My day started in remote lakeland at the head of a valley that is able claim fame for hosting the deepest lake, the highest mountain, the smallest church, Wasdale by far the best valley head in England, topped off with the delightful side valley of Mosedale, walled in on three sides by lakeland giants, Kirk Fell, Pillar Mountain and Red Pike. While Wasdale's pedigree attracts thousands of walkers every year Mosedale attracts but a few, I met eight people and one farmer gathering sheep in severn hours, now hows that for remote.

My day started in the car park at Wasdale Head amongst the chitterers and chatterers all content to head for the ever popular summits of Great Gable and Scafell Pike, not one followed my tracks into the northern fells, it was to be a day of solitude with big skies and great views for company. After leaving the car park my route took me along the banks of Fogmire Beck following the Moses Trod Path, a large wooden footbridge and cairn marked the start of the Beck Head ascent, climbing steeply across the slopes of Gavel Neese I soon reached Beck Head with it's delightful tarn, here an old rusty boundary fence was to be my companion to the summit of Kirk Fell. a short easy scramble up Rib End saw me pass Kirk Fell Tarn en route to the summit and my first brew, I shan't describe the views from the summit shelter visit it for yourself some day, they don't disappoint. Now heading north still following the fence posts I reached Kirkfell Crags,"how the hell do I get down there", I've been here before in the mist and ice, I don't recall it being this dangerous, after pondering the problem for a while I skirted the first couple of small cliffs to pick up the path lower down, I was soon on the summit of Black Sail Pass. Here the long ascent to Pillar Mountain began, above Green Cove, Mull Rigg and Wistow Crag before reaching the summit, with it's trig point and summit shelter this unexpected flat plateau with stunning views in every direction is defiantly a place to linger, time for another brew before the steep scramble down to Wind Gap. From Wind Gap my route skirted the cliffs of Little Scoat Fell above Black Comb to start the ascent of Red Pike, from Red Pike the views across Mosedale, Wasdale and to the Irish Sea take some beating, I linger for a while before the descent to Dore Head. There's a path marked on the map straight down the scree's, against my better judgment I started the steep, steep descent to the valley floor, not the best idea, I did get to the bottom unscathed (just), to follow Mosedale Beck back to Wasdale Head and the delights of Ritson's Bar.

A Round of Mosedale must rate as one of the best horseshoe walks in the Lake District, after walking it anti-clockwise to be faced with what I considered two rather unnerving scrambles down, Kirk Fell Crags just think about it before you set off, if you've got longer legs than me it's probably easy, Dore Head Screes just bloody dangerous, far safer to follow the path over Gosforth Crag Moss then back along the road. Or tackle it clockwise much easier to scramble up than down, enjoy.

A Round of Mosedale.	back to list view route map
	Leaving Wasdale Head looking back to Illgill Head above Wastwater.
	Great Gable and the Napes Crags, my ascent route can clearly be seen, up Gavel Neese then across to the saddle on the left.
	Wasdale Head and Wastwater from the ascent to Beck Head.
	The lit ridge of Pillar Mountain seen from the long walk across Kirk Fell.
	From the summit of Kirk Fell stunning views to the Scafell massif with Black Comb rising above Burnmoor Tarn.
	The impressive cliff and scree slopes of Great Gable.
	Typical mountain scene, Sprinkling Tarn in the shadow of Allen Crags.
	Please shut the gate, the summit of the Black Sail Pass.
	Wonderful views over Mosedale taking in Yewbarrow and the infamous Dorehead Screes.
	For miles and miles, views from the summit Pillar Mountain.
	On the rocky descent to Wind Gap, the first view of the Ennerdale Valley.
	Above Mirk Cove with Mouth-watering views over Ennerdale.
	In shadow the Mirk Cove face of Steeple.
	Dramatic views from Red Pike.
	Seen over Mosedale the green fields of Wasdale Head backed by Lingmell and the unmistakable Scafells
	A great lump of a mountain Kirk Fell seen from Red Pike.
	Descending Red Pike with breathtaking views across Wastwater at 285ft England's deepest lake.
	Dorehead Screes not for the faint hearted, this photo does not do them justice, almost sheer with no grip, take another look at the view across Mosedale to Yewbarrow.
	Golden light on the steep slopes of Lingmell.
	Almost back to Wasdale Head, the sun's about to set I won't make it round the corner in time to capture the sunset over Wastwater, instead I'll have to make do with the orange glow over Illgill Head.
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