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Joe and I, along with David (Joe’s son) set off from the Kirkstone Pass car park which is across from the Kirkstone Inn to climb Red Screes via Kilnshaw Chimney. The start of the path is through the rocks to the left of the chimney and then works its way east across the scree along the path which is rough and slippery and then up to the chimney itself, and, as the name implies, is predominately on red scree. The chimney is a narrow and rocky gulley which runs up and through the craggy face of Red Screes overlooking the Kirkstone Pass Inn.
- Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass road.
We gained height quickly and the going up the chimney was OK until we reached the 2½ metre step. At this point we struggled to get up this obstacle as the rock was wet and slippery and the hand and foot holds were very thin on the ground. I had first done this route around five years previously with my wife and trusty dog trailing behind and found the 'bad step' quite easy to negotiate at that time as it was about 2 metres high, but you could easily get a grip on the top edge to enable oneself to clamber up and over it. But, as time has passed the ground below the step has been worn away by many boots and weather, making it as it was on this attempt. Joe was the first one to attempt the climb and failed. I went next after removing my rucksack which allowed me more room to wriggle around. I have to say that I also struggled but with a lot of effort and cleaning out cracks in the rocks I eventually got enough purchase to get myself up. Joe came next followed by David.
- Approaching Kilnshaw Chimney.
- The foot of the chimney.
- The start of the chimney route.
- Climbing up the chimney.
- Joe finishing off the climb up.
We arrived at the trig point at the summit where photos were taken and then we set off on the descent to Middle Dodd which, once achieved meant that I had completed another Wainwright book, The Eastern Fells Book No. 1.
- Kirkstone Pass from the top of the chimney.
- View from the top of the chimney route.
- Red Screes summit cairn.
- Middle Dodd from Red Screes summit.
Having reached the summit cairn of Middle Dodd we then set off for Little Hart Crag and High Bakestones by cutting across the western flank of Middle Dodd and picking up the main ridge path. The large cairn at High Bakestones is well built and in a most prominent position from where great views to every aspect can be seen. Our next objective was Dove Crag which is where we had our lunch break. Whilst having lunch we decided as we had plenty of time to go on to Hart Crag and Fairfield.
- High Bakestones cairn.
- Dove Crag top.
- High Pike and Low Pike from Hart Crag.
- Fairfield from Hart Crag.
- As usual a busy Fairfield summit.
- Cofa Pike and St. Sunday Crag from Faifield.
- Cofa Pike.
- St Sunday Crag from Faifield.
- The view into Deepdale from Fairfield.
Leaving Fairfield which as usual was quite busy and after the regulation photos were taken we set off back to the car via Dove Crag where we saw a group of people climbing up to the 'priests hole' - which is just under the summit on its north face - down into Dovedale, across the bottom of High Hartsop Dodd and then followed the path which runs under Middle Dodd, Red Screes and is adjacent to the Kirkstone Pass Road.
- Dove Crag with cave just under the summit.
- Looking into Dovedale from below Dove Crag.
- The Kirkstone after which the Pass is named.
This was a good day out with sun and warm weather, no rain or mist, and the first day for a long time that there wasn’t any wind.
