Introductory Grade 3 Scrambling, Lake District

This is a perfect introduction to Grade 3 scrambling as the route is well broken up by comforting grass ledges and all the rock pitches can be easily avoided if preferred. Therefore it provides an ideal non threatening environment for those of you who want to try Grade 3 for the first time. As one of the very finest scrambles in the Lake District it is also a very worthwhile outing for those with more experience.

Route: Link Cove Gill, Greenhow Slabs, Fairfield, Hart Crag

Meet at: Outside the Patterdale Hotel on the main A592 road through the village of Patterdale, postcode CA11 0NN. The best place to park is in the large pay and display car park across the road from the hotel. 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.

This big mountain route leads to the 873 metre summit of Fairfield via one of the very best scrambling outings in the Lake District. The combination of Link Cove Gill and Greenhow Slabs provides superb continuous and sustained scrambling featuring a delightful watercourse, a pleasant airy rib, an exhilarating steep wall and some of the finest mountain slabs anywhere in England.

For those who don’t fancy it, the main difficulties can all be avoided without detracting from the aesthetic value of the route.

The full day will include a scenic walk in through the remote valley of Deepdale to the enchanting Link Cove, a Grade 1 scrambling ascent of Link Cove Gill (with optional harder moves up to Grade 3 available depending on water levels), a short hop across the head of the cwm then a Grade 3 scrambling ascent of Greenhow Slabs before a steady plod up to the summit of Greenhow End followed by a more gentle ascent to the summit of Fairfield from where we will enjoy a leisurely descent taking in the summit of Hart Crag and the long broad Hartsop Above How ridge.

Photos from some of the previous times we did this outing can be seen here:

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/32921230/

https://www.meetup.com/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/31582936/

Difficulty: Grade 3 scrambling if all difficulties are tackled, Grade 2 or Grade 1 if some or all sections are avoided. For more information on scrambling grades see:

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

Experience Required: Some previous mountain scrambling experience is strongly advised even if you plan to avoid all the main difficulties.

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

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

Accommodation: For those of you thinking of staying over and making a weekend of it, we can make the following recommendations:

Sykeside Campsite and Bunkhouse: https://sykeside.co.uk

Gillside Campsite and Bunkhouse: https://www.gillsidecaravanandcampingsite.co.uk

Patterdale Youth Hostel: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-patterdale

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