| Name of walk | Blencathra Round |
| Date of walk | 2021-06-28 |
On Monday I drove to Mungrisdale to walk the Blencathra Round: Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags, Blencathra and Souther Fell. A walk of just over ten miles. I left home at 6am, arriving at 7.30am. The forecast was excellent, warm with no wind.
I park in the spaces by the village hall (£2 donation) and set off for the path up to Bowscale Fell. View back along the road, Bowscale Fell on the right.
The start of Bowscale Fell.
St. Kentigern's Church.
The way up is around the back of the houses.
A steep start.
Looking back at the way in.
Souther Fell, Bannerdale Crags and The Tongue
Baa!
Once off the steep start it is any easy grassy climb.....or long trudge up, depending on your point of view!
Blencathra now peeking out from behind Bannerdale Crags.
Mist in the valley.
A closer view of Blencathra and my route up on the right.
Once I'm high enough I vere off for the views down to Bowscale Tarn. High Pike behind.
The trudge continues, but I have lots of sheep for stimulating conversation.
Bowscale Fell summit. 9.14 am. Skiddaw on the left.
Great Calva behind the sheep.
Summit shelter. Blencathra left.
Playing pee-bo!
"You lookin' at me?"
I divert left for the route to Bannerdale Crags.
I move over to take the ridge path for the Bannerdale valley views.
On Bannerdale Crags with a view to Blencathra. I now head in the direction of Mungrisdale Common for my route up to Blencathra.
Blencathra and the sharp Edge route.
My route up.
I stop for a coffee break with this view down the Glenderamackin valley.
Back o' Skiddaw.
The final bit up to Atkinson Pike.
Looking over Lonscale Fell to Causey Pike, Grisedale Pike etc.
View back looking over to Great Calva, Knott, High Pike and Carrock Fell.
Once on the top I head back down to where I can see Sharp Edge and Scales Tarn. No one on it at the moment, but it is only 10.50am
I head back up and look back over to Mungrisdale Common and Skiddaw.
The summit plateau. I make for the main summit.
The cross made of white stones. I head for the summit tarn.
Sheep reflections.
She turns and poses, showing me her more colourful stripey side!
Now my darlings, if you could all now drink together that would be good......and cut!
The sheep were totally relaxed, and not put off by me being there.
Summit view from the top of Hall's Fell. Derwent water on the right. Too many fells in view to mention!
The OS benchmark ring which marks the summit.
Me with Gategill summit on the right, just after 11am.
A closer view of Gategill summit and Derwent Water.
St. John's in the Vale with Thirlmere on the right. Clough Head on the right with the Helvellyn range behind.
Scales Fell and my route off.
I head down the zig zags. At the end of the zig zags is a faint grassy path going off left. I take that down to Scales Tarn.
Scales Tarn and the route up to Sharp Edge.
Tarn reflections.
From my lunch spot. I watch the people on the ridge.
Scales Tarn panorama. Left click to enlarge, click again to return.
Ridge view.
After a leisurely lunch I head back down the valley beside Scales Beck.
View back up.
It is a very good path to Souther Fell.
Souther Fell ahead.
View back down the valley.
Clough Head and the Dodds.
Looking back to Sharp Edge on Blencathra with my route up on the right, from the grassy climb up to Souther Fell.
The viewpoint looks over to Bannerdale Crags.
The small summit cairn looks up the ridge to Bannerdale Crags, just after 1pm.
Looking down to the River Glenderamackin.
The long top of Souther Fell is a bit dull, but now I start to head down.
My starting route this morning past the church on the right.
I can now see the pub and bridge over the river back to my car, but there is no way through here, you have to go the long way round. So this time I take the path to the right cutting out a steep descent, hoping it gets me to the same place.
It does, I meet up with the other path that meets the road at a gate.
A short road walk.
I pass Mungrisdale Pinfold. A wildlife garden maintained by locals.
Very nice!
The pub is closed until 5pm, so I cross the bridge to my car, opposite the village hall.
I arrived back to my car just before 2pm. Plenty of time to get home before the footy starts! The walk had taken just under six and a half hours. An excellent day! Plus a good walk for sheep lovers! When I repeat it I’ll probably walk the route via Bowscale Tarn for added interest.
Jo.
