Winter Mountaineering on Cross Fell

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: An ice axe could be useful for this outing. It is not essential but if you’ve got one it will be well worth bringing it.

Route: Cross Fell

Meet at: St Lawrence Church, Kirkland Road, Kirkland, Cumbria CA10 1RN. Just park anywhere you can in the village and make your way to the church on foot. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.

For the first time with Sheffield Mountaineering…

The hinterland between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales is dominated by a monster of a mountain. At an altitude of 893 metres the summit of Cross Fell is both the highest point of the famous Pennine Way and the highest point in England outside the Lake District. The sources of the rivers Tyne, Tees and Wear can all be found on its imposing slopes. A wild and rugged peak with a vast high altitude summit plateau, more akin to something in the Cairngorms, it makes for a very worthwhile and adventurous outing in winter. Well away from the tourist honeypots but easily accessible from the A66, this is a connoisseurs mountain, untouched by the Wainwright baggers and media social posers. Our route will be a circular one, ascending via the north west flank, crossing the summit on the Pennine Way and descending the south west flank.

More details of the route including a map and photos can be seen here:

https://www.baldhiker.com/cross-fell-a-dash-to-the-top-of-the-pennines/

Difficulty: Non technical mountain hiking though the likely presence of at least some snow and ice will make things a bit more challenging.

While this is a technically easy outing, Cross Fell can be a serious place in winter and is not to be underestimated.

Experience Required: Some previous mountaineering/scrambling experience is strongly advised.

Duration: Approx. 14 km with height gain of approx. 750 metres. Estimated time 5 to 6 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL 31 North Pennines 1:25,000 scale.

Accommodation: For those of you thinking of making a weekend of it and possibly doing something in the Lakes on the Sunday, we can make the following recommendations:

Helvellyn Cottage, Penrith: https://helvellyncottage.co.uk/

Station Hotel, Penrith: https://stationhotelpenrith.com/

As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.