Online Fellwalking Club - A High Level Circuit of Kentmere

A High Level Circuit of Kentmere

Written by Paul A. Burgess

Thursday, 31 July 2008

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I don't get the chance to walk in the Lake District very much as I live in Arbroath Scotland. My job, working in the oil industry in the Caspian Sea of Uzbekistan, also keep me away from the UK for long periods and as a result, when I return home it is the mountains of Scotland that herald my call.

Paul trying to escape the crowd of thirty!

However, with some time to spare my wife and I, Margaret, came down to the Lakes to see my parents and also to take some time out for some lesirure activity on the fells. On Sunday Margaret dropped me in Staveley and I caught the bus with my parents up to the head of Kentmere. Leaving my mum and dad to potter around there, I ascended the garburn Pass for a clockwise circuit of this famous circuit.

View over Mardale

The ascent of the pass was warm work in the later morning sun although I soon gained height to make for Yoke and its more famous neighbour Ill Bell. I intended to make for a lunch stop on the famous Thornethwaite Beacon and I stayed intent on making that my point of rest.

A retrospective view back

I was amazed by the number of people walking today and when I reached the beacon I was astonished to find another 30 or so walker already encamped about the famous landmark. Unlike Scotland, where I might walk all day without seeing another sole, it was certainly a difference to have the company of so many walkers on this route. I decided to eat lunch away from the main crowd and in any case I had a bus to catch!

Harter Fell Summit

After the descent to Nan Bield Pass and the subsequent ascent to Harter Fell I realised that I might not catch the last bus at 4.30pm and so I made double quick time in order to make it back to the head of Kentmere. Having said that, my wife saved me the bother in the end having negotiated the narrow valley road in order to pick me up. I had had a fantastic day on the fells and completed the circuit in about 5 hours.

Back to the valley

Back into Kentmere

Paul and Barbara Burgess

Paul and Brian Burgess

Readers may remember Paul Burgess from the excellent article published in The Lost Sheep 6, where his exploits ascending Mount Shagdagh in the Caucasus were recorded. Paul is an ex-Royal Marine and accomplished mountaineer. He lives in Arbroath near to the eastern Grampians where he loves to walk with his West Highland Terrier, Lucy.

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