Blencathra, Lake District
Arrive at Blencathra by its eastern approaches and you’ll get to enjoy the valley of Mungrisdale, in the north-east corner of the Lake District.
The clue is in the name. Glenderamackin sounds like a winding, intriguing river, and that’s exactly what it is. Where other valley systems offer horseshoe walks, the rim of Glenderamackin is a twisty zigzag. There’s a long ridgeline to Bowscale Fell as a gentle warm-up. Then a grassy plateau and the cliffrimmed corrie of Bannerdale Crags.
At the back corner of Blencathra is the saddle that’s Glenderamackin’s head, and here there are two ways to go. This summer especially, one may be wanting a less busy way to Blencathra. Foule Crag is it, with grand views across to Sharp Edge as you go up. On the other hand, Sharp Edge is tempting in any season, and here is an off-piste way to its base. The ridgeline is classic Grade 1 scrambling, albeit airy and rather hard for the grade, especially in wet or windy conditions.
But for coming back again in the evening sunshine, there’s no choice at all. After the gentle descent of Scales Fell, it just has to be the long, gentle viewpoint ridge of Souther Fell. And you’ve achieved the horseshoe circuit that nobody’s ever heard of. It may be obscure, but we think you’ll find it’s Mackin excellent.
1
NY363302 Beside the village hall, head up past a limekiln, then head left across a field to join a lane into Mungrisdale. At the village end, take a short track on the left onto open fell. Pass to right of a small old quarry to a small path up onto the long east ridge of Bowscale Fell. Follow it up to the summit.
2
NY333305 A path heads down south to a flat saddle. Bear off right, on a faint path, to the col at the head of Glenderamackin (the ridge ahead is a shortcut to Atkinson Pike, map point 4). Turn left down the second path, the one on the right (west) flank of the Glenderamackin valley. Then contour forwards into the hollow below Sharp Edge. Scramblers are on the skyline above. From the corner of the hollow a small path contours across steep ground, rising gently to reach the foot of Sharp Edge.
3
NY328284 Turn right, up clean, well-used rock along the crest (gravelly paths on the ridge side are better avoided). Pass to right of a small tower onto a sloping slab that runs up the crest to a slightly larger tower. Pass round to right of this (or scramble over it, rather exposed). An awkward step down crosses a narrow gap, before easy scrambling leads to the gravelly col at the foot of the final steep rise. Head to right, down the earthy gully, for a few steps, to a groove heading upwards. A couple of metres below the groove’s top fork out right. Sketchy paths left are, again, better avoided. Continue directly upwards, on blocky rocks and sections of path. Soon you emerge on Blencathra’s plateau below the cairned summit of Atkinson Pike.
4
NY324282 Head south-west past a quartz cross and a pool to Blencathra summit at NY323277. Feel free to continue ahead to Blease Fell Top and return. From the summit, follow the wide path east, to drop in engineered zigzags to a ridgeline levelling. Stay next to the scenic abyss to your right. The path descends another set of zigzags. From the foot of this follow the ridgeline until it bends round south-east. Here fork left on the smaller path, down east to the col above Mousthwaite Comb.
5
NY346279 Follow the grass path ahead up the spur of Souther Fell. As it levels, bear left to a non-summit cairn, then bear right to an uncairned summit. Keep north-east over the second and main summit, also uncairned. The path drops down a pleasant spur, gradually steepening.
6
NY361300 With the village hall seen directly below, the path descends a few rocky metres where it’s eroded down to the bedrock. Below this, don’t keep downhill but take the clearer path slanting down to the right, then contouring around the steepish hillside to join the little Scales road.
7
NY363296 Turn left down the road, passing through a gate across it. As the lane descends to the river take a gate with footpath signpost on the right. Head upstream under trees to cross a pleasant little footbridge. Turn left to a small gate, and bear up right to join the Mungrisdale lane. Follow it left to the village hall.