Route: Kentmere Horseshoe
Area: Far Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 25th July 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 13.3 miles
Weather: sunny and very hot
The Kentmere Horseshoe in the far east of the district is a classic lakeland round, taking in 7 fells in all, though a couple of others are also there for the taking without much extra effort
I parked near St Cuthbert’s Church Kentmere – parking here is very limited so I’d made an early start. A scorching hot day was forecast and I’d packed what felt like a ton of liquid, though it still wasn’t enough in the end. I followed the path towards Garburn Pass which took me to the west ridge of the horseshoe. The climb was at an easy angle and it wasn’t long before I was on the first summit – Yoke Fell
There then followed in order of appearance Ill Bell, Froswick, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell (which is the highest point of the walk at 2,539 feet), Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts
It was a boiling hot day – around 27c – but luckily there was a cooling breeze and some cloud cover over much of the higher ground. These two friends deserted me on the long haul back from Shipman Knotts to the start and for the last three miles or so I thought I was going to fry. The extra water which I’d left in the car (thinking it was a sensible thing to do) was only fit for making tea, it was almost bubbling when I got back. This didn’t spoil what had been a memorable day out in the fells
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
Red squirrel enjoying breakfast as I set off to the other end of the Lake District
The start of the walk near St Cuthbert’s Church Kentmere
Leaving Kentmere on a glorious morning
The Nook
Start of the climb towards Garburn
Badger Rock
Heading up to Yoke
Looking back along the path, Windermere comes into view
Windermere from Yoke
From Yoke, looking forward to the next summit - Ill Bell - with the horseshoe gradually coming into view
Kentmere Reservoir
One of the three splendid cairns which grace the summit of Ill Bell
And another one - looking over Windermere
Next fell ahead is Froswick
Looking back to Ill Bell from Froswick
Thornthwaite Crag ahead, and a glimpse of Ullswater. I decide to give the fell a miss and follow the path round to the right below the summit
Almost at the far end of the horseshoe now and heading east
The River Kent flowing into Kenmere Reservoir
I’d ascended via the fells on the right, the prominent one is Ill Bell
Haweswater from Mardale Ill Bell, with a visible tidemark on account of the recent dry spell
The distinctive outline of Ill Bell
Looking ahead to Harter Fell - the climb doesn’t look too bad from here but it involved a lot of huffing and puffing in this weather
Small Water and Haweswater from the approach to Nan Bield Pass
The last big climb of the day - up to Harter Fell, the highest point of the walk
Haweswater again
Summit of Harter Fell Mardale
Looking west toward the Scafells top left
The penultimate fell of the round is Kentmere Pike, a very easy walk along the grassy ridge
From Kentmere Pike summit, looking back to the horseshoe
Last but not least - Shipman Knotts ahead
Shipman Knotts and the way back to Kentmere, it ought to be easy but after about 11 miles and 3,600 feet of ascent it wasn’t, not in these temperatures anyway
Almost back to valley level, looking back at the round
The track leading back to Kentmere
Back to the start - St Cuthbert’s Church Kentmere
