Walk                           :  Grike (1,596 feet) & Crag Fell (1,710 feet) from Scaly Moss via the old Mine road

Date                           :  3rd October 2017

Weather                    :  Cloudy, just about Dry @ 13°C – rain ever threatening

 

Distance                   :  6 miles round trip

Time Taken              :  1 hour 20 mins to summit, @ 2.5 hours in total

 

Which part of Lakeland is this walk situated

 

Terrain Overview

 

Overview

 

Our week long stay in Ambleside was on the whole one of the wettest that we have experienced for some time, it rained most days.

However, the Tuesday was forecast as dry until mid evening so we took the opportunity to visit the remote Ennerdale region in the West to

climb Grike and follow the ridge route to Crag Fell. Overall, very easy climbing, the ridge to Crag Fell was a tad boggy in parts which can

be largely avoided by staying right along the route close to the fence. Other than that no problems at in both navigation and climbing

 

 

Follow the signs from the A66 towards Ennerdale Bridge and roughly two miles further on the terrain opens out, this is Scaly Moss. The walk

starts at a clearly sign posted foot path for Red Beck some three miles away. There is free parking for a small number of vehicles

 

 

Starting out from the roadside footpath

 

 

Looking north towards Blake Fell from the path

 

 

The path climbs gently upwards to a gate, through which heads along a fire break cut through a very fine plantation of Pine trees

 

 

The path continues for about another half mile or so and leads to an opening

 

 

Upon reaching the steel gate turn right and follow the stony track for a very short distance

 

 

No … it’s behind you … just follow it round … trust me !!

 

 

Follow the track round and take the first branch off to the left

 

 

The old mine road leads to the South West slopes of Grike, however a newer and more direct path can be taken further on down. This area has undergone

an intense tree felling activity and the scars are plain to see

 

 

The newer more direct path to the summit is over the stile by the side of the gate

 

 

Once over the stile a grass path climbs steadily and leads to a wire fence. The summit is very close now

 

 

Looking back towards the west coastline and Sellafield in the distance

 

 

Ste reaches the summit – just a short distance after the fence

 

 

The summit cairn and a very welcome wind shelter – I can tell you it was much needed on top !!

 

Click here for a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit … https://youtu.be/1XRIjupjCwU

 

 

Looking out towards Blake Fell on the left and in the right foreground Great Borne. The northern edge of Ennerdale Water just visible

 

 

Bill & Ben the flower pot men seeking refuge from the wind !

 

 

Looking across to the second fell of the day … Crag Fell. The summit cairn just visible

 

 

Low flying manoeuvres ….

 

 

 

Following the track south to Crag Fell

 

  

 

The track drops down to go past a communications mast and it’s here where the ground gets very boggy. Best to keep towards the fence

 

 

The final climb to the summit ..

 

 

Summit cairn on Crag Fell

 

Click here for a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit … https://youtu.be/tiYZi5Q8GsI

 

 

Now the views really open up to the south. Pillar and Steeple on the right and Starling Dodd to Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag ridge on the left

 

 

Looking north towards Blake Fell and Carling Knott

 

 

Sue and Ste take in the marvellous views up the Ennerdale Valley

 

 

 

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