Route: Hard Knott
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 3rd July 2013
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and James
Distance: 7 miles
Ascent: 1,400 feet
We parked at Jubilee Bridge, at the foot of the Hardknott Pass, and walked through Brotherilkeld and along Lingcove Beck as far as the head of the valley. This was a beautiful section of the walk, and the terrain got better and better the further we ascended, with not another person in sight
Lingcove Beck was in full spate following the recent rainy weather, and higher up there was a succession of roaring waterfalls
All too soon it was time to leave the beck and head on up the grassy, and sometimes pathless, slopes of Hard Knott. There were lots of ups and downs until we finally made the summit (1,803 feet)
We had some great views of the Scafells, and though the weather deteriorated as time went on, we could clearly see the Isle of Man from the top
An easy descent then followed to the summit of the Hardknott Pass, where we greeted a lady cyclist with a round of applause – she said it was the hardest thing she’d done in her life. It was then an easy descent back to Jubilee Bridge via the Roman fort known as Hardknott Castle
We all agreed that it had been a red letter day, with stunning scenery around us every step of the way
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
Hardknott Pass is to the right, a magnet for hardy motorists and superfit cyclists - our route is to the left
The lovely path alongside Lingcove Beck, with Bowfell ahead and Hard Knott on the right
Further along the path
Gilly and James (and Bonnie), looking back along the path
Further along the path - Lingcove Beck was our constant companion for almost half the route
A view back along our ascent route
One of the many waterfalls along the way
Lingcove Bridge
James, near the point where we left the beck to turn up the grassy slopes to Hard Knott
Another view back along our ascent path
The Scafells come into view
The grassy slopes leading up to Hard Knott, slightly deceptive as there is still a long way to go
The Scafells again
Bowfell and Crinkle Crags
Hard Knott summit
The Duddon Valley
We emerge at the top of the Hardknott Pass, and walk down the road for a short distance - no danger of speeding cars here
This made me think of another Andrew, who cycled up here last week - and went from Coast to Coast - in 13 hours
After a short section of road walking, we join a footpath leading to the Roman fort
The fort in the foreground, with Hardknott Pass winding uphill on the right, and Hard Knott fell on the left
Nearly back to the car - it had been a fantastic day out in these southern fells
