Start Point: Roadside parking at Wanthwaite (NY 315 232)
Wanthwaite – Fisher’s Wife’s Rake – Jim’s Fold – Clough Head – White Pike – Old Coach Road – Wanthwaite
Distance:
8.5 km
Total Ascent:
580m
Time Taken:
2 hours 45 minutes
Start Time:
08:30
Weather:
Overcast. a pleasant 8ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright Count:
25/214 (1 new this walk)
The good weather continued today although it wasn’t clear blue skies until later (when we were down!) it was mild and pleasant. I thought we would go for a (relatively) easy climb up to Clough Head using Fisher’s Wife’s Rake, in my memory it wasn’t too bad and quite straightforward. Hmmm…
Looking to Lowthwaite from above Wanthwaite towards Fisher’s Wife’s Rake.The Rowan tree marks the start of the rake, up to the left.The way to the rake is along thin path through gorse and juniper and the climb to the grassy section of the rake is steep. Very steep! Have you done it? Let me know in the comments below what you thought, it was certainly steeper than I remembered it! I thought young Finlay was going to trip over his tongue at one point such was his exertion!A cloud capped Blencathra and still grey skies.Finlay checking out the view.This small cairn marks the top of Fisher’s Wife’s Rake – I would not fancy doing this rake in descent, it is too treacherous.A view of Thirlmere and Sandbed Gill.Sandbed Gill is a blessed relief for Finlay – time for a drink and to cool down.Jim’s Fold (marked on the O.S Map) a ruined sheepfold.Hmmm, it looks like the sun is trying to burn through with the odd glimpse of brightness and blue sky. It was certainly very spring-like today with the milder temperature and the Skylarks singing.Sun’s out, tongue’s out for Finlay.Some sunshine on High Rigg. As I climbed higher, the mist began to form right across Clough Head and after a few minutes I was completely enveloped in the clag with all views obliterated.By the time I made the summit there was no view to the north – no Blencathra, no Skiddaw, no anything. This is looking the other way to Great Dodd.Clough Head – Wainwright #25 for Finlay.We walked along the top of Clough Head following the ridge and it wasn’t too long before we were out of the cloud, here looking to Blencathra and Threlkeld. Here we passed two (separate) runners coming from the direction of White Pike.White Pike below with Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell beyond.Cloer up on Great and Little Mell Fells and Threlkeld Common.Blencathra.Heading back along the Old Coach Road and the sun still has not made it through.Hause Well (I think!). There was certainly water coming from it and I was in the right area on the map – it looks different to the Wainwright drawing so I’m not 100% certain. Have you spotted it when you were on the Old Coach Road?Latrigg, Dodd and Skiddaw. Of course when I made it back to the car, the sun did indeed shine and the temperature rose correspondingly to a rather pleasant 17C on the way home.
10 thoughts on “Clough Head via Fisher’s Wife’s Rake”
Rod Hepplewhite
Fisher’s Wife’s Rake! Only climbed it once, with David Hall, many years ago. 3 abiding memories: we missed the start because we were too busy chatting and had to back-track; thinking would we ever reach the top as it seemed to go on for ever; and feeling exhausted when we did eventually arrive at the cairn. I can’t quite remember where we went after reaching Clough Head’s summit but we might have following the same route down as you.
I’m staying in Keswick for 5 nights from next Monday, this would do as a short walk one day although the forecasts aren’t looking to good at the moments and I might be looking for Plan B or Plan C walks. 🙁
BTW – “I thought young Finlay was going to trip over his tongue at one point such was his exertion!” I can imagine, and what about your tongue? 🙂
Thanks Rod, it certainly was steep! No need to mention my tongue, it had been tripped over many times by then Well with a go though to get off the beaten track. Sean
I did Fisher Wife’s rake on a walk along the ridge to White Side, I’d come along the road from Legburthwaite and then headed up to the bottom. I remember there were two buzzards nesting in the cliff face and stayed in as close to the rock as possible as they weren’t happy with me being there. I remember the path turned into a zigzag as it got near the top, the plod up to Clough Head from the top of the rake was torture though
Hi Stephen, it’s an interesting one and given the name and history you would expect the whole rake to be the grassy zig-zag it is at the top. The pathless plod to Clough Head was certainly ‘it must be over the next bump’ x10! Thanks, Sean
Hi Sean,
A big jump for Finlay then – Green Crag last week to Fisher’s Wife’s Rake this week, no wonder his tongue was hanging out.
