walkhighlands

This board helps you to share your walking route experiences in England and Wales... or overseas.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Racing the weather is Knott Hard

Racing the weather is Knott Hard


Postby johnkaysleftleg » Wed Jun 30, 2021 11:32 am

Wainwrights included on this walk: Hard Knott

Date walked: 20/05/2021

Time taken: 3.16

Distance: 9.4 km

Ascent: 586m

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Wednesday was another beautiful day but with Grace’s knee feeling it’s outing on Harter Fell and me feeling like a rest we all headed for St Bees and had a lovely walk on the beach.

Image
Beach at St Bees

Image
Clear Waters

Image
Hughie on the Beach

Image
Sea Pinks at St Bees

Unfortunately the weather was due a change with unsettled conditions dominating for the remainder of the week. Thursdays forecast was in all honesty apocalyptic but the timings seemed quite certain that the worst wasn’t to arrive until around 10AM, this left a window before the wind and rain arrived so in order to keep Friday for a family outing somewhere I set the alarm early, woke up earlier and set off for Eskdale in the morning gloom.
My plan was for the walk was to climb Hard Knott, the last of the Eskdale fells on the second round that are difficult to get to from the East coast. In line with my general approach to round two I didn’t want to just pop to the summit from the top of Hard Knott Pass but make a bit more of a walk of it, to do the fell justice.
With time being of the essence and not wanting to walk up the road I decided to just tackle the craggy face of Border End head on. This meant Hughie got left in bed, something he seemed quite happy about, and I arrived at the Fort on a gloomy overcast but dry morning, stuffed some breakfast down and set off.

Image
Looking back at the car in gloomy conditions

I didn't particularly have a planned way up, and I'm not sure I could give a detailed account of the route I took given it's now several weeks ago but to cut a short story even shorter this way up is fine with only a boulder field and a couple of short simple scrambles providing any challenges.

Image
Crossing a boulder field

Image
Looking down on the fort and lower Eskdale

Image
Slight Side in the clear

Image
Harter Fell and hard Knott Fort

Image
Hard Knott Pass

Image
Topping out on Border End

Image
Border End

Once I attained the summit of Border End it was obvious this morning was more than worth the effort. It was wonderfully atmospheric up here, with a hint of brightness over the Wrynose pass and an endlessly shifting veil of cloud flowing around the high fells of Upper Eskdale. It was perhaps this memorising sight which saw me carry on to Hard Knott summit and completely forget my intended visit to the Eskdale needle :roll: , oh well I'll have to come back again some day.

Image
Cairn on Border End

Image
A little brightness over Wrynose Pass

Image
On the way to Hard Knott

Image
East from Hard Knott Summit

Image
Towards the shrouded upper Eskdale Valley from Hard Knott

Image
A last shred of brightness

Image
Eskdale Panorama - click for large version

I carried onto the last top of the day, Yew Bank, before setting off down the gradual descent to Lingcove Beck. This was really easy going and I was soon on the path above the beck, heading for the valley. It wasn't long before the lure of beck proved to much and I descended to the banks to explore it's secrets.

Image
Moving mist on Crinkle Crags

Image
Yew Bank with Shrouded Scafells beyond

Image
Cairn on Yew Crag

Image
Slight Side still in the clear

Image
Ill Crag

Image
Lingcove Beck

Lingcove Beck really is a beautiful watercourse with a succession of cascades, falls and waterslides. I got myself fairly absorbed in trying to capture their beauty meaning that any lingering thoughts of hovering up another couple of Birketts to the north were shelved.

Image
Down by the beck

Image
Follow the way to the sea

Image
Dramatic waterfall in Lingcove Beck

Image
Cascades in Lingcove Beck

Image
..and another beautiful waterfall

By the time I arrived at Lingcove Bridge and the confluence with the River Esk it had got noticeably darker so I figured I best get a wiggle on and made good progress down the valley. It wasn't until I was making my way the short distance up the Pass back to the fort that the first light drops or rain started and was just about back at the cottage before the wind and torrential rain kicked in. Not a bad outing as it wasn't even close to elevenses yet. :D

Image
A Gloomy Lingcove Bridge

Image
A last look back at Lingcove beck

Image
Eskdale Needle

Image
Getting increasingly dark

Image
A last look back at Eskdale

Image
Back up the road to the start


Hard Knott.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



We spent the showery Friday at Muncaster Castle, it's wonderful grounds in full bloom this time of year were a superb sight and the day was topped off by the simply brilliant Bird of Prey exhibition. If you like this kind of thing it's a must see.

Image
Hughie

Image
Rhododendrons or Azealias, not sure to be honest

Image
Dropplet

Image
More Rhododendrons (or Azealias)

Image
..and more

Image
..and more

Image
Showers

Image
Hughie in the stocks

Image
Colours at Muncaster

Image
Gaston the Verreauxs Eagle Owl

Image
Mouse the Hooded Vulture

It was a shame we couldn't fit a second hill walk in together but still this was a splendid week. Eskdale is such a gorgeous valley and to find it so quiet was a rare treat. For me it is simply the most beautiful part of Lakeland, nowhere else can match it's wild rugged nature. I just wish I lived closer.
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3341
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: Racing the weather is Knott Hard

Postby trailmasher » Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:09 am

Another fine effort there JK with a nice route and some very descriptive atmospheric photos :clap: I concur with your thoughts on Eskdale and the beauty of the place as I was won over from the very first time that I was there and have been back numerous times :D . Unlike you I descended Border End but more to the west of your route up - I think :?

Looked like a very colourful day at Muncaster also 8) and hope that Grace is recovering.
User avatar
trailmasher
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1302
Munros:13   
Hewitts:179
Wainwrights:214   
Joined: Nov 26, 2014
Location: Near Appleby - Cumbria

Re: Racing the weather is Knott Hard

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:07 pm

trailmasher wrote:Another fine effort there JK with a nice route and some very descriptive atmospheric photos :clap: I concur with your thoughts on Eskdale and the beauty of the place as I was won over from the very first time that I was there and have been back numerous times :D . Unlike you I descended Border End but more to the west of your route up - I think :?

Looked like a very colourful day at Muncaster also 8) and hope that Grace is recovering.


Only thing wrong with the day was how short the time had to be, unless I fancied being out torrential rain and +40mph winds I had a fairly tight window. Grace is fine, she has now been convinced to try a knee support perhaps she might get up a few more fells. Muncaster’s grounds were so beautiful, can’t believe we’ve never been before.
User avatar
johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3341
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Outside Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests