Route: Binsey
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 7th February 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Although we’d done a short walk to Crummock Water earlier today, the itch to climb a fell was still scratching, so in the afternoon I drove over to Binsey. This is the most northerly of the lakeland fells and stands isolated from the others, overlooking the coastal plain and Scotland
At 1,466 feet, it’s of modest height but there are great views from the top
I parked near Binsey Cottage and started up the gentle slope. It’s a very easy climb – so easy that I was at the top in 15 minutes. The view wasn’t particularly clear but it was magnificent all the same. After savouring it for a while, I carried on in the direction of High Ireby, then descended to the intake wall on the west side of the fell, following the line of the wall back to the car
By now the clouds had lifted and there were fantastic views of Skiddaw as I walked back. What a great little fell this is
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the climb up the gentle slopes of Binsey
A glimpse of Overwater as I look back
Looking across to Skiddaw
Not far to the top now
Summit of Binsey, with Scotland and the Solway Firth just visible in the background
Bassenthwaite Lake and the North West fells
Overwater from the summit of Binsey
Heading down in the direction of Scotland
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bass Lake again, this time with Skiddaw and Ullock Pike in the picture
Further along the intake wall, some Back o’ Skiddaw fells
Skiddaw
Bassenthwaite
Skiddaw
Skiddaw trying to impersonate Mount Kilimanjaro
A dull morning has turned into a beautiful afternoon
Back to the start. Curses, I didn’t bring any money with me but I won’t make the same mistake next time
