NORTHERN FELLS - BOWSCALE,BANNERDALE,MUNGRISDALE-SOUTHER
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:47 pm
Hello everyone, hope you are enjoying the sun (and the football ) We, hubby and I, left Threlkeld early and parked up at Mungrisdale, on the verge just before the village hall, and were off up the valley by 7am.
We passed the phone box, through a gate and followed the River Glenderamackin..Rather than climb the Tongue we decided to follow the path up the left hand side which would take us to the ridge. It was a gradual climb that gave us great views back down the valley, of Souther Fell, Bannerdale Crags and the ever threatening Blencathra. We were soon at the summit of Bowscale Fell where the wind was quite fierce and we soon got cold. We quickly set off towards Bannerdale Crags, despite the dry weather it was still a bit spongey but it was a steady walk for our next summit at 683m. We descended a little towards the cairn facing Sharp Edge on Blencathra Before we set off down to the Col we saw our 3 walking buddies just reaching the climb to Scales Tarn, they were climbing Sharp Edge today We reached the col and without to much ascent we were onto Mungrisdale Common, it was quite a trudge over to the cairn and I know this Wainwright has been given some bad publicity but to us the all round views were splendid. Luckily it was dry and with a 360 we could see all of Blencathra, views to Derwent and numerous fells, Lonscale, Skiddaw, Calva, back of Sidda' and to the fells from where we had come. Now it was the trudge back where we reached the col at the head of the valley down to White Horse Bent, we sat at the top staring directly at Sharp Edge, we could hear the climbers talking to eachother. As we set off down the valley towards Souther Fell, the view of Sharp Edge changes considerably, also there was numerous people heading that way. We lost all our height as we cossed the river to start up Souther, it was a gradual climb and the views were magnificent. As we climbed we could clearly see the routes to Scales Tarn and our route back down the valley. There was a grand cairn at the southern end of Souther Fell and a very long walk across the top before we reached the summit at 522m, superb views across to the Dodds etc. It was quite steep off the fell as we headed straight for the village, we could actually see the car, you know the feeling when you wish you could transport yourself right to it. A great start to our week and ready for a drink as it was quite warm by the time we reached the car, still not too far to travel home, more walks to come, love Sue