| Walk: | Harter Fell - Kentmere, Hallow Bank Quarter, Nan Bield Pass, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike, Shipman Knotts, Wray Crag, Rook Howe | ||
| Start Point: | Near Kentmere church | Grid Reference: | NY 456 041 |
| Distance: | 10 miles | Ascent: | 2,500 feet |
| Time: | 6.5 hours | ||
| Weather: | A sunny start and finish but some heavy showers and low mist in between | ||
| Comments: | Three twos and eleven fours make fourteen! In other words, three from the 'Strenuous' group joined the 'Moderate' group to walk 10 miles and climb 2,500 feet in 6.5 hours. Enough of numbers! The day looked promising as we set out from Kentmere to walk up the valley past the reservoir. We had a good view of the Kentmere Horseshoe with Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick on the left, and Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts on the right. We joined the horseshoe at the Nan Bield Pass but, unfortunately, as we reached the shelter the mist had dropped and it was starting to rain. With the promise of lunch on Harter Fell we pressed on to complete the last part of the climb. After a couple of false summits we reached the cairn and looked for what shelter we could find. Just as we finished eating we had a very heavy downpour - umbrellas to the fore! Heading into the rain we made our way to Kentmere Pike but gave the trig point a miss - on the opposite side of the wall. After passing Shipman Knotts the weather improved and by the time we had got to High Lane it was even beginning to turn sunny. However, looking back up the valley we could see that all the tops of the horseshoe were still hidden in mist. | ||
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Lots of water in the streams today . . .
as we head off up the valley
We get a good view of the Kentmere Horseshoe which we will be joining later
Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick loom large on our left
The sun shines as we pass a huge sycamore tree (any signs of Robin Hood?)
I'm glad there is a bridge to cross this stream!
A pleasant spot for elevenses . . .
but it is soon time to move on
The mist is descending as we pass Kentmere Reservoir
Is that a grin or a grimace as we climb to the pass?
Now in the mist we stop to don waterproofs
Sheila doesn't look too happy - not surprising as we had just endured a very heavy downpour
The weather improves as we descend towards Rook Howe . . .
and play 'Follow the leader' through the bracken
A last look up the valley, and the Horseshoe is still covered in mist