Mosedale horseshoe, Lake District
Eager to experience an iconic Lakeland ridge walk? Climb five Wainwrights on the classic Mosedale horseshoe.
Lakeland has its lion share of epic mountain horseshoe walks: Coledale, Deepdale, Newlands, Kentmere – the list goes on. But, perhaps, the greatest of all these high-level, circular ridge walks is the Mosedale horseshoe. Starting at Wasdale Head, under the shadow of Scafell Pike, this route loops the remote, bowl-like valley of Mosedale via a series of iconic peaks. The walk ticks off five Wainwrights – Pillar, Scoat Fell, Steeple, Red Pike and Yewbarrow – and serves up stunning views of others including the Scafell Massif and Great Gable. It’s a rough and rugged hike, with steep ascents and a touch of scrambling. It’ll test your legs, as well as another key mountaineering asset – your bum. Alfred Wainwright comically writes about how useful a sturdy derriere is to this route’s descent of Yewbarrow. “A fellwalker’s best asset is a pair of strong legs; next best is a tough and rubbery bottom... when descending steep grass or rocks such as are met on the ridge of Yewbarrow the posterior is a valuable agent of friction, a sheet-anchor with superb resistance to the pull of gravity.” If that’s not insightful hillwalking advice, I don’t know what is.