Blencathra via Hall’s Fell
703ms (2,306 feet)
Time
Distance
What an ascent. We have all read about how Blencathra stands out amongst the other Wainrights. Blencathra stands apart from the other Lakeland hills looking south and west offers a vast panorama covering the vast majority of fells in the area but it is also partly due to the contrasting nature of the mountain. To the south a vast claw appears to have ripped the mountain apart leaving deep gullies and sharp ridges whilst to the north slopes fall gently in to an empty wilderness where it is possible to escape the crowds even on a popular summer’s day.
We did not attempt Sharp Edge and decided to leave that for another day and instead climbed up Hall’s Fell.; it is a great little edge without real danger or too much exposure and it arrows directly to the true summit but it certainly provides an exciting scramble for all ages and should not be undertaken by novices. Take your time on the ridge and pick the route that suits you. From the summit there is a lovely mile stroll west from the summit on short grass where the views are simply unbeatable in England.
The descent is less steep over on Scales Fell. A shorter route down is via Doddick Fell. A true classic. To quote Alfred Wainright “For active walkers and scramblers this route is positively the finest way to any mountain top in the district. It is direct, exhilarating, has glorious views and (especially satisfying) scores a bulls-eye by leading unerringly to the summit-cairn.”