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Blencathra by the quietest ridge

By Hugh Stewart August 8, 2017 Leave a Comment

The East ridge of Bannerdale Crags is quiet, a path exists all the way, with interest, and the views are superb, with purple heather coating the crags at this time of year. At only one spot are the hands required for balance, near the top. It can be done from Scales, (best from Comb Beck car park), going up the Comb and down to cross the Glenderamackin by a bridge currently being rebuilt after Storm Desmond, and down that river to the base of the ridge: or, a mile or so longer, from Mungrisdale, although note the track before the bridge over Bullfell Beck is another casualty of the storm, and the deviation is horribly boggy, (update May 2019, this has now been paved, see picture below) as are bits of the path beyond, to Bannerdale Beck, where stepping stones lead to the path up the ridge.  The ascent of an increasingly busy Blencathra is straightforward from the top of the ridge. From Mousthwaite Comb top a return to Mungrisdale is good, till the  morning’s start up the ridge is met. when you’ll be so happy and muddy you’ll not bother about the bogs on the return from there, or you could ascend Souther Fell and descend to the right from just before the summit, finding a graded diagonal descent on a good path to the road south of Mungrisdale, crossing the River by a bridge and up to the main road to the village. The map below shows the Mungrisdale start and Souther Fell finish, which we prefer as being quieter.

Bannerdale East ridge from the Mungrisdale approach
The final steep part of the ridge
An old mine hut on the ridge
Looking down the ridge from near the top
The new paved path through the bog! (2019)
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: blencathra.gpx

Filed Under: Walks

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

Note, this is now fully described in the Second Edition of "Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations", 2014, walk 1b. If the long Langcliffe Scar track does not appeal, but a bit more hillwork does, try this start: as per the book, walk 1, but at the Malham/Settle road turn right … Read More » about Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

Another plague walk which we could do from home, and although this seems to be a popular walk for locals, we had never done it, and decided to do it both because of that and as we thought it would be less popular and hence less boot-churned muddy than others round Caton and the Bowland Fells. The … Read More » about The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

I.e. avoiding any crowds parking there. Start at Little Cragg car park and go down the road, turning right to go over the top of Baines Crag for your first view of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells. At the road go down then left over the first ladder stile and cross the infant Condor by stone or … Read More » about A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

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