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Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe


Postby Broggy1 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 3:49 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Froswick, Harter Fell (Far Eastern Fells), High Street, Ill Bell, Kentmere Pike, Mardale Ill Bell, Shipman Knotts

Hewitts included on this walk: Froswick, Harter Fell (Far Eastern Fells), High Street, Ill Bell, Kentmere Pike

Date walked: 29/07/2016

Time taken: 4.2

Distance: 21.2 km

Ascent: 1293m

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With plenty of holiday to use I headed for the South Lakes on Friday.

Initially driving through some heavy rain to get to Kentmere and the very narrow roads there. The usual car parking place was taken for a Church event but a helpful guy told me that a farmer had opened up a small car park for £3 for the day round the corner so I parked there.

I fancied a change from the usual round as I had only last done it back in 2014 so opted to walk through the valley to the Reservoir and take on Ill Bell's steep North East ridge (which is why I thought it may be worth putting this report live). This give me a better impression of the Kentmere valley on the whole.

The weather got better during the day with some good spells of sunshine. Ended up catching up the guy who helped me park near Harter Fell and we walked the rest of the round together.

1 Heading into Kentmere.JPG
Heading into Kentmere - weather not clear yet.


2 Yoke.JPG
Yoke. Doing the round this way meant I'd be missing out ion this one.


3 Kentmere Res.JPG
Kentmere Reservoir comes into view and the weather is improving.


4 Second part of the ridge ahead.JPG
The second part off the ridge ahead.

I took a steep line to hit the ridge but if you walk round the reservoir you can start right at the bottom of it (still steep though).


5 second part of the ridge.JPG
Second section of the ridge. Grassy mostly but with a few rocks along the way - all of which were wet today.


6 Back down to the Res.JPG
Looking back down the ridge


7 Ill Bell summit.JPG
Ill Bell summit after a steep climb


8 Thornthwaite from Froswick.JPG
Thornwaite Crag from Froswick


9 Back to Froswick and Ill Bell.JPG
I've always enjoyed this view back to Froswick and Ill Bell from Thornthwaite Crag


10 Thornthwaite Crag.JPG
The unmistakeable top of Thornthwaite Crag


11 High Street Trig.JPG
High Street Trig Point


12 Harter Fell from Mardale Ill Bell.JPG
Harter Fell from Mardale Ill Bell


13 Ill Bell.JPG
Ill Bell's North East Ridge


14 View from Nan Bield Pass.JPG
View to Mardale from Nan Bield Pass


15 Ill Bell again.JPG
Ill Bell again with the full ridge visible


16 Harter fell summit looking to HIgh Street.JPG
Harter Fell summit looking to High Street


17 Kentmere Pike Trig.JPG
Trig Point on Kentmere Pike


18 Shipman Knotts and Kentmere.JPG
Shipman Knotts and Kentmere
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Broggy1
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Re: Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

Postby dav2930 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 8:24 pm

Nice report and pics. An interesting variation on the usual round. The ridge looks like it would make a good ascent in winter conditions :think:
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dav2930
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Location: Cumbria

Re: Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

Postby simon-b » Thu Aug 04, 2016 9:26 pm

It is nice to discover the Kentmere valley like that, Broggy. That is a direct aacent of Ill Bell worth doing. I did it in low cloud, which made an interesting climb. Your photos show it's pretty good with visibility too. A nice round.
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simon-b
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Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Re: Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

Postby ChrisW » Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:51 pm

That's a good long day Broggy with some work in it too :clap: Nice to see the weather improving throughout the day too, that's always a great feeling to see it clearing as you walk :wink:
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ChrisW
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Re: Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

Postby trailmasher » Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:28 pm

Great pics and gradely report and walk Broggy1 :clap: :clap: It's good to know about the £3 parking :) as it is a bit tight around there. Thanks for posting :D
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trailmasher
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