Yoke via Rainsborrow Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Sunday, 23 November 2008

A rainbow seen from the slopes of Sallow Howes
Rainbow
Ravensborrow Crag is an imposing structure in the Kentmere valley.  Although its associated summit, Yoke, is often little talked about, the eastern crag is mighty in appearance.  I remember my first walks in Kentmere in a cloud and rain covered state in about 1984.  Through the gloom I remembered looking upon this looming buttress of rock partly hidden by cloud, rain and murk.  Although the walk left little impression on me the memory of Rainsborrow became imprinted and on countless revisits I was always impressed by this seeming impenetrable mass of rock.  On recent walks through the valley I began to plan a walk and scramble on the rock and with the help of R.B.Evans, today's outing made an ascent of the crag a reality.  

With cloud well down, the plan to scramble was a good one.  When views are less good, to gain interest at first hand is an excellent alternative to the usual wide ranging vistas.  With concentration at close proximity you can concentrate on the ascent route and often find lots of interest in what might otherwise be a seemingly disinteresting route.  

After leaving the church and turning right before the Garburn Road for Kentmere Reservoir, I veered left after the cattle grid to take in Raven Crag.  This was a short scramble but made interesting with an ascent up huge slabs of rock.  Once on the summit I traversed up the valley, making a beeline for the base of Ravensborrow Crag.

The quarry workings in the valley seen from Rainsborrow Crag
The valley far below
Ravensborrow looms large over the old mine huts now converted to a mountaineering hut and I soon found the line of ascent dictated by R.B.Evans.  In earlier years, as I gleaned from Mick Fox, Harry Griffin had kept everyone in suspense with a new climbers crag that he had discovered.  His Crag 'X' turned out to be Rainsborrow, but as I too found out it was a vegetated mass and what rock there is proves greasy on this eastern facing prow of Yoke.

After slipping and sliding my way up and becoming unduly covered in green slime I ventured into one of the upper quarries before making for the summit and a descent to the Garburn Road.  After a short outing, a short diversion to Sallows and Sour Howes was in order before a descent to the bridal way running back to Kentmere Hall.  
It may have been a relatively short expedition today, but it was made interesting with the two scrambles as well as visits to two lesser Wainwright summits.  The whole outing was rather lacking people and compared to my usual weekend ventures it was indeed a pleasure to be out when there were less folk about.



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