Day Three - Blencathra

A select group of us scaled Blencathra (868 m), which seemed a good thing to do, considering that Blencathra was just behind our accommodation in Scales. We were certainly not disappointed with the nice views we had on our ascent and of course on the summit. On the summit it was a tad cloudy and we had a rain shower, but we were prepared, and the weather conditions in fact served to enhance the views we enjoyed from on high towards the south and - in anticipation of our next day's walk - towards Keswick and Cat Bells. Once back in the valley and close to our return to our base in Scales, we met up with an interesting - almost vertical - 15 foot rocky drop on our path. All in a day's work! The walk was nominally led by Eric S., aided and abetted by all.

Here we are on Blencathra's summit. Thank you to the unknown lady who kindly took our picture. The weather added to the drama of the view towards Keswick and Cat Bells. A little bit of rain, but, being prepared, we of course did not mind; indeed the weather was a small price worth paying, considering how it made the already good view into one filled with a great mountain theatrical.

And here is what you will see on this page. As always, I wish you, dear visitor, a happy browse!

• Day Three - Blencathra
• A Scenic Ascent
• Nice Views On Top
• A Scenic Descent
• Homewards with a Rocky Challenge
• Walk Features
• Our Evening


• Please Read Me! Thankyou!

We Rise to Higher Things - On Blencathra

We started out at about 10:15 "from our doorstep" in Scales. The way up the mountain was actually more convoluted than the OS map would have us believe, but of course, this added to the interest. Our views to the south and south-east got better and better, the closer we approached the summit. Some of us reached the summit in time to see some of our colleagues who had come up the other side, depart for Mungrisdale.

We are on our gradual way up to the peaks beyond. Here are two of us ...




... and now we have swapped roles - photographer and the photographed!




Now we are three ...




... and three again.




From here, of course, we see the - albeit a tad convoluted - way up.
The eastern ascent you could say.




Onwards and ever upwards we go.




To the north of us is the infamous "Sharp Edge" ...




... which towers over Scales Tarn where bathers often seek a cool respite from the warmth of the summer sun. On the slope nearest to us, mountain sheep peacefully graze. The sheep are scattered across the mountains and fells, and it's amazing how the farmers are able to round up their flock as autumn approaches.




Here are Sharp Edge and Scales Tarn again. To the left of this picture a path leads from Blencathra Summit to the village of Mungrisdale, the destination of Ralph's party today.




Onwards we go, looking back from time to time towards the way we came up.




Why, here is another view of the path of our ascent.

Nice Views from the Summit

On the summit we made our lunch stop. The we took a few "we woz here piccys", all the while, admiring the view, which now stretched as far as Derwent Water and the Cat Bells. We had a short, sharp shower, but that, and the clouds. actually enhanced the views we enjoyed.

Here we are on the summit.




Mountain drama to be remembered!
A ring marks the summit, from which we have fine views ...




... towards Keswick and the south west.

A Scenic Descent

On our descent we kept the Cat Bells in our view. The map showed a green dashed path heading for the Blencathra Centre. This path seemed to have disappeared whilst the side paths - perhaps sheep droving tracks - seem to have stood the test of time. We thus worked our way down to the lower mountain slopes above Thelkeld.

On our descent, Derwent Water gets ...




... larger ...




... and larger.




The sun come out as we stop ...




... for more pictures.

Homewards with a Rocky Challenge

From above Thelkeld we took the field paths back to Scales, all the while wondering why we did not meet anyone - until we met this young lady coming towards us, telling us that there was a steep and rocky drop ahead. We made nothing of it until we encountered a seemingly vertical 15 foot drop with only a very few footholds. We were quite close to our return, so we decided "to bite the bullet". A careful scramble down and a scramble up the other side, and Scales was in sight.

The path along the foot of Blencathra ...




... seemed quite harmless ...




... although the clouds were producing interesting visual effects.




However. About a kilometre or so from Scales (of course, our destination), we came across this well-nigh sheer rocky drop. The drop appeared - no exaggeration - to be about 15 foot. Tom (with long legs!) enabled us to send our luggage (rucksacks) in advance. Made things easier. It was a matter of working gradually down, and, finally, when the footholds gave out, slithering slowly through a V-notch in the rocks the last yard (metre) or so - helped by gravity - to where the path nonchalantly continued below. Here, Tom gives Tim some helpful tips. All in a CLOGgie's day's work.




At the bottom, we cross this - luckily -today - very quiet beck coming off Blencathra.




Probably, in sustained wet weather, the beck could turn into a picturesque waterfall
in this cleft in the hillside.




There was no let-up in the attention we needed to give to our immediate corner of the landscape. From the beck, we then had to negotiate this steep, rocky and gravelly path upwards to reach the next and last part of our route to Scales. What fun!




Once at the top of the path, we could look back towards Keswick ...
... and towards the clouds which were making interesting grimaces.




Ahead, towards the east, Great Mell Fell came into view. We weren't going that far, for Scales was just "around the corner". We had earnt our evening repast today!

Our Evening

Some of us gave the "White Horse Inn" our custom this evening. And so ended Day Three - ascents, views and rock faces, and all. We had had an interesting day, and the weather had been reasonably benign. What would the morrow bring?