At the northern entrance to the Lake District stands Blencathra with its multiple ridges towering over the A66 as you head towards Keswick. The most popular route to its summit starts in a lay-by at Scales Farm and rounds Scales Fell above the Glenderamackin River up to Scales Tarn. (Yes I know – a lot of Scales!).
From there you get to see Sharp Edge close up, hovering on your left just begging to be tackled head on. In 2014 when we arrived at this point the weather took against us and we decided to leave it for another day but in 2015 all was well so after a quick break off we went. It’s not called Sharp Edge for nothing and as you can see from the picture above there are significant drops either side. The bravest walk along the top with not a care in the world whilst those of us more in touch with our mortality tend to take things a little more carefully, mixing daredevil steps with grimly holding on!
All too soon the excitement and exposure of the Edge is over but is replaced with a decent scramble up onto the top. A wander across to Halls Top and you are rewarded with magnificent views to the South.
More excitement can be had be descending Hall’s Fell Ridge and then returning to Scales along a track just above the farm wall. Our route down this time was via Atkinson Pike down towards Mungrisdale Common and then back along the other side of the Glenderamackin river valley to rejoin our route up at the head of Mousthwaite Comb.