Many people's favourite Lakeland mountain, Blencathra manages to combine drama with easy accessibility making for a great day in the hills.
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Visitor Centre > Ben Lawers
> An Stuc > Meall Gharb > Lawers
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Distance: 6.75 miles
(10.8Km)
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Height Gain: 2434ft
(742m)
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Overview: A less frequented route up a
mountain which ranks as many people's favourite Lakeland
peak.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: Expl OL5 / LR
90
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 2
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Start Point: NY
302 256
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Blencathra is many people's favourite Lake District mountain,
and justifiably so. From it's eastern side it looks every inch the
"classic" mountain, but its ease of access and relatively short walk
makes it a popular tourist attraction.
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Blencathra seen from
Skiddaw - stunning shot by Marcus Crompton
from his OM gallery album
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This route ascends by the much used Blease Fell path, avoiding the
more strenuous ascents of the eastern ridges, before heading across
the barren Mungrisdale Common. The return follows the flank of
Glenderaterra Beck back to the Blencathra centre.
Section 1 - Blencathra Centre to Hallsfell Top
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Distance: 2 miles
(3.2Km)
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Height Gain: 1989ft
(606m)
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From the car park at the
Blencathra
Centre the route heads off North West, straight up the
incline of
Blease Fell. There's no problem route finding here
as a wide eroded path signifies the steps of thousands of tourists up
one of the Lake District's most popular mountains.
The ascent is unrelenting as you climb towards Knowe Crags, with
almost 1700 ft of height gain. Although the route lies upwards, it's
a good idea to turn occasionally and look back at the panorama of
Keswick and Derwent Water behind as the return route misses this.
On a good day the views from Knowe
Crags are superb, with the Helvellyn range laid out before
you to the south. From Knowe Crags follow the still obvious, but now
more grassy, path along the ridge. A short descent to the col between
Gategill Fell and Hallsfell Top is followed by an easy climb back up
the other side to the summit of Blencathra.
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On Blencathra itself by
Dav id Thompson
from his excllent Lakes OM gallery
album
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The summit cairn lies off to the right, overlooking Halls Fell Ridge,
a great alternative route up from Gatesgill and Threlkeld.
Section 2 - Hallsfell Top to The Stake
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Distance: 2.6miles
(4.2Km)
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Height Gain: 223ft
(68m)
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Fom the summit of Blencathra follow the rest of the ridge
first East, then North, passing the descent routes down Doddick Fell
and Scales Fell to a point looking down the scramble of
Sharp
Edge.
Here the path backtracks to the summit of Atkinson Pike,
with Blue Screes below you to the right. A path heads off East-North
East here towards Cloven Stone, but take a more North East line on
308 degrees (map) to find the summit of Mungrisdale Common. A
small cairn marks the summit itself, and from here you need to turn
South West to aim for another cairn sticking up on the otherwise
featureless common. From the cairn the obvious Cloven Stone
appears ahead.
This feature is a small group of rocks, with a slight resemblance
to a cloven hoof, and is an obvious marker. From the Cloven Stone
turn West and descend the slopes of the hill for 500 feet to join a
wall at The Stake.
Section 3 - The Stake to Blencathra Centre
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Distance: 2.16miles
(3.5Km)
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Height Gain: 222ft
(68m)
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From The Stake turn left and slowly descend, using the wall as
a handrail to meet an obvious, well used, track heading South. This
section continuously crosses streams feeding Glenderaterra Beck, with
two small footbridges to cross.
Two hundred yards beyond the second footbridge take the left hand
path at a fork and start to climb slightly to another feeder stream
and a small waterfall. The path now widens slightly and descends
slowly as you skirt the western flanks of Blease Fell to return to
your starting point at the far end of the car park.
