Tag: Bowfell

  • The Lake District and it's mountains

    Surrounded by sloping fells and picturesque villages the Lake District is home to England’s highest mountains. There is no official definition of how high a hill can be in order to be a mountain some regions specify 1,000 feet others say 2,000 feet. Walking is the most popular Lake District visitor attraction with approximately 15 million pairs of feet walking along the winding paths and mountains. This can cause some moderate damage to the footpaths but are maintained and repaired through a ‘Fix the Fells’ partnership.

    Here are just a few of them to set your sights high on your next adventure.

    Scafell Pike

    Height: 978 meters

    Scafell Pike is home to the highest standing water in England known as Broad Crag Tarn which lies a quarter mile south to the summit. The mountain forms the middle part of The Three Peaks Challenge where walkers attempt to reach the summits of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within a 24-hour period. Reaching the top of the summit the views have inspired by many writers such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Baines, and Wainwright. The mountain was donated to The National Trust by Lord Leconfield in memory of the men of the lake District who fell in the First World War.

    Helvellyn

    Height: 964 meters

    Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in the Lake District and England and is one of Britain’s most popular walks. Its distinctive corries and sharp ridges were carved by glaciers during the ice age. The highest point of Helvellyn is a cairn atop a rise in the cliff edge a few hundred meters to the south – east.

    During the Winter months, this is a serious and demanding walk that should only be undertaken by those with the appropriate skills and experience with the right equipment. From December to April Fell Top Assessors climb Helvellyn daily to report on the weather and ground conditions. You can join the Fell Top Assessors for a day on a winter skills course, to learn the basics of how to use an ice axe and crampons for winter walking. They report to the Met Office 365 days a year to keep local residents and visitors up to date with local weather conditions.

    You can follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LakesWeather?lang=en-gb or attentively visit The Fell Top Assessors website at

    http://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/about.

    Skiddaw

    Height: 931 meters

    Skiddaw mountain stands tall in the north lakes overlooking the town of Keswick and Derwent Water. To the west of the mountain is the Newlands valley and Bassenthwaite Lake, which cuts Skiddaw range off from the North Western Fells. The mountain has a grand majestic appearance emphasized by the surrounding valleys and fells. Wainwright described the mountain as “The summit is buttressed magnificently by a circle of lesser heights, all of them members of the proud Skiddaw family”.

    Great End

    Height 910 meters

    Great End is to the north of Scafell Pike and is a popular location for camping and climbing. From the south a lump and from the north an immense mountain with an imposing north face rising above Sprinkling Tarn. The tarn is popular with anglers known for its trout and a rare fish vendace. Alfred Wainwright wrote of Great End in his ‘Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells’ “This is the true Lakeland of the fellwalker, the sort of terrain that calls him back time after time”.

    Bowfell

    Height 902 meters

    Bowfell is a pyramid - shaped mountain and sits between Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes. The Langdale Pikes are made up of Pavey Ark, Thunacar Knott, Pike of Stickle, and Harrison Stickle which offer spectacular views of Langdale. Take in breath - taking views of the summit with the Pennines to the east and The Isle of Man to the west. Located at the head of the Langdale valley. It is listed in Alfred Wainwright’s ‘best half dozen’ Lake District fells.

    Great Gable

    Height: 899 meters

    Great Gable is part of Scafell Pike and is named after its pyramid appearance from the valley of Wasdale. The mountain is a ’climbers’ mountain and is one of the most famous mountains in the lakes. The best route to take when climbing this mountain is through the Climbers Traverse and the Needles ridge. The transverse crosses the southern slopes of Gable on a visible but loose path with stupendous views down Wasdale and up over Napes and the Sphinx’s Head.

    When climbing any mountain preparation is key. Make sure you check the mountain forecast as this may determine ground conditions and visibility. Always take the right equipment with you and don’t put yourself or anyone else in danger.

    To check the mountain forecast visit: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/

    Happy climbing!