Haweswater to Harter Fell via Riggindale Crags, High St
& Mardale Ill Bell, a
walk of about 6 miles and completed by myself and John the leader of Celebration
Christian Fellowship Church in Grimsby.
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The lower end of Riggindale Crags from Harter Fell and part of the path up.
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Eagle Crag and Heron Crag, the route is clear, it runs across
the centre of the picture and up past what appears to be the outline of a building. From then on the path continues close
to the top of the ridge.
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Long Stile after coming down off Rough Crag, we pass a small tarn
(bottom right corner) and start the last of the climbs leading to High St and Racecourse Hill. It is the final 676 ft of the
climb to reach the trig point on Racecourse Hill. Take care on the last hundred feet or so, there is a man-made scree slope,
a bit like walking on marbles!
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John taking a rest and a photo opportunity at the Trig Point on Racecourse Hill (2718 ft). In the background are
the Fells immortalised by A. Wainwight as the Eastern Fells with Helvellen and Striding Edge along with the sharp peak of
Catstycam standing out. (Some spellings of Catstycam differ, this one is Wainwright's).
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From High St it is just under a mile to Mardale Ill Bell, John was fully protected from the 40 – 50
mph wind that was blowing at this point. At the height of 2496 ft we had a clear view to the Pennines.
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Down from Ill Bell we reach the shelter at the top of Nan Bield
Pass and a welcome lunch and break from the wind.
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The cairn on the summit of Harter Fell is reached
after a climb of around 300 feet from the pass, this is the first of two cairns on Harter, the second is found by following the line of the fence North East.
If you think that the first cairn is not very pretty wait until you see the second one!
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The path from Harter fell is not the best path I’ve
walked on but you won’t go astray as you can see nearly all the way down back to Haweswater.
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