Date: Wednesday 25th August 2021
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 7km, Ascent: 535m
Time: 2Hrs 55Mins
After yesterday's ascent of Hellvelyn, via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, not to mention four consecutive days walking, I opted for a shorter day today. During the past three trips to the Lakes, it has been my intention to ascend Harter Fell. I decided to stop putting off the ascent so drove to Brotherikeld for an ascent today.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
After parking at the base of the Hard Knott pass we set off towards the hill crossing Jubilee Bridge to gain access to the hillside.
Jubilee Bridge:
Beyond Jubilee Bridge we followed a diagonally rising path overgrown in places with head-high bracken.
Ascending the rising path:
During the walk in, we passed a small cairn marking the start of a track up the hill. However, as there was another path marked on the map we decided to use that path instead continuing on for several hundred metres.
Harter Fell capped in cloud:
However, the second path marked on the map did not exist or if it did it was completely overgrown with bracken. We therefore backtracked a few hundred metres before following a sheep track and then a path up the hill. The sometimes less than obvious path is waymarked with a series of cairns
Harter Fell:
Looking across to Green Crag during ascent of Harter Fell:
Ascending Harter Fell:
Like the day previous, the ascent was made harder by the heat. The incline was also reasonably steep.
Ascending Harter Fell:
Looking back during ascent:
Lazy sheep:
On reaching the summit area we both scrambled up the two highest tors, the lower tor then the summit tor. As the summit tor was swarming with flies, we had a short break atop the slightly lower tor.
Summit tor from slightly lower tor:
The views from the summit were unfortunately not as good as they could have been thanks to low cloud. I suspect this would be a fine viewpoint towards Scafell and Scafell Pike.
View from the summit of Harter Fell:
During the return from the summit, we followed the path all the way down instead of using the inbound sheep track.
A good short walk.