Northern Fells 2013
Wainwright’s Northern Fells
Perhaps it’s the black cover on the book, or maybe the warnings about how lonely and unfrequented they are, that have always made me feel a bit wary of Wainwright’s Northern Fells. But each time I’ve been in Keswick over the past few years I’ve felt I should tackle them some time, and this 3 day visit was planned so I could tick a good few of them. I’d already climbed Skiddaw and Blencathra and visited most of their subsidiary summits but this time I’d be in unfamiliar territory.
Carrock Fell & High Pike
25 June 2013
Starting at the old quarry near Stone Ends (NY353336) I climbed the steep path to the top of Carrock Fell and carried on to High Pike. I returned via the Cumbria Way track and the path down through the old Carrock mine in the Mosedale valley to reach the Mungrisedale – Mosedale – Caldbeck road about 1.5km from the starting point. The weather was clear and dry: I walked 13km with 615m of ascent.
25 June 2013
After a late lunch back at the car I drove to the start of the lane giving access to Great Mell Fell (NY407246) which I climbed by the clear path, walking 3.2km with 265m ascent. (Great Mell Fell is in Wainwright’s Eastern Fells book.)
Six Uldale fells
26 June 2013
Parking in a small space on the lane at Longlands (NY266358) near Over Water my route went via Blea Fell, Great Sca Fell, Knott, Great Calva, Meal Fell and Longlands Fell. Again the weather was clear and dry so route-finding was easy. I hadn’t expected to find paths on the hills and had planned a circuit which tried to minimise unnecessary loss of height. Instead I found that all the tops are connected by paths that – at least in the clear conditions of the day – were obvious and easy to follow. Apart from the direct route I took to the top of the first hill, Brae Fell, the paths turned out to be the best and quickest way of getting from summit to summit. Off the paths the ground tends to be steeper and much rougher: where streams have cut ravines into the fellsides these are steep and deep and best avoided. The one cross-country short cut I took actually lost me time! Over the day I walked 17km with 1070m ascent.
Mungrisedale Common & Souther Fell
27 June 2013
Parking at the lay-by on the A66 at Scales (NY339267) I walked up to the col at the head of Mousethwaite Comb then took the path on the fellside above the River Glenderamackin to the col at NY327291. The continuation of the path and then a compass bearing took me to the small pile of stones which marks one candidate for the highest point of this, the most pointless of Wainwright’s summits. Back at the col, I followed the path along the north side of the Glenderamackin (forgetting I’d planned to visit Bannerdale Crags on the way), crossed the river at the footbridge, and climbed Souther Fell. I walked 15km with 615m ascent.
Route tracklogs
I’ve put the four separate walks on a Google Map. The satellite view gives a better impression of the terrain. Alternatively you can download this kml file, load it into Google Earth and fly over the individual routes.