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Scafell

By Hugh Stewart August 28, 2019 Leave a Comment

A hot and sunny August Bank Holiday Sunday. A prearranged trip to a high mountain crag for this day. Buttermere or Scafell the choices given, so I chose Scafell, thinking that the parking would be better: it may have been, but despite an early start the traffic along the lake side was snail slow, and there wasn’t a legal space in the NT car park. However, our Chauffeur, Margaret, took the car off and walked up lonely Haycock and Seatallan, incidentally ascending more than we did. Now Scafell Crag needs four dry days to dry off, and it had poured down 3 days ago, so we did Juniper Buttress on sunny Pikes Crag. Five pleasant pitches, with the crux a crack on the last pitch with thin holds. I failed. An abseil and walk over to Scafell Pinnacle in the welcome cool shade revealed damp rock. The classic and coveted Jones’ route direct from Lord’s rake was therefore out, so a slimy, slithery scramble up Steep Gill led to the possible start of Slingsby’s Chimney Route, laughably billed as “an easy unwinder” in Classic Rock, and a “Moderate with the Chimney the only Very difficult bit” in my 1996 guide. There. the arthritic right knee could just be placed manually on the right wall foot hold, but straightening it from a very flexed position could not, so a dreadful struggle ensued. The Knife-edge Arete and ascent of High Man in the sun was a lovely finish. We couldn’t face the busy Wasdale Head pub or the Nether Wasdale crowds, so downed Loweswater Golds at the quieter Bowerhouse Inn in Eskdale. A great day out.

  • Busy route up the Pike from the head of Wast Water.
  • Ian’s selfie on Juniper Buttress.
  • On Juniper Buttress.
  • The final pitch of Juniper Buttress.
  • Ian on top of Pikes Crag.
  • Scafell Crag. The Pinnacle Face is the central buttress.
  • The gloomy first pitch of Slingsby’s Chimney from Steep Gill.
  • Ian at the bottom of Slingsby’s Chimney pitch.
  • The top of Deep Gill and the Arete Left.
  • Knife Edge Arete and high Man.
  • Pikes Crag from Scawfell Crag.

Filed Under: climbing

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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