Route: Kirk Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 14th March 2015
Walkers: Andrew and James
Distance: 5.6 miles
Weather: Mixture of bright spells and overcast. Very cold on tops
Our son James was keen to tick off another Wainwright and Kirk Fell would make it 200 out of 214. There’s no easy way up this fell and having been up twice before via Black Sail Pass I decided that we’d take the direct route for a change, straight up the nose of the fell
We parked at Wasdale Head and within a few minutes started the slog up the relentlessly steep slope. It’s a real test of stamina and far longer than it seems from below. The reward for the effort was that the views back over Wasdale were tremendous, and I hope that the photos that follow will convey the beauty and drama of the scenery
Near the summit, the grassy steps end and the path deteriorates into loose scree – a mixture of adrenalin and appropriately named Rocky Road chocolate bars propelled us to the summit
The snow on the top was deep in places and it was bitterly cold so we didn’t linger long and quickly started the descent down Rib End – quite steep but not difficult. We then joined Moses Trod which took us back to the start
It had been a fantastic day on the fells, tiring but well worth all the huffing and puffing, and one of those red letter days that will linger long in the memory
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)
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Shortly before the start of the walk we stopped the car to admire the classic view along Wastwater
Kirk Fell ahead, the path looks easy seen from here, but appearances can be deceptive
We pass by the famous Wasdale Head Inn, the birthplace of British climbing
Here we go, looks a doddle but I’ve read my Wainwright and know what to expect - ‘a relentless and unremitting treadmill, a turf clutching crawl…’
Herdie and Lingmell Crag
Looking to our left along Mosedale
…and looking back along Wasdale from the early part of the climb
The valley below is a wonderful maze of dry stone walls
Looking towards Red Pike, this illustrates the gradient of the walk
Our efforts were rewarded with these retrospective views
Is this herdie mocking our slow progress?
A beam of sunlight on St Olaf’s Church, claimed to be the smallest church in England
Looking across to Lingmell and the Scafells
Eventually the turf gives way to rock and scree, though it’s possible to avoid this for a while
James carries on up the slope as I take a breather
At last the gradient eases and we’re on the final approach to the summit
Burnmoor Tarn and Wastwater
Looking towards Great Gable
A short section of deep snow near the top
Summit of Kirk Fell, looking north with Grasmoor in the background, and Haystacks making an appearance to the right
Lingmell and the Scafells
Great Gable in mono - an awesome sight
Burnmoor Tarn, Illgill Head and Wastwater from Kirk Fell
We follow a line of old metal fence posts down to frozen Kirkfell Tarn
We continue towards Great Gable, following the fence posts down Rib End
Down to Beck Head Tarn, and looking back up Rib End
We traverse along the flanks of Great Gable down towards Wasdale
Looking back up to the Napes of Great Gable
Crossing Lingmell Beck
Lingmell Beck
Walking towards Wasdale Head
Great Gable - our descent path can be seen just above Lingmell Beck on the left
We follow Fogmire Beck
Mosedale Beck, and the lovely Grade II listed Row Bridge
A last look back to the Wasdale Head Inn before arriving back at the start
