Kirk Fell, the pretty way - no photos today
Start today from the National Trust car park at Honister Hause, through the apparent chaos of the slate quarry factory to the start of the steep path up to Grey Knotts. Make sure to visit the cairn this time, being able to find it for once, following the path in mist on previous occasions I have always missed it.
A fairly easy walk follows, over to the wide, multi cairned summit of Brandreth, a much more difficult place to find in mist. So far the conditions have been warm enough for tee shirts only but a cold blast coming down from Great Gable makes me put my jacket on.
An interesting rocky start to the ascent of Green Gable then joins the trudge that is the wide path coming up from Seathwaite. The reward is the close view of the crags of Great Gable across Windy Gap – a wonderful sight.
Great Gable is one of my favourites, the climb up from Windy Gap and the descent to Beck Head (and vice versa) are wonderful. The weather is really blowing hot and cold, my jacket is dizzy with keep being taken off and put back on again.
The ascent of Rib End, the east ridge of Kirk Fell is interesting enough but the view of Great Gable is increasingly magnificent as height is gained.
The summit of Kirk Fell is surprisingly flat and wide, the view of the highest fells in the Lake District is only slightly diminished in the hazy conditions. The descent from Kirk Fell to Black Sail Pass is another delicacy, a steep (precipitous) path over rocks that is always enjoyable but absolutely delectable in dry weather.
From Black Sail pass the path known as Moses Trod makes a relatively easy traverse of the bases of Kirk Fell and then Great Gable. It then continues at high level until it reaches the old mineral line going down to Honister Hause from the disused Dubs Quarry.
Andy Wallace 30th March 2002