Ill Bell NE Ridge and the Kentmere Horseshoe

[Broggy1]

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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.

Heading into Kentmere - weather not clear yet.

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

Kentmere Reservoir comes into view and the weather is improving.

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).

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

Looking back down the ridge

Ill Bell summit after a steep climb

Thornwaite Crag from Froswick

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

The unmistakeable top of Thornthwaite Crag

High Street Trig Point

Harter Fell from Mardale Ill Bell

Ill Bell's North East Ridge

View to Mardale from Nan Bield Pass

Ill Bell again with the full ridge visible

Harter Fell summit looking to High Street

Trig Point on Kentmere Pike

Shipman Knotts and Kentmere

[dav2930]

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

[simon-b]

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.

[ChrisW]

That's a good long day Broggy with some work in it too Nice to see the weather improving throughout the day too, that's always a great feeling to see it clearing as you walk

[trailmasher]

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