Walk 49 - Kentmere Horseshoe - 24th July 2020
 

Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 2 The Far Eastern Fells
 

#111 Shipman Knotts 1926 ft
#112 Kentmere Pike 2395 ft
#113 Harter Fell 2552 ft
#114 Mardale Ill Bell 2493 ft
#115 Thornthwaite Crag 2572 ft
#116 Froswick 2362 ft
#117 Ill Bell 2484 ft
#118 Yoke 2316 ft
Distance
14.7 miles
Time
11 hrs
Lowest Point
504 ft
Highest Point
2572 ft
Total Ascent
4025 ft
 
Walk Rating - moderate but long
 

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to walk start

   

 ///cave.earth.instincts

 
   
   
   
 

10.46 We had parked on the road south of Kentmere and left the car just after 10. A much better parking space for this walk would be at the Kentmere institute near St Cuthbert's Church (https://what3words.com/peach.crest.hilltop) but this has only 10 parking spaces and fills up very quickly. There is also sometimes parking in a field in Kentmere. However today we decided to park before we got to Kentmere and take the extra mile walk at each end of the day.

Panorama 431 Walking up the east side of the horseshoe we had a view of most of the summits for the day from just above Kentmere.

 
 
 
  11.00  
 
 
  11.49 At the junction point of all the walls below we had crossed over the wall and were now on the east side of the wall so that we could bag Shipman Knotts later.  
 
 
  11.52 A jet passes below us, flying down Longsleddale valley to our east.  
 
 
  12.10 Sadgill somewhere down below us in that valley.  
 
 
  12.41 Longsleddale valley catches the sun.  
   
  12.57 Panorama 432 Shipman Knotts summit to the east of the wall.  
 
 
  13.02 Heading north towards Goat Scar, the wall dips dangerously close to the edge but fine in clear weather.  
 
 
  13.12 Looking back at Shipman Knotts all the other walkers are on the west of the wall and have to pretend they have reached the summit.  
   
  13.20 Panorama 433 Goat Scar summit  
 
 
  13.22 Yoke, Ill Bell and a tiy bit of Froswick, peak over the ridge.  
 
 
  13.47 Ascending Kentmere Pike looking back at Shipman Knotts  
   
  14.01 Panorama 434 Kentmere Pike summit sits right on the wall. Lunch stop on the east side out of the wind and we could hear others on the path.  
   
  15.03 Panorama 435 Kentmere Horseshoe view, looking down on the drop at Nan Bield pass as we walk up the gentle slope to Harter Fell.  
   
  15.13 Panorama 436 At Harter Fell summit we were joined by lots of other walkers who had come up from the road in Mardale.  
 
 
  15.16 Harter Fell summit  
 
 
  15.22 Small Water and a very tiny bit of Blea Water visible.  
   
  15.23 Panorama 437 Descending Harter Fell  
 
 
  15.34 Small Water and Haweswater  
 
 
  15.41 Kentmere reservoir from Nan Bield pass  
   
  15.42 Panorama 438 Nan Bield Pass  
 
 
  15.49 Small Water and the head of Haweswater  
 
 
  15.57 Looking back at Harter Fell as we enjoy the haul up to Mardale Ill Bell  
   
  16.23 Panorama 439 Mardale Ill Bell summit. Blea Water just visible.  
   
  16.41 Panorama 440 Crossing the fairly level ground at the head of the valley to Thornthwaite Crag  
 
 
  16.46 Western side of the horseshoe  
 
 
  16.50 Thornthwaite Crag pillar makes for easy navigation.  
 
 
 

16.59

 
 
 
  17.01  
   
  17.04 Panorama 441 Thornthwaite Crag summit looking south west  
   
  17.06 Panorama 442 Near Thornthwaite Crag summit looking north  
 
 
  17.07  
   
  17.17 Panorama 443 Descending Thornthwaite Crag  
 
 
  17.25 Overlooking Troutbeck Tongue and Wansfell  
 
 
  17.37 Looking back at Thornthwaite Crag as we ascend Froswick  
   
  17.45 Panorama 444 Froswick summit  
 
 
  18.11 Walkers behind us reach the summit of Froswick as we ascend Ill Bell.  
   
  18.24 Panorama 445 Ill Bell summit looking north  
   
  18.27 Panorama 446 Descending Ill Bell  
 
 
  18.33 Ascending Yoke  
   
  18.46 Panorama 447 Yoke summit looking north. Froswick and Thornthwaite Crag hidden behind Ill Bell.  
   
  18.52 Panorama 448 Descending Yoke with Sallows and Sour Howes visible. A 2 hour walk back to the car from here.  

 
   
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