When planning a Lakeland walk I've one simple principle - ascend one of AW's top six favourite fells on a sunny day. With weather forecasters predicting glorious sunshine last Saturday and having completed Bowfell, Crinkles, Scafell Pike, Great Gable, it was Blencathra's turn this time. I got the X4/X5 service from Keswick to the White Horse Inn in Scales. I love a circular walk and decided to take in Souther Fell, Bannerdale crags and Bowscale Fell before finishing on Blencathra. In his pictorial guide of the northern fells, AW stated that the best route off Blencathra was via Blease fell to Threlkeld. I can honestly say that in my 9 years of hiking the descent was the best descent route of any mountain I've ever done. Total distance was 18km. Apologies for the lack of details regarding summit views from Blencathra - there are just too many to name!
Retrospective view of western and eastern fells, taken on the ascent of Souther fell:
Southern and western fells from Souther fell:
Blencathra from Souther fell:
Sharp edge:
Blencathra and Sharp edge from Bannerdale crags:
Bannerdale from Bannerdale crags:
Blencathra and Bannerdale crags from Bowscale fell:
Sharp edge:
The final stretch to the summit of Blencathra:
Blencathra summit shots:
Blencathra summit shots:
Blencathra summit shots:
Following the ridge from the summit to Blease fell:
The view from the ridge:
Zoom-in on the Coledale Horseshoe fells:
NW, western and southern fells, taken on the descent:
Eastern, central, western fells, taken on the descent:
Blease fell: