The Lake District - Beacon Fell

The Saturday before the first May Bank Holiday was a wet one but this did not deter my latest MDB trip; glad to be back in the Lakes and this time the destination was Beacon Fell, not to be confused with the one I'm more familiar with in the Forest of Bowland. Beacon Fell is a Wainwright of sorts as he wrote about it in his later Outlying Fells guide. In addition to his seven pictorial guides the Outlying Fells is a book full of little accessible gems and I felt it was time I honoured one of these, so the beautiful Beacon Fell was recommended to me.

Map: Bing and Ordnance Survey

Beacon Fell is accessed by a little tarmac track just off the A5084 a little way along from Torver. I parked in a handy little lay-by, booted up, brewed up and grabbed my OL6 map and then took an immediate left onto the track. I walked along for around 3/4 a mile and felt a little disappointed to start this walk on tarmac but I was soon off it and climbing through a lovely wooded meadow. 

As I picked my way through an array of plants, trees and rocky outcrops the view opened up taking in Coniston and Selside Fells.  

I didn't just take note of the long range views I was also paying attention to the amazing variety of flora as I went. The verdant quality was also noted by AW. Here I found Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Haircap Moss (Polytrichum commune) growing happily together in this micro landscape. 

The hooded flower of Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) grows freely too. 

I love the tenacious quality of plants and trees to survive in rocky environments, this wind pruned Juniper (Juniperus communis) is a great example. 

As I ascended the view over to (l-r) Great Stickle and Stickle Pike and Caw opened up. 

Caw adds to the backdrop as you reach Beacon Fell's rugged summit..... When you reach the summit it's worth the hunt for the 'Blue Tin', as mentioned in the 2nd edition of AWs Outlying Fells, a geocache left to be discovered in the area.

On a clear day from the summit you should be able to take in Coniston Old Man, Wetherlam and Dow Crag..... But not for me today. I could however see the disused Reservoir at Plain Riggs.  

The path off the summit takes me towards a more local stretch of water, the lovely Beacon Tarn.

I love to spend time by water, as my Dad did.... So tea at the tarn while resting MDBs was a must. 

This beautiful and relatively shallow tarn (approx 26ft deep) is popular with wild swimmers and trout fishermen alike.... but perhaps on different days! 

There is a route that circumnavigates the tarn, to start The Cumbria Way runs closely to the western bank of the tarn and takes you directly to Wool Knott.  

Looking over the tarn to Beacon Fell.

Making my way up to the summit of Wool Knott.

From the summit of Wool Knott, you can see the Blawith Fells and a prominent Beacon Fell.

The onwards route.... Bleak Knott from Wool Knott.

A solitary Yew (Taxus Baccata) provides a figurehead at the far end of Beacon Tarn. 

An outflow, Tarn Beck, needs to be crossed to reach a small gathering of trees by the tarn shore.

These trees create a mini mixed woodland including a rather lovely and for me significant Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

I continue across Bleak Knott.

To the amusingly named Nutty Sheepfold. 

From there I pick my way down the fell side passing under the power lines that criss-cross overhead 

The view as I descend, of Coniston and High Light Haw and Low Light Haw.

And then looking northwards up Coniston to the Selside Fells.

The peninsula of Park Nab.

Then I was wowed by a fabulous miniature valley of beautiful buttery coloured wild Primroses (Primula vulgaris).

I was soon down back on to the A5084, I crossed over....

I made my way through the trees....

And on to the banks of Coniston. 

Once I had spend some time pottering about watching the moored boats bob up and down I made my way back to the road on the well made path through reeds. 

I walked for a short way along the road then found a pathway opposite Brown Howe to the disused quarry and on back to my car and a final brew before setting off.

The joy of this walk was the ease of the assent and the variety of views from the summit, the tarn side path and abundance of flora to be found.... a dream for any gardener and wild plant spotter. A really beautiful little fell. 

Till next time..... Tight laces. MDB x

Phil this was a perfect recommendation, a real treat, thank you! 

The Lake District - Blencathra

I got a real Easter treat earlier this week, an outing to one of the Lake District's most well known and highly viewed fells, the mighty Blencathra. As AW noted it is 'one of the grandest objects in Lakeland', I heartily agree. I pass this fell each and every time I have driven along the A66, and every time, as I do in the Lake District struggle to concentrate on the road, but have noted its stunning angular form. I consider it as the welcoming gateway to the Lake District, I often whoop with delight when I see it. To AW it looked as if giant's hand had clawed at it and left a scooped out hollow where each finger had been, I understand his well observed point as you can clearly view from the A66 Southern face that there are three buttress style fells (W-E), Gategill Fell, Hall's Fell and Doddick Fell. Each hollow has it's own watercourse (W-E), Blease Gill, Gate Gill, Doddick Gill and Scaley Beck. To the sides and rear of this 'Mountaineers' Mountain' there are two subsequent fells (W-E), Blease Fell and Scales Fell. Blencathra also plays host to Scales Tarn, a challenging summit route Sharp Edge and the fast flowing River Glenderamackin. AW's love for this mountain extended the pages he dedicated in his book five to a whopping 36, more than any other, and claimed it to be one of his best half dozen. I found the prospect of climbing this Lakeland classic thrilling and totally absorbing, even it's name sounds magical. The magic of the day didn't stop at Blencathra's name but also I had a Ring and a Cross to discover on the summit and to my amazement an Angel appeared too. 

Map: Bing and Ordnance Survey

The day began in the little hamlet of Scales, directly off the A66, I parked up in the little free car park just a little way up from the White Horse pub, I got brewed up, booted up and checked my OL5 map and set off out of the car park. I took a sharp left and walked up a short section of roadway to find a helpful finger post directing me toward Blackhazel Beck and proceeded straight on to Mousthwaite Comb and it's steep diagonal path. 

As I waked up this path I was struck by the area of scree ahead and to me it looked like the side profile of an Angel, a Scree Angel.... Perhaps the excitement of being there and the glorious spring weather was getting to me! 

A view back along the path and in the distance towards Threlkeld Common.

Once I was a the top of Mousthwaite Comb Scales Fell was there to greet me. 

The view towards Brunt Knott in the foreground and Sharp Edge behind is a truly awesome sight. 

As you follow the well trodden path towards Scales Fell and round the corner you enter the beautiful River Glenderamackin valley. I noted the two paths, the left hand higher path was my route in and the lower right hand path was, later on, my way out.

Brunt Knott and Sharp Edge were a brilliant and dominant feature on this section of the path.

The path picks up Scales Beck as I round another bend and a little way on I crossed over the beck. 

This path continues to take you towards the perilous and famed summit ascent of Sharp Edge.

If you are either contemplating Sharp Edge, or like me in need of a brew and rest stop then the beautiful Scales Tarn is a welcome addition to this section of the walk. 

My ascent to the summit was on the south side of Scales Tarn, this involved me crossing Scale Beck again and straight up the steep path.

My route to the summit.

Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge as a backdrop.

The view from the first section of the summit path was awesome, including a profile view of Doddick Fell.

The summit was in sight.

As I climbed on I looked back, Doddick Fell now behind and Scales Fell beyond that.

The final section of the route took in a section snaking of zig zag path. Doddick and Scales dominate the view.

The final push to the summit on Hall's Fell included crossing possibly the last fragment of residual winter snow, incidentally and befittingly 'Hall' is the family name of Dad's best friend and long term fishing buddy.

The view from the Hall's Fell summit is made up of a wonderful panorama of the Northern fells. 

The official ordnance survey summit trig point is the form of a concrete ring, I was glad to rest MDB and observe the spectacular aerial show given by a native Raven. I also took in the view of Derwentwater, to the right, Tewet Tarn, just over Gategill Fell ridge and a small slice of Thirlmere to the left.

The Raven and Derwentwater.

The ridge route along to Blease Fell.

Walking towards Atkinson Pike I passed the Summit Tarn and then the white quartz stone cross, an apt symbol for an Easter walk I thought. 

The view from Atkinson Pike along to the top of Sharp Edge.

I choose to descend, back towards River Glenderamackin via Mungrisdale Common, so I had to make my way along the top of Tarn Crags, the Blue Screes and Foule Crag.

Blue Screes and Foule Crag.

Looking back towards Atkinson Pike.

T'other side of the imposing Sharp Edge.

Another quick look back.

The convergence of paths on Mungrisdale Common, the summit of which is a Wainwright, offers a myriad of exciting route options. Another local Wainwright, Bannerdale Crags can be easily sought off to the right. My route was the closest right hand route down into the river valley.

The source of the River Glenderamackin can be found in this lovely valley. 

Part way along this most picturesque valley paths you pass the site of a disused Lead Mine.... Seems to be a perfect camping spot!

Foule Crag from the valley path.

Cloud spotting was definitely a spectacular sport as I continue along the valley path.

My route across the river was taken on a small solid footbridge.

I stopped for a little while and took in the infant River Glenderamackin from the footbridge.

The path up the other side of the valley brought me out back at the top of Mousthwaite Comb, I retraced my steps back down passed the Scree Angel and back on to the quiet road I had come in on. 

As I strode on I passed a real springtime scene, a field full of lovely young lambs. 

This was undoubtedly one of my favourite days in the fells as I feel it has been a real accomplishment, a feather in my cap to scale such a famous fell and now I have 11 Wainwrights to my name. I loved every minute of the day. 

Till next time.... Tight laces. MDB x

Phil your invaluable knowledge, encouragement and guidance is highly appreciated. As always, Thank you.