Starting point: Wha House car park, (NY 200009)  Distance: 9.56 miles  Ascent: 3246'

A fine day was predicted, which did not materialise for this walk up to Slight Side and Scafell using the Terrace Route.  Cloudy conditions on Scafell spoilt the views, but I did manage to visit the top of Lord's Rake, made more dramatic by the mist swirling about Scafell Crag.  Having reached Lambford Bridge on the return, it rained heavily making further photography impossible.

Route: Start from the car park opposite Wha House and take a path slanting north-east across the fell side.  This is the Terrace Route, which continues as an intermittent path to the summit of Slight Side.  From here head north-north-west across rising stony ground up on the summit of Scafell.  From the cairn head downhill to a col marked with a cross of white stones.  Turn west downhill and pick up a path crossing Hard Rigg to Burnmoor Tarn, crossing the outflow at Bulatt Bridge.  The Old Corpse Road is followed before crossing Whillan Beck at Lambford Bridge.  The path continues to Eel Tarn before dropping down into Eskdale at the Woolpack Inn.  A short walk along the road leads back to the starting point.

 

The weather still looked set fair at the start of the walk...

...but it was not to last as cloud soon rolled across the sky

The River Esk

Ahead, the bulk of Slight Side, and, beyond, Scafell in cloud

Cloud on the Crinkles

and a closer view

Great How to the west

Bowfell, wreathed in smoke!

The final climb on to Slight Side looks uninviting

But we make it to the top
Sadly, it began to rain, which spoilt the shot!

Cloud on Scafell; I am out of luck today

Beattie at the summit cairn on Scafell

The cloud clears for a few seconds to reveal Wastwater

The two of us!

This was my first view of Lord's Rake from the exit at the top of the rake

The cloud adds to the drama of the scene

On the descent, Scafell still cloud covered - it's cold up there!

Ahead is Burnmoor Tarn on the descent over Hard Rigg

Burnmoor Tarn

Our route crosses Bulatt Bridge

Over Lambford Bridge, the route continues to Eel Tarn and the Woolpack Inn
but just after crossing the bridge, the heavy rain begins and does not relent for the rest of the walk!
That's fellwalking!

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Comment from Gary
Lovely photos again Derek, we still have these fells on our to do list, hoping to tackle them next year sometime!
Gary ...

Comment from Lindsay
Looked a great walk Derek, despite the weather, and no hoards of hikers, even on England's second highest mountain.
Lindsay

Comment from Ray
Really good to see pictures like this for walks that I have not carried out yet.
Ray

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Photographs taken with a Fuji MX-2900 Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D
Copyright © 2008 Derek Cockell     All Rights Reserved