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.

Clinging to the Kirk Fell Crags!

Clinging to the Kirk Fell Crags!


Postby Pensioner » Tue Aug 11, 2020 5:13 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Great Gable, Kirk Fell

Hewitts included on this walk: Great Gable, Kirk Fell

Date walked: 09/08/2020

Time taken: 6

Distance: 16 km

Ascent: 1200m

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

Driving up the Wasdale road and arriving at the car park it seemed as if half the outdoor world had descended on Wasdale Head. But who could blame them on such a beautiful August day after lockdown. I had previously hiked the Mosedale Round and baled off at Black Sail pass so today Glenys and I started in reverse and tramped up to Black Sail in wonderful conditions. We were surprised to have the path to ourselves given the huge numbers back at the car park. Clearly Scafell Pike offered the bigger attraction. We gained height on the well-made trail and by 11am popped out onto the pass.


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



The northern crags of Kirk Fell loomed above and I knew from my homework that there were some difficulties here. I intended to head directly for the skyline crags but as we struggled up the scree two climbers were descending on a path over to our left ( SE) so we headed that way. They told us that they had encountered a difficult loose rock band that was a bit hairy. Being macho we carried on and soon entered a red gully full of shifting scree offering unstable footing. After much gnashing of teeth and not a few naughty words we eventually clambered along a narrow exposed broken ledge and clawed our way onto the plateau. Never again - warning do not attempt this route. Stick to the rock ridge proper where the fence posts follow.

Kirk Fell from Red Pike.JPG
Kirk Fell, Great Gable and the Scafells from Red Pike.


After calming our nerves we strolled over the summit plateau and boulder field to Kirk Fell's N summit and then down passed the tarn and on to the S summit.

Great Gable.JPG
Great Gable from Kirk Fell.


By now it was really warm and Glenys' knees were playing up. As we stumbled down to Beck Head we met some walkers coming up. With Great Gable looming overhead and her knee not cooperating Glenys decided to descend to Burnthwaite and Wasdale Head. I carried on up Great Gable's NW ridge and after some mild scrambling in about 30 mins staggered onto the summit plateau.

Pillar.JPG
Pillar group over Kirk Fell from Great Gable.


At last I had made it to the top of Great Gable, one of my sought after peaks. After wandering around and regaining some strength I descended the E trail to Sty Head on a really well-built path. The same cannot be said for the continuing path to Burnthwaite which is a tedious loose rocky horror for most of the way. I arrived back at the car park to find Glenys dozing! A superb day.
User avatar
Pensioner
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 27
Munros:282   Corbetts:60
Fionas:18   Donalds:17
Sub 2000:27   Hewitts:74
Wainwrights:68   Islands:35
Joined: Sep 29, 2014
Location: Rosewell, Midlothian

1 person thinks 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 12 guests