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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
Cam Spout Crag has been on my radar to visit and if possible camp on ever since I passed above it on the climb up to Scafell which I did in 2021
I was busy on Saturday but wasn't working until Monday afternoon which meant I could plan a circular walk with the majority of the distance to be walked on the Sunday with a camping spot nearer to my car for an early finish on Monday. Luckily Sunday and Monday were forecast to be better days than Saturday and it was sunny but breezy when I set off from the parking spaces at Jubilee Bridge.
It's a bit of a shock to the system getting out from the car and into the very steep pull up Hard Knott pass especially as the temperature was forecast to be around freezing overnight so I was weighed down with my winter camping Kit. The climb through the Roman fort is not too bad though especially as you start get a view of the high fells. Slight Side is clear but Scafell and the Pike are in cloud but it was forecast to lift later in the day
Border End is one of my favourite fells and I really enjoy the mainly pathless climb up to it from behind the fort. It's great fun picking out and climbing the grassy rakes and short scrambles as you make your way up. This is looking down on the Eskdale valley bottom from fairly low down on the climb.
And from higher up the fort is seen below.
On to the top and the cloud does seem to be lifting from the high fells.
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I made my across the boggy saddle which divides Border End from Hard Knott. At the summit I talked to a couple who had passed me whilst I was getting my boots on and they were the last people that I saw until I reached Esk Hause. The walk down towards Lingcove Beck has a brilliant view of the fells around the head of the River Esk and I could clearly see the long southern ridge of Esk Pike which was my onward route.
Lingcove Beck with Esk Pike above to the left and Bowfell to the right. I managed just about to find away across the beck without getting wet and started on the long but fantastic climb
The highest ground in England is fully clear now.
Zooming in on my intended camping spot, it's the little top to the left of the huge fracture in the rock face.
A look back down the climb Harter Fell is the dark hill and beyond that is the Irish sea and Black Combe.
Rather than tackle the steep slopes leading directly to the summit area of Esk Pike I swerved to the right to meet the path coming up from Ore Gap and for the first time today got a view northwards to Derwentwater, Skiddaw and Blencathra.
In the other direction you have the view down to the Great Moss with the Esk snaking its way across.
Lambfoot Dub is having a moment in the sun seen from the walk up through Calf Cove. Great Gable does indeed look great from here.
The summit of Scafell Pike is now in view .It's clouding over a bit but it never felt like it would rain.
The final steep pull up to the Pike. I realised that although I've been down this way I've never actually climbed up and after already walking a few miles lugging a heavy pack it's not one I'd like to rush back to.
The view northwards over Styhead Tarn was worth it though.
Although it wasn't as crowded as last time I came there were still quite a few people around so this is as near as I got to the top.
The next challenge is Lord's rake, which when you see it from here looks unclimable but once you are in it it's not too bad at all.
The sun has come back out and is lighting up Hollow Stones and the "tourist" path to the Pike.
Once I reached the top of the first section of the Rake I made a left turn on to the West Wall Traverse.
From the narrow exposed path you get a great view of Mosedale with the fells around it which , from the left are Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow then Red PIke, Scoat Fell, Pillar and Kirk Fell.
The final rocky scramble up out of a cold and windy Deep Gill to the sun.
Only stopping to take a quick pic of the magnificent Scafell Pinnacle.
The classic view of Burnmoor Tarn and Wastwater split by Illgill Head from Scafell.
The Cam Spout ridge drops down from Long Green. The 676M top of Cam Spout Crag where I hope to camp is the lower top to the right. If when I get there there isn't a suitable spot I have a couple of reserve pitches which I noted when I climbed up here before.
Looking back up the ridge from the 676M top which has a little wall around it to presumably stop sheep from wandering off the sheer drop.
The sun was flitting in and out of the clouds making for great patterns on the Great Moss and the fells around it.
The view down to Damas Dubs, Silverybield Crag and the other lower fells in Upper Eskdale. Above them Harter Fell is unmistakable and to it's left are Border End and Hard Knott.
There was just enough room to pitch my tent. The sun and clouds are still putting on a great show over the fells to the east.
Later on in the day the sun is sinking behind me making a perfect shadow copy on the fells below.
Luckily the only spot that the tent would fit was a very comfortable pitch which coupled with the fact that I was very tired after my walk meant I slept like a log but as I was working after lunch I had to pack away early and make my way down to the valley.
Monday was a very nice day, the slightly chilly breeze from yesterday had died down and the soft morning light over Bowfell was lovely to see.
I really needed to get a move on but It was hard to tear myself away, I could have sat there all day.
After finally packing up I climbed back to the ridge from where I picked a way down towards How Beck and the Cam Spout falls.
The rising sun is lighting up one of the little tarns on the southern ridge of Esk Pike which I passed yesterday.
I came down on the path to the south of the falls which loops away from the stream through the scree but I wished I'd crossed the stream and come down on the northern path which has a more intimate view of the falls.
I'd used up all my water so I had my breakfast sat by the Esk and I have to say that with the weather as it was on this morning it had to be one of the best breakfast spots ever.....
..... and I mean EVER.
Looking up to my bedroom.
I really like this little section where the valley narrows and you get a great view of Harter Fell The Esk is now in a very deep and scary gorge.
The path reaches valley level at Lingcove bridge and it's now just a simple but beautiful walk following the river downstream.
With a final look back to Bowfell.
Previous walk -- Waberthwaite Fell