Route: Red Pike, Scoat Fell, Haycock and Caw Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 9th July 2015
Walkers: Andrew and James
Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 3,700 feet
Weather: Sunshine and cloud, chilly breeze on the tops
Our son James is nearing the end of his mission to climb all the 214 Wainwrights. Today would reduce the target by 4 and given reasonable weather he may be able to celebrate on Dollywagon Pike tomorrow
Today’s walk started badly though – when we arrived at the National Trust car park at Overbeck Bridge, I realised I’d left my rucksack at home, possibly because it’s identical to James’, possibly a senior moment. As I mentally went through the contents my heart sank – map, gps, water, food, sunhat – to name but a few. Luckily my boots and the camera were already in the car, and James was wearing a new gps watch so it was still game on, though we’d have to make do with half rations
We walked along the flanks of Yewbarrow up to Dore Head, and as we climbed up I consoled myself with the fact that at least I was travelling light. When we reached Dore Head we started the climb up to Red Pike. The summit cairn of this fell is perched on the edge of a precipice – it’s a thrilling place
From Red Pike we went on to Scoat Fell (James ran over to Steeple and back en route), then Haycock and finally remote Caw Fell. There was little to detain us at Caw Fell so we quickly retraced our steps, which involved ascending and descending Haycock again, and then returned to Wasdale via Nether Beck. It had been a long outing, involving some 3,700 feet of ascent, and we arrived back at Overbeck Bridge hot and tired – but happy and full of anticipation as to what tomorrow may bring….
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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
Just before the car park we stopped the car to admire the view along Wast Water
Start of the walk as we walk up towards Yewbarrow
Yewbarrow - our path will take us to the left below the crags of the fell
Looking back to Wast Water
We traverse the flanks of Yewbarrow, with Red Pike ahead in the distance
Another view back - the Wasdale Screes plunging into the lake
Red Pike
Approaching Dore Head
Black Sail Pass
Lingmell Beck from Dore Head
Bonnie
Heading up towards Red Pike
A short rocky section on the way to Red Pike
On the summit ridge
James looks down into Mosedale
Summit cairn on Red Pike, looking towards Kirk Fell and Great Gable
The cairn is set on the edge of a precipice and it would be impossible to walk round it
We continue to follow the exciting path, which has steep drops to our right
Looking back to Red Pike
We arrive at the summit of Scoat Fell - the highest point is covered by a wall, so purists have built a small cairn on top of it
Steeple is close by and James decides to run there and back - a 10 minute detour for him and a rest for me. The Solway Firth and Scotland in the distance
The scenery changes as we head further west towards the sea and our next fell - Haycock
Looking across to Ennerdale
Navigation to Haycock is simple - just follow the course of the wall
Herdies
Summit of Haycock looking towards the Scafells
On to the last fell of today’s round - Caw Fell, very remote and as Wainwright says ‘an exhausted walker on Caw Fell is in bad trouble’
Approaching the summit of Caw Fell
Summit of Caw Fell looking towards Scotland
We now have to retrace our steps and climb Haycock again, top centre of picture
Having climbed Haycock again and descended to the pass before Scoat Fell, we head back down the valley towards Wasdale
We follow a path to the right of Nether Beck
Waterfalls in Nether Beck
Wast Water and the Screes
Looking back to Netherbeck Bridge - there just remains a short walk along the road back to the start
Wast Water
A last look up to Red Pike in the distance as we near the end of our walk
Overbeck Bridge - the National Trust car park is on the left and we’re back to the start of a wonderful walk