We’ve never used that route as neither of us would be happy with that amount of exposure and John’s plated ankle wouldn’t cope with the steep angle now. (He had a compound fracture in 2016 when he slipped on some black ice on one of our local roads.)
We’ve walked the Old Coach Road a few times but we’ve never noticed Hause Well, we must have been talking, as usual!
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John/Brenda, Finlay is 1 next week so old enough to start ramping up the walks a little bit (although I need a bit of further fell practise as well!). Less talking, more looking next time you are on the Old Coach Road! Thanks, Sean
Hi Mike, I imagine Sandbed Gill is much worse if you were using ropes and descending FW Rake would certainly require extra care using it in descent! Thanks, Sean
did it last year, first time in over 15 year, steeper than you ever remember, and I chose the week where there had been a bit of rain and spent quite a lot of time being very careful going up as it was so soggy, but glad I did it again.
Hi Glenn, it’s funny how your memory plays tricks, in my mind it was quite a gentle climb…but obviously it wasn’t! Even wore when wet I would think. Thanks, Sean
Fisher’s Wife’s Rake! Only climbed it once, with David Hall, many years ago. 3 abiding memories: we missed the start because we were too busy chatting and had to back-track; thinking would we ever reach the top as it seemed to go on for ever; and feeling exhausted when we did eventually arrive at the cairn. I can’t quite remember where we went after reaching Clough Head’s summit but we might have following the same route down as you.
I’m staying in Keswick for 5 nights from next Monday, this would do as a short walk one day although the forecasts aren’t looking to good at the moments and I might be looking for Plan B or Plan C walks. 🙁
BTW – “I thought young Finlay was going to trip over his tongue at one point such was his exertion!” I can imagine, and what about your tongue? 🙂
Thanks Rod, it certainly was steep! No need to mention my tongue, it had been tripped over many times by then Well with a go though to get off the beaten track. Sean
I did Fisher Wife’s rake on a walk along the ridge to White Side, I’d come along the road from Legburthwaite and then headed up to the bottom. I remember there were two buzzards nesting in the cliff face and stayed in as close to the rock as possible as they weren’t happy with me being there. I remember the path turned into a zigzag as it got near the top, the plod up to Clough Head from the top of the rake was torture though
Hi Stephen, it’s an interesting one and given the name and history you would expect the whole rake to be the grassy zig-zag it is at the top. The pathless plod to Clough Head was certainly ‘it must be over the next bump’ x10! Thanks, Sean
Hi Sean,
A big jump for Finlay then – Green Crag last week to Fisher’s Wife’s Rake this week, no wonder his tongue was hanging out.
We’ve never used that route as neither of us would be happy with that amount of exposure and John’s plated ankle wouldn’t cope with the steep angle now. (He had a compound fracture in 2016 when he slipped on some black ice on one of our local roads.)
We’ve walked the Old Coach Road a few times but we’ve never noticed Hause Well, we must have been talking, as usual!
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John/Brenda, Finlay is 1 next week so old enough to start ramping up the walks a little bit (although I need a bit of further fell practise as well!). Less talking, more looking next time you are on the Old Coach Road! Thanks, Sean
I climbed Sandbed Gill (with the aid of a rope) many years ago and descended via Fishers Wife’s Rake. I remember how steep it was
Hi Mike, I imagine Sandbed Gill is much worse if you were using ropes and descending FW Rake would certainly require extra care using it in descent! Thanks, Sean
did it last year, first time in over 15 year, steeper than you ever remember, and I chose the week where there had been a bit of rain and spent quite a lot of time being very careful going up as it was so soggy, but glad I did it again.
Hi Glenn, it’s funny how your memory plays tricks, in my mind it was quite a gentle climb…but obviously it wasn’t! Even wore when wet I would think. Thanks, Sean