Blencathra Hall's Fell - Our first ridge walk

[MarkyMark10]

It must be a year since my last mountain climb with Matty so it was time to dust off my new boots and go for a walk and this time with Will in tow too. Both lads wanted to do a ridge walk and wanted Blencathra via Sharp edge. I decided a safer ridge walk for young walkers would be Hall’s Fell Ridge.

Starting at Threlkeld in sunshine we walked through a lovely wooded path by a stream which ended at a gate which led to the Blencathra fell. Turn right and a nice flat walk through fields led to Gate Gill and first view of the Summit. Fantastic to get a clear view of the summit and climb to come.

Gate Gill and the Summit

Climbing Hall’s Fell is hard work in the heat but you gain altitude very quickly. Plenty of sweets and drink breaks were the order of the day.

Gaining Altitude

Halls Fell

Hard work in this heat

After a long pull up Hall’s Fell we get our first view of the ridge. Spectacular this is with the view up to the summit. Great scrambling opportunities.

Hall's Fell Ridge

Where's the Path Dad?

Intrepid Explorers

The paths tend to stay to the right of the ridge but sometimes you just have to get on top of the ridge when the path disappears. The times we did stray to the left of the ridge led to some very exciting moments of picking a safe path.

Did we mean to go to the left?

Great Scrambling

One last pull to the Summit.

Nearly there

On the Summit I have to admit to a sense of achievement . I have never worked so hard to climb a mountain and I was so proud of the boys tackling such a scramble. The views from the top were a reward. Clear Lakeland summits with views to Scotland and the Pennines.

Summit Shot

Thirlmere and Derwent Water

It was so warm we could have lunch on the summit before desending towards Blease Fell, and then back to Thelkeld along the winding path and through the grassy slopes. Lovely view up Blease Gill.

Blease Gill

Straight to the Horse and Farrier for a quick pint of coke to celebrate and hydrate in that heat.

A brilliant days walking in super weather.

[colgregg]

Nice one and well done the kids. I found it strange climbing Blancathra, heading for the heights with the constant noise of the traffic on the A66 below. Not many fells have such backround sounds.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Great report Mark, I've had my eyes on this route for a while to enliven a walk to the pointless lump of Mungrisdale Common that we have to bag. My your pics have certainly whetted my appetite.
Well done Will and Matty

[hutchy1]

A great report its by far the best way up Blencathra with some good scrambling

[colgregg]

Great report Mark, I've had my eyes on this route for a while to enliven a walk to the pointless lump of Mungrisdale Common that we have to bag. My your pics have certainly whetted my appetite.
Well done Will and Matty

Missed off doing Mungrisedale last time I was there. It's fells like this that make me think I'll never be bothered about getting my 214 up.

[simon-b]

Excellent, Mark, Will and Matty. According to A. Wainwright, "For active walkers and scramblers, this route is positively the finest way to any mountain top in the district".

[AJNicholls]

Hall's Fell is a great ridge walk. Glad you all enjoyed it. I found it quite a slog to get up there myself but the Jennings pub in Threlkeld when I got back was a nice motivator.

Plenty of practice to be had on that ridge for your young'uns though. Well done.

[ChrisW]

Lovely to see a dad out with his lads doing what lads should be doing great report and pics of a cracking day for all 3 of you

[MarkyMark10]

Thanks for the comments. I know what wainwright means now about the finest route. Kids had a blast scrambling and i think this one will be hard to beat. Just wish we could get to the lakes more often