Sound grade 2 scrambling on the quieter side of the Lake District.
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Harter Fell, Lake
District
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Grade: 2
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Harter Fell, in the Duddon Valley, is
one of those places for when the holiday masses are swarming
all over Eskdale and you want a scramble without queues and
the crowds.
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Equipment: Rope and slings
optional.
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Online Map link
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Views: 3
Technicality:2
Exposure: 2
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GIBBER FACTOR* 2
*out of
five.
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Overview Harter Fell, in the Duddon Valley on the western side of
the Lakes - not to be confused with the Harter Fell above Kentmere -
is one of those places ideal for when the holiday masses are swarming
all over Eskdale and you want a scramble without the queues and the
crowds.
Although made up of a series of craglets with walks in between,
the walking sections are short and the initial section of Brandy
Crags gives solid grade 2 scrambling on good rock.
The view from Harter Fell - Marcus Crompton
Approach The
car
park - SD235 996 - just before
Birks Bridge on the
road from Cockley Beck makes the best starting point. Cross the river
and follow the road uphill to a fork andcontinue as far as the second
bend. Turn right here and go uphill to the base of
Brandy
Crags on the right.
Route Ignore the initial steep face with the diagonal ledge
and continue past to easier angled slabs.
Take these slabs directly to a perched block, then traverse
diagonally left towards a groove. Before reaching the groove the
angle of the slabs eases again and you can traverse back right,
gaining height as you go.
The face steepens again, but a ledge leads round below the steep
section to a corner and an easy groove. Climb the groove then move
back left onto the slabs and continue straight up.
The route now strings together the best small crags, with pleasant
walking in between.
From the top of the first crags move up and left to the two large
boulders, which are climbed to a slab. Use the crack in the slab to
climb it and back onto grass.
Harter
Fell summit tor - Andy Wallace
A few feet away a large dark block is climbed diagonally right
then walk 30 yards to find a gully in the long crag wall. Take the
ledge to the right of the gulley, then up the succession of short
ribs to emerge on grass again.
Continue uphill to climb a small outcrop with a pointed block then
right to the next outcrop. One final low wall is climbed on the left
hand side before you emerge just below the summit of Harter Fell.
A path leads left towards the summit and the last series of slabs,
with a crack leading up the steep face to the highest point.
Looking
back at Harter Fell - Andy Wallace
Descent The descent options from Harter Fell back to the car
park are limited, with the only real choice being the path south east
from the summit over Maiden Castle and Mart Crag to Dunnerdale
Forest. The path here continues to Buck Crag and back to the car park
Caution Scrambling is potentially
dangerous and, particularly at the higher grades, requires technical
skills and equipment to minimise the risk. We suggest that you take
professional instruction or climb with an experienced
partner.
