Kentmere Horseshoe
Distance: 22.0km (13.67 Miles)
Ascent: 1239m (4065ft)
Duration: 5 Hours 40 Minutes
The original plan for today was to complete a circuit of Haweswater, but after checking the forecast I changed the plan and decided on the Kentmere Horseshoe.
It was beautiful sunshine when I set off from Kentmere. It was hot, with just a gentle breeze, which was totally different from what the ridge walking was like! The photo is from the start of the walk looking to Kentmere Tarn.
Badger Rock along Garburn Road.
And the rock in the wider landscape.
Still on the Garburn Road here looking south to Kentmere Tarn.
Nearly at the top of Garburn Pass now, with a view back to the village of Kentmere.
The Coniston Fells from the top of Garburn Pass. Time to head up to Yoke - the first of nine peaks today!
The Kentmere Valley from the path up to Yoke.
Red Screes over to the north east. Pets Quarry to the far left.
Distant Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales. About 30 miles away from here I think.
Sunshine and clouds on Red Screes, St Sunday Crag and Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor).
Yoke summit cairn. I was quite impressed when I realised I got up here with no stops (other than for photos).
A small tarn just to the north of the summit cairn on Yoke.
Contrast over on Mardale Ill Bell and Harter Fell. Kentmere Reservoir below with Nan Bield Pass in the centre. I will be walking that way in a couple of hours.
A mighty quarry on Kentmere Pike.
A fantastic view of Windermere from the Ill Bell ridge.
Two other cairns from the third and highest cairn on Ill Bell.
The path leading up to Froswick with the slopes of Thornthwaite Crag to the left, and High Street to the right.
Froswick summit cairn with Thornthwaite Crag behind. I don’t seem to remember these proper constructed footpaths last time I was up here...
Looking back from Froswick to Kentmere Reservoir and valley.
And the other side of the ridge looks down to Troutbeck and Windermere.
Thornthwaite Crag summit. Walking up to this point I saw only about 8 people, but arriving here there were at least 20 or so hogging the summit... I was really surprised how many people I saw on the whole walk - probably nearing the 100 mark!
The rest of Lakeland spread out to the west.
Now walking along the path to High Street with a view down to Hayeswater to the left.
And an empty summit on High Street. Time for a quick bite to eat and then onto Mardale Ill Bell.
And the Mardale Ill Bell summit cairn. Haweswater to the far left.
Small Water and Haweswater on the descent to Nan Bield Pass.
The awesome Rainsborrow Crag - about a thousand feet from top to bottom!
Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick - more commonly known as the Ill Bell Ridge.
Haweswater curving round Hare Shaw.
Harter Fell summit cairn with a speck of Haweswater. Shortly after on the walk to Kentmere Pike I saw something I did not expect...
Would you expect them to be up here!? - I was disappointed because they had clearly caused considerable erosion and damage to the fellside.
Kentmere Pike trig col with a partial view south.
And Shipman Knotts summit. As you can see the view is non-existent. About 10 minutes before reaching the summit it started raining, and didn’t stop until the path linking Kentmere with Longsleddle. Something did happen on the route back to Kentmere which took 20 years off my life and also made me learn something about myself... I am truly terrified of Cows! I had to walk through a field of cows and have never been so scared! I think next time I will backtrack and find an alternate route!
