Get Lost Mountaineering






You are here: England » Lake District » 2 Far Eastern Fells


Place Fell via Birk Fell from Hartsop

Place Fell via Birk Fell from Hartsop

Start/Finish

Park at the NW corner of Brothers Water as there is no nearer parking in Hartsop. Brothers Water is at the foot of the Kirkstone Pass on the A592 which runs from Windermere to Penrith.

Distance/Time

15 km     About 5 – 6 hours

Peaks

Place Fell, 657 m, NY 406 170. OS 1: 50 000 , sheet 90.

OS 1: 25 000 Outdoor Leisure 5, English Lake District NE Area.

Introduction

This is a lovely walk which gives a longish circuit of Place Fell. There are good and very distinctive paths much of the way. On a clear day, the views are excellent especially to nearby fells such as the Angletarn Pikes, Rest Dodd, The Nab and the High Street range. Across the Kirkstone Pass road, one can usually enjoy excellent views of Hartsop Above How, Red Screes, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, St. Sunday Crag, Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Catstye Cam and many more. The length of this walk is ideal for a short winter's day but may only be for the experienced if winter conditions prevail. Navigation will be taxing in thick mist so save this for a good day and enjoy the views. This walk can also be started at Patterdale or Bridgend on the A 592 – see notes below.

Route

(1) From the NW corner of Brothers Water car park, walk SE towards Kirkstone Pass. At the stone bus shelter, take the minor road for Hartsop village but turn left on to a more minor road after the first building. Follow this track (it is a path in places), for about 4 km, past Hartsop Fold, Beckstones, Crookabeck, and Rooking then continue on the eastern side of Ullswater. In places, there is the choice of a higher or lower path but, eventually, there is one path which would lead to Sandwick if followed all the way. When the path goes E and a wall converges from the left, near a small wood, then look for a way up the slopes heading south. This will be about where the path starts to descend to the bridge across Scalehow Beck. In summer, there will be bracken but not everywhere. Pick a way up, probably drifting left where there will be a good view up Scalehow Beck. Gain the crest as soon as possible and follow it the cairn which seems to be the highest point on Little Birk Fell. There is little in the way of an obvious path to here but from the cairn a more obvious path leads along the crest, crossing Kilbert How, and ascending to the cairn at the NE end of Birk Fell. Continue on the path, faint in places, roughly heading SSW then S where it meets a path coming up from near Blowick. The path is much more distinct now and continues S to eventually reach a distinctive outcrop upon which a traditional stone trig point marks the summit of Place Fell, 657 m. There is a cairn slightly to the W which is obviously lower. It is possible to keep more to the right for the final section but there is no path there.

(2) Descend SSE on a very distinctive path which goes over Round How then descends to Boredale Hause not long after an old ruined stone sheep fold. Take the path, almost due S, which leads down to the outward track just to the S of Beckstones then walk back to Hartsop and Brothers Water.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 30th March, 2015.

(b) The last total eclipse, 1999, was observed from the summit of Place Fell.

(c) To start from Bridgend, about a mile S of Patterdale, take the path ENE to join the Hartsop route just before Beckstones. This saves about 2 km of walking. To start from Patterdale village, there are two minor roads which go E to join the Hartsop route near Rooking. On descent, take the path going WNW from Boredale Hause. Both of these alternatives save about 4 km of walking. Note that sensible parking at Bridgend or Patterdale may be difficult to locate especially at popular times of the year which is why the Brothers Water approach is recommended. Please do not park in a way which is irritating to local residents. None of these alternatives have been checked out.

Photos - Hover over photo for caption. Click on to enlarge. Click on again to reduce.