Name of walk | Yew Crag Mine, Dale Head and Hindscarth |
Date of walk | 2011-08-15 |
Distance walked (miles) | 6 |
Duration of walk | 6 hours 0 minutes |
Weather | Sunshine |
Peaks on walk | Dale Head, Hindscarth |
Walked with | Ged and blind Kas |
Parking | Honister Slate Mine |
Like most days of late it was pouring with rain when I left home at 7.30am to pick up Ged and Kas. It had been so wet recently that even this weekend`s annual ChilliFest at Levens Hall was cancelled. Radio Cumbria`s 6.30am Fell Forecast said that it should clear up later in the day giving excellent visibility but with occasional heavy showers, sunshine and possible hill fog in the west of the National Park…..a bit hedge betting!!!!! We had planned to drive to Honister Slate Mine (parking £5 per day) and climb Dale Head and Hindscarth via the disused Yew Crag Mines to give a dull route up a bit of interest.

We stopped off at Derwent Water and confirmed hill fog in the west!

We took a walk up the upper level to the mine workings.

View down the Honister Pass.

Mines and Via Ferrata on Honister Crag.

Buttermere and a hint of Crummock Water come into view.

There is a way up here, but it is incredibly steep across loose slate, slippery with the recent rain, so we sensibly double back climbing over the crag to attack the workings from above.

A mine entrance on the upper level.

After climbing the crag we cut around the slate heaps and descend to the old mine buildings.


Winding mechanism.

End of the track.

The view down to where we were originally. The track of the upper and lower paths can be seen. It is still too slippery to descend anymore, especially as we are supposed to be climbing "up" a mountain! So we continue back up to the upper workings.

The building next to the 40ft tunnel.

View through the tunnel which one can usually walk through, but due to the rain is ankle deep at the start, so we go up and over the hill to see the exit.


Great view out to the Red Pike, High Stile range

A closer view of Buttermere and Crummock Water.

Looking out to Red Pike from one of the ruins.

I try out the shelter that must have been built for a Hobbit!!!!

We then continue our ascent to Dale Head. Looking back to Glaramara, Swirl How, Bowfell, Esk Pike and Great End. The Scafells in cloud.

Blue skies to the north. Dale Head summit cairn. For August it was cold, we kept our coats on all day.

One of the best views in the Lakes, the Newlands Valley looking out to Skiddaw. Causey Pike far left, Hindscarth near left.

Looking over High Spy and Maiden Moor to Blencathra left and The Dodds range on the right. The Pennines in the middle.

Looking down to Fleetwith Pike and Gatesgarth.

Our route to Hindscarth goes off to the right.

Hindscarth. We head for the far shelter to have lunch. It was cold and windy en route.

View out from the shelter which we shared with a guy from Surrey and one from Hexham.

Looking across Cat Bells to Derwent Water.

Some hills from the walk I did with Brendan a couple of weeks ago. Grasmoor, Eel Crag, Sail, a glimpse of Hopegill Head, Grisedale Pike, Scar Crags and Causey Pike. Ard Crags and Robinson in the foreground

We then need to return back to Dale Head before heading down to Dale Head Tarn.

Another view down Newlands.

Back to the cairn.

Then descending the step and awkward path to Dale Head Tarn and then ascending boggy ground to Launchy Tarn. The view ahead shows it is now raining in Borrowdale. Within minutes it was raining here too!

We sheltered in the enclosure by Dale Head Tarn..

We headed for Launchy Tarn. Then across wet, pathless ground via a few small tarns in the general direction of the track back down to Honister Mine

Heading back down the sun came out again.

Once down we took the lower level and decided to tackle the disused track that led up to the upper level. A bit steep for the end of a walk!

Poor Ged, I`ll get done for pensioner abuse! Then we retraced our footsteps back along the upper level path and visited the slate mine for a well earned coffee in the cafe.

Looks like something out of Thomas The Tank Engine....Percy?


