red Tarn was ‘manicured’. I could easily have stayed up there all day.
All quiet early on at the top of Wrynose Pass next to the Three Shire Stone.
The view along Wrynose Bottom to Harter Fell, it was looking like it was going to be a beautiful day.Looking back from the climb and away from the main path now with a view across Wrynose Pass to the Coniston Fells. Once off the main path, as there was no-one around and there were no sheep, I took the next step with young Finlay and had him off the lead – good lad! He took to it well and although I have had him off lead before for short spells, this was the longest and he was off for virtually all the rest of the walk.The first objective of the day was a slight detour to ‘The Needle, Black Crag’ (Wainwright: The Southern Fells – Pike o’ Blisco 8) ‘precariously balanced on a massive plinth of rock…’. This is not so difficult to find and I have visited it on previous walks.The view from the south-east summit to the main summit, Bowfell beyond. Pike o’ Blisco summit cairn and wind shelter looking towards Crinkle Crags and Bowfell. It was quite cool on this top, probably the coolest part of the day but I wasn’t complaining – how could I with wall to wall blue sky and sunshine with some warmth in it.A fabulous view of the Langdale Pikes across Great Langdale. It feels as though you have a Birds Eye view of the Langdales from this airy perch.Looking back to the south-east summit and a picture that sums up the morning, in one word ‘glorious’.Wainwright #22 for Finlay – Pike o’ Blisco.Just before descending the path to Red Tarn with a great view of Crinkle Crags, Great Knott to the left.Great Knott (which is a Birkett top) looks prominent from here. I did consider (re-) visiting but when I climbed the opposite side the path ahead towards Crinkle Crags seemed busy so I gave it a miss today.A fabulous view of Bowfell with Three Tarns nesting in the col below the summit to the left, Hell Gill central and The Band gently sloping L-R above it.Descending the path to Red Tarn looking across to Cold Pike, a Crinkle Crags in miniature. The path we climbed can be seen climbing from the centre up to the right.Red Tarn and Cold Pike. This is a lovely area, often quiet around the tarn and today as no exception. It was just so…peaceful. No wind, no noise – nothing!Wainwright #23 for Finlay, Cold Pike.The view from the summit of Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell again dominate the scene.Pike o’ Blisco, where we were, from Cold Pike (where we are!).Cold Pike summit.Harter Fell from Cold Pike. We actually stayed up here for quite a while. I wanted to find a rock curiosity mentioned by Wainwright in the Cold Pike chapter he called Cold Pike Tooth. I have looked before without success, the vague location description is given as ‘Below the crags, west of the summit’ so that’s where I looked – round and round, up and down but I could not see anything resembling it. I got talking to a walker when our paths crossed, we discussed it but he had never even heard of it. After a fruitless while, we sat and had a bite to eat and a Bonio (I’ll let you guess who had what!) enjoying the tranquil day. All I could think was to go further west to see if I could locate it – but how far? There are lots of rocky knolls and prominences up there. I climbed one and looked from above and spotted what could possibly be it below, it was at a similar jaunty angle to that depicted in the Wainwright chapter. Down we went, initially disappointed when it proved harder to spot from below than above. Then…could it be…possibly…….yes! That’s it! Cold Pike Tooth! Mentioned by Wainwright on Cold Pike 2 “Below the crag west of the summit are many mammoth boulders and one grotesque 12-foot fanged splinter. An appropriate name for it would be Cold Pike Tooth. Try to locate it!” I’m glad today I had a proper look (instead of my usual man look) and finally located it. Has anyone else ever found it? Or looked? Or knew it existed? Leave a comment below.Now satisfied we descended toward a large tarn below on a flat area above Redtarn Moss crossing over the two remaining mini-crinkles of Cold Pike. This view is looking across to Long Scar and Black Crag (where we saw The Needle earlier).Pike o’ Blisco across Red Tarn.Finlay makes the most of a clear tarn that marks the start of the descent to Redtarn Moss. He is a real water lover and he is in at any opportunity.Down at Red Tarn, just below the main path.When I reached the path, I got talking to a small gang of lads who were going bouldering on Black Crag but they weren’t sure where it was. I put them on the right route, they had missed it by a fair bit so now they knew. Good deed for the day complete! As we descended to Wrynose Pass there was a steady stream of people climbing now and there were lots of cars at the end, I was glad I had made the relatively early start and enjoyed the views alone.
