Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
The "infamous" Mungrisdale Common ... Wainwright hardly had a good word for it
in Book Five ...
"There is little point providing diagrams of ascent that will never be used"
True, it`s hard to believe it to be a mountain per se but after an aborted attempt to
complete it about 2 years ago due to the inability to cross the River Caldew, we took
advantage of better weather and lower river levels to tick it off the list. Our perception
has now changed, and it`s a charming and pleasant short walk which with similar
weather conditions like today we would have no objections to revisiting
From the A66 Keswick bound turn right at the signs marked for Mungrisdale and then
having passed through the Hamlet take a left turn signposted towards Swineside so as
to pick up the Cumbria Way
The extent of the road that is suitable for vehicles comes to an obvious end when
tarmac turns to stone. There is free parking at various wider points
As we set off West down the track it soon becomes obvious that today was a Fell
running endurance event called the "Old Crown Round" which is 36km and 2200m
of ascent race that has checkpoints on the summits of Carrock Fell, Blencathra,
Skiddaw House, Knott and High Pike. These guys bombed past us as we set off
down the Cumbria Way
The path passes the Ford that is normally reserved for Farm vehicles
After a short while the views open up towards Skiddaw Little and Lesser Man
The Northern flank of Mungrisdale Common comes into view
An obvious path to the left drops down to run parallel to the River Caldew
The path cuts through an area of dense bracken towards the most suitable crossing
point for the River. It`s unlikely it would ever be low enough to cross without getting
your boots totally immersed, so we took flip flops to change into that would enable us to
make the crossing
Sue crosses the River Caldew with care, whilst one of the runners just bombs
straight through it!
After crossing the River, aim for the grassy shelf ahead and at this point you will
pick up a path that climbs straight up the central breast of the Eastern flank of the Fell
The path was made all the more easy to follow by the hoards of runners that were
flattening it for us on their way up to Blencathra
Looking towards Great Calva and Skiddaw in the background
Looking back to the Cumbria Way
Approaching the ridgeline and the path becomes less steep
At the crest of the ridgeline and a number of paths lead directly to the pile of
stones that represents the summit of Mungrisdale Common
On the summit and for Sue and I the completion of all the Northern Fells in Book Five.
Click here for a 360 degree view
This lady well into her 70`s was competing in the Old Crown Round and was more than
happy to tell us that she wasn`t in last position. That was confirmed about 20 minutes later
when we saw someone probably half her age come limping past. Much respect!!
Looking towards the back o` Skiddaw
Looking towards Great Calva
Looking towards Blencathra and a close up of Foule Crag
Looking towards Bowscale Fell
