A Visit to the Lake District in June, Day 6

Our last day today and fortunately Thomas was off work so was able to join us to walk up Harter Fell from Mardale Head.  I had never been to this part of the Lakes so was excited at the prospect of the day.  Despite the fact that from the summit of Harter fell it is possible to look down on our caravan iy involved a 30 mile drive up the old A6 to Shap village where we turned off to wind through the lanes and along Haweswater Reservoir to the car park at Mardale Head above the sunken village of Mardale.  As we left the car the weather was superb: plenty of sun with mixed clouds, but sadly as the day wore one more and more cloud came in on the very strong cold westerly wind.  Still we beat the rain back to the car.

Alfred Wainwright in The Far Eastern Fells describes this as, "..An excellent expedition, richly rewarding in intimate scenes of Harter Fell's grand northern cliffs and in the views of Haweswater from its summit, yet short in distance and needing much less effort in its execution than its formidable appearance suggests."  And how right he is.  It is a splendid walk of only 5 miles with a delightful ridge along the top of the fell.  The way up by Gatesgarth Pass is easy and straightforward and the descent by Nam Bield Pass steep and dramatic.  There are excellent views all around from Haweswater below to High Street and Thornthwaite Beacon and across to Froswick and Yoke.  All during the walk we could hear the fluted songs of skylarks cascading down to us as the birds pirouetted high above.  Although we didn't see them the Lake Districts only f Golden Eagle is resident in nearby Riggindale, although last spring the bird did not reappear and the RSPB fear for its survival.  With its mate it used to nest here until the mate died in 2004.

To view large, please click on an image.