Blencathra via Sharp Edge

About

Blencathra boasts two of the Lake District's finest ridges, Sharp Edge and Hall's Fell Ridge. Sharp Edge is the more technical of the two and is usually viewed with mixed emotions; its lofty position and fine sculpted crest have the capacity to excite even the most jaded scrambler. But it
also has the capacity to scare some people witless. Hall's Fell Ridge is a bit easier but more than twice the length of Sharp Edge and can be tackled in descent. A day out up Sharp Edge then down Hall's Fell Ridge under dry conditions will provide scramblers with a glorious hands-on rock experience. Under a covering of snow and ice they take on a truly Alpine character and are a considerable mountaineering challenge.

Grade: Strenuous (both ridges are Grade 1 scrambles, Grade 1 winter climbs)
Start/Finish: Scales (NY343269) Distance: 7.7 miles (12.4km) Time: 5-6 hours
Height gain: 700m
Maps: OS Landranger 90, OS Explorer OL5, Harveys' Superwalker (1:25 000) Lakeland North.
Terrain: steep fellside, narrow rocky ridges and rounded summit plateau.

1. From the A66 near Scales take the footpath that skirts North then North East on the fell side of the wall above the pub. It then climbs North across the rocks of Mousthwaite Comb then North West
to Scales beck.

2. Turn left and follow the steep path West-South West by the side of Scales Beck to Scales Tarn.

3. Zig-zag steeply North West above the tarn to gain the base of Sharp Edge. In dry conditions the crest is enjoyable and is followed to an exposed col where Sharp Edge abuts the main mountain (in damp or windy conditions there is an easier lower path just below the crest). From the col make use of the short couloir which gets you past a steep buttress and on to an exposed but easy finishing leftward traverse.

4. The summit of Blencathra lies 500m South-South West across the grassy summit plateau.

5. The descent down Hall's Fell Ridge starts direct from the summit of Blencathra, it lies South-South East and you will encounter steep exposed ground straight away. It is not as hard as the ground on Sharp Edge but you should be careful to stick close to the crest as this is where the cleanest rock is. Numerous micro-variations are possible so you'll be able to make it as hard or as easy as you like.

6. The crest eventually merges into the steep fellside of Hall's Fell which is descended generally South West to a junction near Doddick Gill. Turn left and follow the path East as it traverses back to the start near Scales.