Blencathra via Hall's Fell Ridge 16-07-2016
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Route: Threlkeld, Gategill, Hall's Fell, Hall's Fell Ridge, Blencathra (Hallsfell Top), Gategill Fell Top, Knowe Crags, Blease Fell, Blease Farm, Threlkeld
Date: 16/07/2016
From: Thelkeld
Parking: Threlkeld
Start Point: Threlkeld
Region: Northern Fells
Route length: 5.3 miles (8.52 km)
Time taken : 02:33
Average speed: 2.0 mph
Ascent: 784m
Descent: 807m
Wainwrights on this walk:
Blencathra (868m)
Additional summits: Gategill Fell Top (851m), Knowe Crags (804m)
Other points of interest: Hall's Fell Ridge
The time had finally arrived to climb the 214th and final Wainwright and what a day we had planned. A few years ago I had been recommended to leave something good until the end which would make that triumphant feeling all the more special. I'm not sure many people would be impressed by my claim that I finished on Mungrisdale Common. For many years I have driven in and out of the Lake District along the A66, passing beneath the inviting crags and ridges of Blencathra, promising one day to finally stake my claim on the summit. That day was today.
I chose Blencathra for no personal or sentimental reasons other than it is a fine-looking mountain with a number of interesting and exciting approaches and, ultimately, it stands as a huge isolated lump on the northeastern fringe of the National Park rather than the crowning glory of a round or horseshoe.
You may think that I would have chosen Sharp Edge to make my triumphant ascent to the summit but with a few well-wishers in tow, we decided on the slightly less intimidating Hall's Fell Ridge (though only less-so). Wainwright was very complimentary about this ridge "positively the finest way up to any mountain-top in the district" were his words and, from the roadside in Threlkeld, it certainly looks like it means business.
The day could not have been better for tackling such an exciting route, fluffy white clouds filled the blue sky, however, a strong breeze did have me slightly concerned for a while. As I mentioned, we started in Thelkeld, which sits in the shadow of the fell, making our way along farm tracks fields to the foot of the ridge. After crossing Gate Gill, the steep climb begins.
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| The Hall's Fell Ridge leads directly to the summit |
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| Crossing Gate Gill |
The first third of the ridge is a fairly tiring slog up a steep but easy to follow path. In fact, once on the ridge, you can't really go wrong in terms of navigation. The steepness does lead to ever-increasing views across the Vale of Keswick and down the steep valleys of Gate Gill and Doddick Gill.
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| The Vale of Keswick |
Eventually, the steep path rounds a heathery shoulder and reveals the superb Hall's Fell Ridge. The ridge shares many similarities to Striding Edge and requires just as much respect to negotiate it safely. The most interesting route is directly along the crest which climbs directly to Blencathra's summit. There is an element of exposure so a good head for heights is required.
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| Rounding the shoulder to reveal Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| The crest of Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| Looking up Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| Hall's Fell Ridge and Gate Gill |
While the first part of Hall's Fell is very good, it gets even better as the ridge makes a subtle curve on its way up. Here there are some seriously narrow parts, evidenced below, which make for an exhilarating few minutes. If you so please, these parts can be bypassed but where's the fun in that?
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| Sara gets on to the scramble |
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| Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| Hall's Fell Ridge and the Vale of Keswick |
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| Looking over the curve towards the summit |
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| Sara negotiates the crest |
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| The curve in the ridge |
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| On Hall's Fell Ridge |
The final pull to the summit still involves a little scrambling but is perhaps the easiest part of the ridge, reaching the top just yards from the small concrete ring that marks Blencathra's summit.
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| Knowe Crags |
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| Looking down Hall's Fell Ridge |
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| Ordnance Survey triangulation station |
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| At the summit of Wainwright number 214 |
It was pretty special finally completing the Wainwrights, so much so that we brought a bottle of fizz all the way up with us (courtesy of Coppermines Cottages). We enjoyed a few mugs in the sunshine while we ate our lunch, admiring the tremendous view from the mountain.
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| A modest bottle to celebrate |
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| 214 Wainwrights complete |
It would be rude not to have a quick look at Sharp Edge while we were up here, no doubt the most famous way up Blencathra and definitely the next way I'll be heading up. You can see it by heading a short distance north towards Atkinson Pike. Having got the measure of it, we turned back to walk along Blencathra's ridge to Knowe Crags - the western top.
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| Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge |
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| Sharp Edge |
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| The top of Blencathra is beautiful hiking territory |
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| Hall's Fell Ridge and Gate Gill |
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| Heading for Knowe Crags |
It's an easy descent down Blease Fell where the path has been engineered into a series of zigzags - the view from here over Keswick are tremendous. To return to Thelkeld requires a detour from the main path, following a much fainter route south and then turning east towards the village.
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| The path down Blease Fell |
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| Blease Fell |
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| Looking south towards Dunmail Raise |
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| Keswick and the north western fells |
The return to Thelkeld is just as straightforward and it wasn't long before we were concluding a very satisfying half day.
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| Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell |
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| Blease Gill |
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| Blease Gill |
Climbing the Wainwrights has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and has taken me to areas of the Lake District I had never dreamt of visiting. While many will be content by scaling the giants, there is immense satisfaction in being able to scan the horizon and be able to claim 'I've climbed all of those'. Since I started paying attention a few years ago I've walked over 800 miles, spent 15 days on the move and climbed over 88,000m - the equivalent of climbing Everest over 10 times. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
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