Hellvellyn's Views | Lake District & North East England Photography

Blencathra

Blencathra Via Blease Fell

It has to be said that Blencathra is one of, if not my favourite mountain. Standing at 868 metres it is certainly one of the most imposing yet beautiful single mountains in the Lake District. Although far from being the highest peak, it's position overlooking Threlkeld and the A66, 4 miles East of Keswick, is a welcoming sight for any visitor taking that route. The five main visibly distinctive fells and gorges between, make for spectacular scenes and colour displays in the everchanging light of day; sun or no sun! As the A66 far bypasses the most Eastern lake of Ullswater and therefore the most Eastern fells and the mighty Helvellyn, Blencathra, for me, marks the gateway to the Lake District.

It came as little surprise to learn recently that Blencathra was also a favourite of the late author Alfred Wainwright. Originally from Lancashire, Wainwright fell in love with the Lake District on his first visit, aged 23. He went on to write seven walking guides, detailing 214 fells. He spent more time writing about Blencathra than any other Lakeland mountain.

If you'd like any further information on Wainwright and his work, please click on the following links:

http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/People/Alfred_Wainwright/Alfred_Wainwright.php

http://www.wainwright.org.uk/index.html

Due to my troublesome, although somewhat intermittent health problems, (where I shall not venture) the majority of walks and climbs I take in the Lake District are via the easiest route. Having said that, I have only climbed Helvellyn via Striding Edge; that was on a good day. The route I take up Blencathra is the easiest I have found. The very large, triangular fell to the left in the pictures above (Blease Fell) is the beginning and the end of my walk. The more experienced walker/climber tends to prefer the far more demanding route via Sharp Edge or run straight up the front of the fells!

The starting point for this climb can be in the village of Threlkeld itself where there is plenty of car parking in the centre of the village next to the public toilets! I prefer to do as much driving as possible and save my energy for the climb. Blencathra is well signposted in the village and the only road North leads to the Blencathra Visitor Centre about a mile or so up the road. To the right of the visitor centre is a small car park (a dozen or so cars fit just nicely) with the path to Blencathra conveniently placed at the lower end. Be warned, there are no toilets at this car park!

The path starts as a pleasantly grassy-underfoot, deceptive slight incline through bracken, which for a while doesn't change. If not greeted by weary walkers on their descent from your destination, you will, no doubt be bleated at by bracken. On my first climb, I didn't expect sheep to be hidden beneath! Carrying on up this path, you will soon reach a crossroads of the same grassy paths in bleating bracken. The most direct and rugged route from here to the summit is straight on. The more gentle, grassy route is to the left. To the left is a longer, gentle zig-zag which rejoins the more rugged path further ahead after the sheep fold. I don't know where the path to the right leads but seems to go back down! Carrying on, you're on Blease Fell. Take a look back to the left and you should see something similar to the next picture.

The near right fell I believe is Latrigg, over to the left is Walla Crag and Castlerigg Fell. The lake is Derwent Water, with Catbells and the Derwent Fells in the background. Unbelievable view at such low altitude! As you can see in this picture, it was a very hot day so the haze is even more pronounced on the pictures ahead.

The climb ahead is now, more or less, straight up. I'll just talk about the pictures from now.

The picture above is the view South of Threlkeld Common, with the old Threlkeld Quarry to the left.

The low hills ahead are Low Rigg and High Rigg with Tewet Tarn. The road down there is the busy A66; even at this low altitude, you can't hear the traffic and there are a lot of lorries use this route!

A view West again with Latrigg and Causey Pike.

A view back Southish to Low & High Riggs from a bit higher. High Tove visible above Thirlmere.

View back to Derwent Water.

I'd spotted this blot on the horizon further down and thought it was just the heat affecting my vision! Twas the result of the dreaded pathdodgers!

The Lakeland fells are in very urgent need of repair. If you'd like to help, please click the following link:

http://www.fixthefells.co.uk/

This was the reason that on this occasion, I didn't take the indirect route up Blencathra.

There were 3 or 4 birds of prey, hovering around, inviting me up the main drag. Presumably they were 2 pairs as they seemed to respect each others' territory and I think they're falcons but can only assume they're kestrels.

Hopefully, a kind visitor to this site will correct me but they were a beautiful, yet distracting comapanion on the way.

I'd been so distracted by the birds, I'd forgot to look back for a while. That must be High Seat centre left. Seems difficult to believe but things get even better higher up!

That's the view South to Threlkeld Common, Clough Head and the Dodds with Thirlmere.

I did think whlist preparing for this pic that I'd love to have been the person to have driven this vehicle up the mountain! However, I'm pretty sure it was airlifted into position, which highlights the desperate need for funds to repair the Lakeland footpaths.