Name of walk	Yewbarrow
Date of walk	2026-04-29

On Wednesday Sue and I drove to Overbeck NT car park on the shores of Wastwater to climb up Yewbarrow. This walk contains a scramble which should not be underestimated, but is easily doable in good conditions. We made a start at about 8.30am. The walk was five miles and would take about four and a half hours. Thankfully it was a gorgeous day, but the wind was going to increase as the day progressed.

View of Yewbarrow from Overbeck car park.

Looking over the gorse towards Wastwater and the Screes as we walk up towards the grassy ridge.

Sue on the ridge.

View back from the top of the wall stile.

We go through a gate and follow the path up. The way ahead. There are two people towards the top. This is the easy bit.

Now we come to the bit where we put our poles away. We need both hands, feet and knees to get up. It is a scramble, but an enjoyable one. This is not the case when it is icy or wet. The two people are still at the top of the photo.

Sue follows up behind me, below here are two Americans who we chat to later in our walk.

You can see the steepness in this photo of Sue. Did I just say it was a walk? Ha!

Great views to be had, when you are able to face the right way.

We make it to Great Door. Views across to Burnmoor Tarn and Illgill Head.

Bell Rib. I leave my poles with Sue and climb to the top.

Sue's photo of me on the top.

The top is quite grassy.

I turn around and look at the route ahead. The Americans have joined Sue.

Selfie at Great Door. A bit windy!

We have a drink, chat to three lads who came up behind us, who were not expecting it to be quite the climb it was, or that it could be done by two old ladies, one with a knee replacement! Then we head up. View back to Bell Rib.

Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell. Slight Side far right. Gorgeous views out today.

We continue upwards.

We are now on the summit ridge.

Unfortunately it is not a flat ridge, more up to come.

The summit is now in sight.

The three young lads have reached the summit, the Americans are on their way too.

We look round at the views. Kirk Fell left and Great Gable.

A closer view shows my route up Gavel Neese from my last walk up Kirk Fell. Told you it was steep!

Sue and the Scafells.

The bumps of Haycock and Red Pike with Low Tarn in between. It has taken two hours to reach the summit. It has now become very windy.

We chat to the Americans on the summit. They have lived in Glasgow for many years, but we mostly chat about mountains and favourite routes. They were very nice people. They head off while we stop for a drink on the summit. We catch them up again later.

Once in the dip he take a left for the narrow path to Dore Head. It had been a bit cold on the summit ridge, owing to the wind.

We catch the Americans up at the small boulder field.

The way back, but first we go the other way to Dore Head for the views.

Standing at the top of Dore Head Screes (now a mud slide). I have been down this way a couple of times, but on the grass to the left. Doable with time and care. Kirk Fell directly across.

View left to Pillar. We head back the other way.

Sue and the view back to Dore Head. We had hoped the valley would be more sheltered from the wind, but it wasn't.

We are still following the Americans.

We stop for lunch just after the wall with a view of Wastwater. It was less windy here.

I photograph our way up through the gate we took at the start, which this morning was in shadow.

We cross the wall stile again.

Superb view of the Scafells lit up by the sun.

Wastwater showing how windy it had become.

We drop our bags back at my car and walk to the shore.

View back to Yewbarrow.

We then stop the car near the Greendale turn off for the classic Wastwater view. It was so windy this poor canoeist couldn't get away from the shore.

A really good walk, and one that’s not too long!

Jo.