Scales Fell, Sharp Edge, Blencathra and Hall's Fell Ridge
A classic Lake District ridge walk from Scales featuring the thrilling drama of Sharp Edge, the summit of Blencathra, and the technical descent down Hall's Fell Ridge.
Summary: First crossed during a stag weekend in 2003, Sharp Edge remains one of the Lake District's most fearsome and exciting ridge crossings. Ascending Blencathra via Scales Fell and Sharp Edge, this route then descends via Blencathra's other revered edge—Hall's Fell Ridge—for one of the most thrilling days out in the fells.
Alfred Wainwright on Hall's Fell Ridge
“For active walkers and scramblers, this route is positively the finest way to any mountain top in the district. It is direct, exhilarating, has glorious views, and scores a bulls-eye by leading unerringly to the summit-cairn.”
The Walk Report
Not the walk I would normally choose while nursing a rotator cuff tear injury, but I had been waiting to tackle Sharp Edge again for so long. After a long winter of waiting, the perfect early spring day had arrived: the first week in April, one week before my 61st birthday. Setting off early from North Yorkshire, I arrived at Scales and was walking by 11:30 AM.
The day was already warming up with sunshine dominating. There is no leisurely lead-in to this walk—it's a challenging climb straight from the start! Keeping parallel to the River Glenderamackin around the 500-metre contour, I caught early views of Foule Crag and Sharp Edge, alongside the shapely form of Brunt Knott.
Crossing Scales FellFoule Crag, Sharp Edge, and Brunt Knott
Dropping down to the valley floor approach path, I climbed up the stepped path around Brunt Knott, crossing the outflow waters from Scales Tarn. Reaching the east shoreline of Scales Tarn at 600 metres, I watched a couple head up the path toward Sharp Edge and followed them at a distance.
Approaching Sharp Edge from Scales TarnNearing Sharp Edge
As Wainwright famously wrote of Sharp Edge: "A rising crest of naked rock, of sensational and spectacular appearance, a breaking wave carved in stone... can be traversed only à cheval at some risk of damage to tender parts."
Entering the crossing, I took things steady, hopping across the sharp rock outcrops while protecting my injured right shoulder from undue strain. Scrambling up the steep side of Foule Crag from the end of the edge provided a thrilling, one-armed workout.
View to Foule Crag from Sharp EdgeFoule Crag
Sharp EdgeScrambling up Foule Crag
Reflecting on my first crossing on my stag weekend in 2003 and remembering my late pal Deke juggling rocks on the top slab, I followed the path bearing off Foule Crag toward Atkinson Pike and the true summit of Blencathra.
Reaching the summit plateau around 2:00 PM, about thirty walkers were enjoying late lunch breaks in the warm spring sunshine.
View over Sharp Edge to Bannerdale CragsClimbing to Blencathra
The path from Foule Crag to BlencathraApproaching Blencathra summit
After lunch, I began my descent down Blencathra's other revered edge: Hall's Fell Ridge. The initial descent from Hallsfell Top is steep, but upon reaching the ridge line proper with precipitous drops on both sides, the descent becomes a technical, sublime success.
Lunchtime on BlencathraScales Fell, Doddick Fell, and Hall's Fell
Descending steeply to Hall's FellHall's Fell Ridge
Known as the Narrow Edge, the final half-mile is a succession of low crags, steps, and rock towers where scramblers can follow the crest. Lower down, views opened out toward Great Mell Fell, Little Mell Fell, Clough Head, and Keswick.
Climbing Hall's Fell RidgeThe sublime curve of Hall's Fell Ridge
Jagged edgesView to Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell
Leaving Hall's Fell Ridge behind, I followed the footpath toward Gategill and turned east back to Scales, completing a short scramble across a slab of rock above Scaley Beck on my bottom! My long-awaited return to Sharp Edge and Blencathra was a magnificent success.
