Please feel free to use our detailed Route Plans covering a multitude of routes on Blencathra from short and easy to long and hard! The routes are all covered by the OS The English Lakes (OL5) 1:25000 Scale map. We have multiple copies of this map in the guest lounge, which you are more than welcome to borrow. Please note the plans use 15 mins/Km which is a fair pace, so you may be faster or slower. Don’t hesitate to ask us for guidance as we have walked all these routes many times.
Tel: 017687 79660
Walking Route Plans
Scales Tarn (2 Hours, 5.19 Km, 423M ascent)
A short and pleasant walk with a clear and attractive destination that is easily doable as an evening walk. Starting from Scales take the path along Scales Fell initially steep but moderates after 15 mins) until you reach the saddle between Souther Fell and Scales Fell (39m). From the saddle take the easy flat path to Scales Beck (23m). Cross the beck and follow the stream upto Scales Tarn – stop and enjoy the tarn and the brave souls traversing sharp edge which looks harder than it really is from this view point (12m). Return via the same route now all down hill (1h).
Blencathra via Scales Tarn return via Scales Fell (4 Hours, 7.34 Km, 651M ascent)
This is a very easy and safe route to the Blencathra summit. Turn left out of Scales Farm and take the left fork just after the White Horse Pub. Walk along the road until you see a footpath sign on the left (10m). Take this path and ascend to the top of the saddle (30m). Walk along the saddle and pick up the distinct path that contours along the valley to Scales Beck. On reaching the beck crossover it and follow the steps up to scales Tarn (41m). Now follow the path on your left as you look at the tarn to reach the summit in (37m). Return to Scales Farm via Scales Fell a easy and gentle path down (1H11).
Blencathra via Scales returning via Blease Fell (5 Hours, 10 Km, 791M ascent)
A long but easy 5 hour walk that takes in Scales Fell and returns via Blease Fell . These are the two easiest paths to and from the summit with no exposure or scrambling (except Scaley Beck). The route takes you initially east onto Scales Fell. The gradient is very steep for the first 30 minutes but then relents into a comfortable gradient all the way to the summit (1H41m). Enjoy the summit and then continue West down Blease Fell enjoying views over Keswick and the North Western Fells (2H). Now continue easy walking over Gategill and Doddick Gill until Scaley Beck (45m) – beware scambling. Finally an easy walk from Scaley Beck back to Scales (38m).
Blencathra via Hall’s Fell returning via Scales Fell (4 Hours, 6.81 Km, 709M ascent)
A challenging 4 hour walk that takes in the one ridge and an easy descent. The route takes you West from Scales Farm over Scaley Beck (beware scrambling) to the start of Hall’s Fell (38 mins). Traverse Hall’s Fell (some scrambling required and mild exposure) direct to the summit (1h20). Enjoy the view.
Drop from the summit via Scales Fell easy walking back to Scales (1h41).
Blencathra via Sharp Edge return via Scales Fell (3.5 Hours, 6.58 Km, 600M ascent)
This is the quickest route to Sharp edge. Walk onto Scales Fell via the gap between Scales Farm and the White Horse Pub and turn right (East) follow this path until you come to a path crossroads (21m). At the crossroads go straight across and follow the path on to the saddle between Scales Fell and Souther Fell. Once on the saddle follow the path that contours along the valley until you reach Scales Beck (34m). Cross the beck and follow the steps up to Scales Tarn (12m). Take a little time to enjoy the views and study Sharp Edge from this excellent vantage point. Turn right and follow the path up to the start of Sharp Edge (7m). Be warned Sharp Edge is very exposed and you need to feel confident under such conditions. Sharp Edge in wet, windy or icy conditions is a very dangerous undertaking; please make sure you have the skills and equipment in these conditions. In dry conditions you can traverse Sharp Edge in (19m). At the end of Sharp Edge turn left and follow the easy path to the Blencathra summit (13m). After enjoying the summit turn east and follow the easy path back down Scales Fell to Scales (1H33).
Hall’s Fell and Sharp Edge returning via Scales Fell (5 Hours, 8.38 Km, 903M ascent)
A challenging 5 hour walk that takes in the two best ridges on Blencathra. The route takes you West from Scales Farm over Scaley Beck (beware scrambling) to the start of Hall’s Fell (38 mins). Traverse Hall’s Fell (some scrambling required and mild exposure) direct to the summit (1h20). Enjoy the view.
Drop from the summit down to Scales Tarn (41mins) then up to Sharp Edge (scrambling with high exposure) onto Scales Fell (36mins). Descend back to Scales (easy walking) (1h24)
Blencathra via Halls Fell and Sharp Edge return via Scales Fell Route Card
Blencathra via Hall’s Fell returning via Doddick Fell (4 Hours, 6.89 Km, 726M ascent)
A challenging 4 hour walk that takes in the two ridges on Blencathra. The route takes you West from Scales Farm over Scaley Beck (beware scrambling) to the start of Hall’s Fell (38 mins). Traverse Hall’s Fell (some scrambling required and mild exposure) direct to the summit (1h20). Enjoy the view.
Drop from the summit via Scales Fell until the top of Doddick Ridge (21 mins). Easy descent via Doddick Fell back to Scales (1h24).
Blencathra via Halls Fell return via Doddick Fell Route card
Doddick Fell returning via Scales (3 Hours, 5.56 Km, 568M ascent)
A “comfortable” 3 hour walk that takes in Doddick ridge and returns via Scales Fell . The route takes you West from Scales Farm over Scaley Beck (beware scrambling) to the start of Doddick Fell (33 mins). Traverse Doddick Fell (easy walking, moderate gradient) direct to the top of Scales Fell (1h). Enjoy the views to Hall’s Fell to the West and Scales Fell to the East.
Easy descent via Scales Fell back to Scales (1h).