Lank Rigg - 'Western Solitude' Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Monday, 01 September 2008

The beautiful summit tarn with fair weather cumuls cloud
Summit tarn
The fells of western Cumbria are less frequented and consequently much quieter than the more famous and prominent mountains to the east.  With the main access from England's conurbations entering Lakeland from the eastern fringes, it is the western fells, particularly those south of Ennerdale which are less frequented.  Although the Coast to Coast route winds into Uldale in this neck of the woods, it is summits like Lank Rigg which would hardly be surmounted at all were it not for mention in AW's list of 214 fells. 

To many, greater conquests would take the shape of Pillar, Scafell or Helvellyn, but in their solitude, fells such as Lank Rigg can offer the seeker of loneliness a few hours respite from the day-to-day rigours of modern life.  For me, fells like Lank Rigg boast great claims from their modest height.  Apart from the beautiful seaward vistas, the archaeology of past eras and the free range walking it has to be the lack of crowds which entice the free thinking and contemplative fellwalker to these rounded masses.  

The stone circle called Blakeley Raise
Blakeley Raise
Along with some outlying Birketts and Whoap, this was a short excursion but an interesting one all the same.  With the infant River Calder forded and the ascent of Latter Barrow, Lank Rigg greeted me with its ancient tumulii and serene summit tarn.  The name suggests a thin and long mountain but there is a hint from celtic, that this mountain could be associated with a church site or a corruption of 'Long' Ridge.  Whatever the origins of the name, I think it deserves better than the imagery we associate with lank.  If you haven't walked from the Cold Fell road, get a B&B at Ennerdale Bridge soon and dubbin up your boots in preparation.  You might just be pleasantly surprised.

 



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