Blencathra with it's ridges and gullies must be one of the Lake Districts most easily recognized mountains, it sits on the verge of the busy A66 passed by every motorist heading into the Northern Lakes, you can't very well miss it unless you're asleep, the views from the summit ridge are second to none, except today, there were just none.

My day starts at Scales on the edge of the busy A66. A hundred yards west of the White Horse Inn a finger post invited me to climb the hill, I obliged but on reaching the edge of the intake wall turned left, a longer walk in may give the cloud chance to clear, there's logic there somewhere. On this high level path I was soon to ford Scaley Beck , Duddick Gill and Gate Gill before the steep ascent of Blease Fell begun, by the time I'd reached the snow line it was obvious the cloud was here to stay, so with a biting wind blowing out of the north it was a brisk walk across the summit ridge to reach Hallsfell Top the summit of Blencathra. The next step, to find the cairn on Atkinson Pike which would mark the start of my descent, taking great care not to walk down the wrong ridge (the ridge to Sharp Edge was near by somewhere to my right) I was soon under the cloud base to be greeted by the darkest skies I have ever seen, there was bad weather coming and lots of it. I quickly bagged the summit of Bannerdale Crags before moving on to White Horse Bent (no paths), the descent into the valley of the Glenderamackin saw the weather overtake me, heavy snow sweeping in from the north. I decided on a soft option for the final descent, the long finger of Mousthwaite Comb may shelter me from the worst of the weather, the comb greeted me with sunshine, imagine my surprise. All that remained was an easy descent and with the sun shining through the trees a pleasant walk along a tarmac lane back to Scales.

Blencathra and Bannerdale Crags.	back to list view route map
	Looking to Clough Head carrying a little snow.
	Stunning views to Bleaberry Fell.
	The spectacular ravine of Gate Gill cuts deep into the heart of Blencathra.
	On the steep ascent of Blease Fell looking to Cat Bells rising from Derwent Water.
	Seen across the green mound of Latrigg the Grasmoor massif.
	Above the snow line with mouth-watering views to the south.
	A view to die for, the Derwent Water Fells.
	Looking to the cliffs of Lonscale Fell.
	The ice cold summit of Blease Fell.
	The summit Hallsfell Top, Blencathra.
	My next summit, Bannerdale Crags laying under a dark cloud.
	Looking to the drama of Sharp Edge.
	Atmospheric views down the valley of the river Glenderamackin.
	This small cairn marks the summit of Bannerdale Crags.
	Famous for it's ghost army Souther Fell as seen over Bannerdale Crags, it may be Halloween but there's no sign of a ghost army today.
	Spectacular in any condition the Sharp Edge face of Blencathra.
	Striding out over White Horse Bent, the snow's just stopped and the sun makes a brief appearance.
	I know this pictures poor, heavy snow sweeps across Mousthwaite Comb while the sun reflects across the camera lens.
	Mousthwaite Comb like a crooked finger guiding you into the hills, or in my case out.
	Strolling through dappled shade almost at journeys end.
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