| The ideal start of the trek is the small car park
laybys on the main A66 trunk road at Scales. However
the trek can also be started at numerous other starting
points such as the Blencathra Visitor Centre or the
village of Threlkeld. Any of these starting points will
pick up the path that follows the flanks of the five
buttresses that slope off the front of Blencathra ridge
towards the valley.
From Scales follow the A66 in the Keswick or West direction
for about 400 metres until you see a public footpath
sign that points in the direction of a path between
two buildings. When the path reaches the main path at
a kissing gate turn right heading East towards the lower
section of Scales Fell. The path slowly ascends through
bracken until it reaches a few cross paths and paths
that lead left up onto Scales Fell, resist the urge
to climb the paths to the left and continue the ascent
of the original path. At the point where the deep rounded
valley of Mousthwaite Comb appears on the left, a major
path crosses the path, at this point continue on a smaller
path straight ahead in a North direction passing over
a small crag just to the right that hangs over Mousthwaite
Comb.
| 
Blencathra from the A66 |
Glenderamackin Valley |
After climbing the small path that clings to the side
of Mousthwaite Comb and Scales Fell you will reach the
col between Scales Fell and Souther Fell. At this point
looking North you will see a very different Lake District
terrain and one that resembles the rounded moors of
the Peak District. There is a good reason for this as
this part of the Lake District shares much similarities.
This quiet and often underrated area of the Northern
Fells is often referred to as 'Back O'Skidda'. The geology
of the Northern Fells around Blencathra and its huge
neighbour Skiddaw are much older and different to the
majority of the Lake District. The underlying rock in
this area known as Skiddaw Slate was created in times
when the Lake District mountains are said to have been
as old and high as those in the Himalayas, the rock
is some of the thickest, oldest and hardest in Europe,
it is said that when stood in this area the earths natural
gravitational pull is weakened and can reduce a human
body's weight by 3 grams.
Scales Tarn
|
Sharp Edge
|
The view from the col doesn't look quite dramatic as
that description and the reason for this is that in
relatively recent ages the area has been covered by
a layer of limestone created by the coral reefs of the
warm sea that once covered the north of England creating
the smoother areas like that on the Back O'Skidda' and
the Pennines and Peak District. From the col follow
the path in a North West direction as it follows the
dark cold River Glenderamackin valley on the side of
Scales Fell. The overwhelming outline of Sharp Edge
will eventually come into view to the left.
When the path reaches the Scales Beck outflow from
Scales Tarn turn left up a steep an rough path that
follows the left side of the beck then crosses the beck
to take a route up its right hand side to eventually
the shores of Scales Tarn. The waters of Scales Tarn
are often freezing cold and can be covered in ice in
the coldest winter months, the huge wall of Tarn Crags
rise from the shores to the South and West but its hard
to keep your eyes away from the spectacle to the North.
| 
Scrambling up Sharp Edge |
Scrambling on Sharp Edge |
Sharp Edge is awesome from this angle, and watching
as other walkers clamber across its knife edge arete
can really put fear into those not accustomed to such
walks. For those who do not wish to scramble up and
across Sharp Edge a path leads south from Scales Tarn
up onto Scales Fell and on to the Blencathra summit.
However for those who want to do one of the best ridge
walks in the country a path leads north from Scales
Tarn towards the side of Brunt Knott. Once at the top
of the path turn in an obvious left or West direction
towards the ridge.
Tackling the ridge by its crest should only really
be done in good weather conditions and when the sharp
slate is not too wet. A path does run parallel to the
crest to the right hand side for those times when the
slate crest cannot be navigated in safety. The arete
is quite straight forward for a while and as with most
ridge walks you can only go wrong if you go left or
right and not straight on. The first 200 metres are
a case of tackling the ridge by either having fun but
taking care on the crest or following the simple path
to the right. After 200 metres though you will reach
a huge flat but sloping upwards slab of slippery slate,
this rock is famously known as the 'Bad Step'. In dry
conditions it is quite an easy few metres walk over
slab, however in wet conditions due to its height and
exposure a slip on this slippery rock can be fatal.
One good tip is that keeping your foot flat creates
more friction between your boot and the rock meaning
a better grip! Just beyond the slab is a gap in the
ridge from which a steep long gully leaves from, this
gully is known by the Keswick Mountain Rescue team as
the 'Usual Gully' as the majority of rescues from the
ridge involve this infamous gully. After that the ridge
turns into more of a tough up hill scramble at which
point you'll find yourself on all fours at times until
you eventually top out on the Atkinson Pike end of Blencathra.
Head now in a South direction towards Blencathra summit.
Sharp Edge
|
Back O'Skiddaw
|
The summit of Blencathra also known as Hallsfell Top
at 868M high is a fantastic panoramic view point. On
a good day from the summit you can make out all of the
Lakeland peaks, Looking to the North you can see Scotland
and East to the highest of the Pennine hills. Blencathra
is often also known as Saddleback and the Ordnance Survey
these days names the mountain as 'Saddleback or Blencathra'
on its maps. The name Blencathra is said to be its original
name and the term Saddleback was given to it in victorian
times, the name comes from its obvious resemblance to
a saddle from the South. I agree highly with the views
of Wordsworth and Wainwright, how on earth can people
possibly think of renaming a mountain called Blencathra,
it is a unique and beautiful name that is well suited
for this magnificent mountain. It is thought that the
name Blencathra is derived from the Cumbrian 'blaen'
( bare hill ) and 'cathrach' ( chair ). The 'bare hill
shaped like a chair' which perfectly describes the topography
of the hill.
From the summit cairn follow the obvious path that
follows the top of the Blencathra Ridge. From this vantage
point you can see the difference between the North and
South side of the mountain and how they completely contrast
each other. You can also look down into the valleys
that have been created between the ridges that buttress
out of the front of the mountain. Scales Fell, Doddick
Fell, Hall's Fell, Middle Tongue, Gategill Fell and
Blease Fell all fall away from the summit ridge and
provide many different routes up and down the mountain
from the valley below making it a real attraction to
walkers and providing an amazing aspect from the other
side of the valley.
Blencathra Ridge
|
Blease Gill
|
At the Blease Fell end of the ridge an obvious path
heads down off the mountain. Eventually a smaller path
heads left in a South East direction down and towards
Blease Farm, this path is very slippery as it cuts through
muddy fields. The path will flatten out towards the
bottom then turn round Blease Fell and into and crossing
Blease Gill.
The path will lead along the top of a wall now along
the top of the farming fields until it reaches and crosses
the next outflow of Gate Gill. Continue onwards and
round Hall's Fell until it reaches Doddick Gill. At
this point the map may show two paths that join up again,
however on my last visit the Doddick Farm owners seem
to have blocked off the lower of these two paths so
a small ascent to the upper path may be required. The
path continues again and eventually comes to a very
steep but short scramble down to Scaley Beck caused
by the path collapsing years ago. After a tiny scramble
up the other side follow the path until it gets you
back to the kissing gate you left earlier and make your
way back down to Scales. |
Duration
: 4 Hrs
