Blencartha via Sharp Edge

Route: Halls Fell Ridge, Sharp Edge, Blencartha

Meet at: Outside The Sally/Salutation pub in Threlkeld, postcode CA12 4SQ. There is a car park next to the pub but if it is full just park anywhere in the village and make your way on foot to the pub to meet us. 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.

A nice easy Lakeland classic. Blencartha is a shapely and iconic mountain rising to an altitude 868 metres at the northern end of the Lake District. Our route of ascent will combine two scrambles, Halls Fell Ridge, a long clean rocky spur with a series of pleasant outcrops and a smattering of genuine exposure and then the famous Sharp Edge, a spectacular airy ridge with some dramatic positions.

The full day will include a brisk walk in from Threlkeld and up the lower slopes of the mountain, a Grade 1 scrambling ascent to the summit via Halls Fell Ridge, a slight descent to the highly picturesque Scales Tarn, followed by a Grade 1 scrambling ascent of Sharp Edge to take us back to the summit before a leisurely descent by the western flank of the mountain. Optional social visit to the Salutation afterwards.

Photos from the previous occasions when we did this outing can be seen here:

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/32921216/

https://www.meetup.com/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/32351259/

https://www.meetup.com/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/31402526/

Difficulty: Grade 1 scrambling. For more information on scrambling grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades

While this is a technically easy, low grade scrambling outing, there is some exposure which some people may find unnerving.

Experience Required: Some previous mountaineering/scrambling experience with our group is recommended.

Duration: Approx. 7 km with height gain of approx. 800 metres. Estimated time 5 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.

Guidebook: Guidebooks: Scrambles in The Lake District Volume 2: Northern Lakes published by Cicerone Press.

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