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14 thoughts on “Pike o’ Blisco & Cold Pike”
Rod Hepplewhite
Hi Sean, re ” the whole walk was completed in a long sleeve mid-layer, no other clothing required! ” What, naked bottom half? I bet your nether regions were affected, 2 hazelnuts and a chipolata and I bet you got funny lads from those lads wanting boulder on Black Crag!! 🙂
Hi Sean,
We tried to locate the ’12’ fanged splinter’ during our May 2014 walk. We went to the west and, as you did, spent a lot of time searching for it but without success. We learned later on that we hadn’t gone far enough west, and it seems from your description that we should have dropped down a little. We did manage to find The Needle on Cold Pike but were disappointed not to find the ‘fanged splinter’. Its been almost ten years since we last visited these two fells so a re-visit is long overdue. After no end of dull cloudy conditions the fine sunny weather arrived just as we were both suffering with a bout of ‘flu’ – typical! We are only now beginning to feel anything like our normal selves so we can only hope it lasts.
By the way, what is that red, padded item that Finlay is wearing on his chest?
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John & Brenda, I guess I went with a bit more determination to find it this time! Hopefullyy you can find it when you next visit. Yes, let’s hope the weather lasts, it would be great to get a nice Spring! That is part of a harness on Finlay’s chest, it may not be seen again if he is going to be off lead more 🙂 Thanks, Sean
I confess I’ve never looked for it as I’ve always been so intent on heading to the start of the Crinkle Crags ascent. But I’ve always had a thrill finding some of AW’s hidden features like the packwoman’s grave. My biggest cheer was when I found Charmer’s grave on his 100th birthday. Have you ever located it?
Barry Hutchinson
Hi Barry, it’s certainly worth considering having a look next time you are up there. I quite enjoy finding those ‘hidden’ treasures, in some ways it is amazing that things like Charmer’s Grave still exist – that is why I try not to give away the locations. Packwoman’s Grave here Charmer’s Grave here
Thanks, Sean
You never fail to stir the memories Sean. I’ve just had a knee replacement so there’s a smidgen of opportunity to get on a fell again in the future. All the best
Hi Tim, thanks for your comments – it did take some finding and does indeed show the level of detail and how wide and far the wanderings that Wainwright undertook were! Thanks, Sean
Hi Sean, re ” the whole walk was completed in a long sleeve mid-layer, no other clothing required! ” What, naked bottom half? I bet your nether regions were affected, 2 hazelnuts and a chipolata and I bet you got funny lads from those lads wanting boulder on Black Crag!! 🙂
Haha, that’s why I’m known as the half naked rambler Rod! Sounds like you have the measure of me 🙂
Days like that there is nowhere else on earth quite like it. For our 13 yr old Beardie those days, though, are now just a memory.
Fabulous Nige and although they may only be memories now, they are certainly good ones. Sean
What a great weather day Sean, your photos made me feel like I was there!
The weather was perfect Scott, what a day!
Hi Sean,
We tried to locate the ’12’ fanged splinter’ during our May 2014 walk. We went to the west and, as you did, spent a lot of time searching for it but without success. We learned later on that we hadn’t gone far enough west, and it seems from your description that we should have dropped down a little. We did manage to find The Needle on Cold Pike but were disappointed not to find the ‘fanged splinter’. Its been almost ten years since we last visited these two fells so a re-visit is long overdue. After no end of dull cloudy conditions the fine sunny weather arrived just as we were both suffering with a bout of ‘flu’ – typical! We are only now beginning to feel anything like our normal selves so we can only hope it lasts.
By the way, what is that red, padded item that Finlay is wearing on his chest?
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John & Brenda, I guess I went with a bit more determination to find it this time! Hopefullyy you can find it when you next visit. Yes, let’s hope the weather lasts, it would be great to get a nice Spring! That is part of a harness on Finlay’s chest, it may not be seen again if he is going to be off lead more 🙂 Thanks, Sean
I confess I’ve never looked for it as I’ve always been so intent on heading to the start of the Crinkle Crags ascent. But I’ve always had a thrill finding some of AW’s hidden features like the packwoman’s grave. My biggest cheer was when I found Charmer’s grave on his 100th birthday. Have you ever located it?
Barry Hutchinson
Hi Barry, it’s certainly worth considering having a look next time you are up there. I quite enjoy finding those ‘hidden’ treasures, in some ways it is amazing that things like Charmer’s Grave still exist – that is why I try not to give away the locations. Packwoman’s Grave here Charmer’s Grave here
Thanks, Sean
You never fail to stir the memories Sean. I’ve just had a knee replacement so there’s a smidgen of opportunity to get on a fell again in the future. All the best
Hi Alan, thanks – great tip hear you enjoy the photos. Hopefully you will get to the fells again soon, a fine aim I think! Best Wishes, Sean
I’ve never looked for Cold Pike Tooth, but well done on finding it1 Just goes to show how thoroughly Wainwright researched his routes and books.
Hi Tim, thanks for your comments – it did take some finding and does indeed show the level of detail and how wide and far the wanderings that Wainwright undertook were! Thanks, Sean